User experience of Irma

It started when I was about 56 years’ old, I didn't always manage to keep hold of my urine anymore. I also kept losing urine spontaneously when sneezing, coughing or laughing, but also walking up the stairs. It may sound a bit naive, but I thought this might suddenly stop again. That it would be an inconvenience of temporary nature. Something in the line of the menopause. But the loss of urine increased every year and so did my insecurity about it. I didn't always feel comfortable anymore leaving the house. Just imagine I would lose some urine and people would see or smell it. When I celebrated my sixtieth birthday, I thought: Irm, it's about time to take your head out of the sand. There has to be some sort of a solution."

Lasting catheterisation 

I discussed my complaints with my GP, and he immediately referred me to a medical specialist. The subsequent examination showed that my bladder had subsided. Fully emptying my bladder had therefore become difficult. The subsidence also explained the annoying bladder infections I suffered from increasingly more often. What happened next was a surgery, but that didn't appear to be sufficient. Some urine always remained in my bladder after urinating, which could possibly lead to infections or complications. My medical specialist told me I was destined for lasting catheterisation. It felt as if the ground just gave way underneath my feet. The idea of having to insert ‘something’ into my body scared me. And what would that mean to my freedom? Would I still feel free to go wherever I wanted? 

A bit strange, but painless  

Wat volgde was een consult bij de verpleegkundige. Zij zou mij gaan leren hoe ik mijzelf kon katheteriseren. Ik zag er tegenop, maar vond ook dat ik positief moest blijven. Ik heb mijn twee kinderen altijd bijgebracht dat ze ook met tegenwind vooruit kunnen gaan. Dat gold net zo goed voor mij! Ik had verwacht dat het pijnlijk zou zijn, maar dat was het niet. Het voelde hooguit een beetje vreemd. Ik kreeg verschillende katheters mee om uit te proberen. Vanwege het compacte formaat en de discrete vormgeving had de Curan Lady direct al mijn voorkeur. Door de coating wordt de katheter glad en verloopt het inbrengen soepel, zonder irritatie. Leuk is anders, maar de Curan Lady bleek voor mij echt een uitkomst.