September 6th, 2010
How many times have you seen the commercials for disposable catheter supplies on TV?! If you’re like me, you’ve several and called at least one to see what kind of deal you can get. This presents a common question that often results in a problem for many people who need to purchase catheter supplies. Which one of the thousands of companies out there should I go with?
If you have insurance through a private provider or are covered by Medicare, you don’t really care too much about the price. Of course, you pay the 20% of the product price or cover your co-pay, so the overall retail price of the catheter supplies are seemingly irrelevant. Then the question becomes one of customer service and the best bang for your buck. You want to be sure that you will get everything you need, that it will get to you on time, that you won’t have to deal with any customer service agents that are going to waste your time and give you a hassle. You want a provided that has the brand you like as well as the type of catheter and the quantity you need to purchase. You like convenient purchasing options and the idea that you will be paying minimal for catheters you order.
These are all things that people want when purchasing catheters because it makes for an easy process. The hard part is finding the right provider of the catheter supplies without calling every commercial you see on late night TV just to find the best one for your special needs and circumstances. The worst thing that can happen is to be confused about where to get you catheter supplies and home medical supplies. So many times many companies don’t have a competitive edge and are there to simply take your money and send you the product without too much consideration for the customer experience. This is abusing the way mail order supplies should be marketed and sold.
You should always make sure to use these criteria when choosing a catheter supply mail order supplier: make sure they have great customer service, a guarantee that your supply order will reach your door on time, the supplier knows how to work with Medicare or your private insurer, and that you are getting the best price possible and the best product available, or the one that you are inclined to want out of preference. If these criteria are not met then I would suggest finding another supply provider to work with. You can always call their customer service representatives to ask questions or go to the websites of these companies and look for FAQs. This is a great way to sift through the bad companies until you find one you like.
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August 25th, 2010
A Coude catheter has a specific characteristic that separates it from all other types of catheters. It is based on the meaning of the French word “coude” which when used as an adjective means “bent”. Thus the Coude catheter is one where the tip of the catheter is slightly bent or curved to a small degree.
The primary function of a Coude catheter is to make the catheter insertion as safe as possible. It allows for safe guidance of the catheter around the curvature of the prostate or other urinary objects for females, which these types of Coude catheters can have an olive shape at the end. The Coude tip can protect you from problems that can arise from catheterization such as scarring and damage. A Coude catheter is the alternative catheter choice for those who aren’t able to use a straight catheter.
Coude tip catheters come in sized 6 French to size 26 French. French is how catheter diameter is measured. Depending on the manufacturer and what you need, you will need to consult with your doctor to determine the correct size.
It is important to note that if one cannot pass a Coude catheter through the urinary tract, there are other measures that can be taken by an urologist, such as inserting a cystoscopy or guides and followers through the urinary passage. This should be last resort.
Of all the catheter supplies, the Coude catheter can be a very effective type of catheter to drain the bladder of urine. It is important to know its functions and the best practices when inserting them on your own.
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August 20th, 2010
Urine catheter supplies consist of a tube system inserted into the body to drain urine. Catheters are typically used after surgery or because of an illness or condition that does not allow one to get rid of urine naturally. Therefore a device is necessary to drain and collect the urine. These devices are called catheters. There are male catheters and female catheters, and several kinds of catheters to use based on specific needs and functions.
There are three main kinds of catheters: intermittent catheters, condom catheters, and indwelling catheters. They all serve the same purpose of draining the body of urine.
Intermittent catheters are used, as the word suggests, intermittently, or on a short-term basis. The reason for using an intermittent catheter is to completely empty and drain the bladder of urine to prevent any kind of urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage.
Indwelling catheters are inserted either through the urethra or directly into your bladder from the stomach, which is done through surgery. Either way, indwelling catheters are left in the bladder for short or long periods of time depending on the individuals circumstances.
Condom catheters, also known as external catheters, are like condoms in that they are placed over the penis to drain the urine directly to a drainage bag. This kind of catheter does not involve a tube system being inserted into the body, rather is external and requires replacement on a daily basis.
As mentioned before, all catheters require drainage bags to collect the urine. This is another supply of any kind of catheter system. Typically there are two kinds of drainage bags: a leg bag and a down drain bag. A leg bag is meant to be worn around the lower leg underneath pants and provides the convenience of being and public and utilizing a catheter system. On the other hand, the down drain bag is typically used at night while sleeping and holds much more urine than the leg bag.
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