Life with an Indwelling Urinary Catheter: The Dialectic of Stigma and Acceptance

Abstract

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to describe and interpret the lived experience of long-term users of urinary catheters. Living with a urinary catheter involved a dialectical swing between acknowledgment that the catheter was "a part of me" and feelings of alienation and vulnerability when it was experienced as a stigma. Themes include Adjusting to embodied changes by perceiving the catheter as a "part of me," Shame and responding to shame by normalizing, and Embarrassment and coping with embarrassment by humor. Providers can minimize stigma related to the visibility of the catheter by coaching patients in strategies to manage going out of the home with a minimum of urine accidents or by helping develop ways to conceal the urine bag.

The impact of living with long‐term conditions in young adulthood on mental health and identity: What can help?

“…Indeed, participants did largely describe the same linear order of stages in coming to terms with their LTC/s—particularly amongst those who had been diagnosed for a longer period of time who reflected back on their feelings over the years since diagnosis. This also expands on previous research which has identified reaching acceptance of new/altered identities as important for mental health, and was also seen as a long and difficult process that required time and reflection (eg Refs). The other suggestions made by participants in the present study are less present in the existing literature, although some reference has previously been made to the value of positive thinking (eg Refs).…”

“…Across studies with individuals of varying ages, acceptance has been described as being at peace with the limitations and losses associated with the condition, acceptance of the condition as part of your identity, and being able to appreciate and recognize the life lessons learnt. Acceptance has been described as a gradual and difficult on‐going process requiring time and reflection, and has been emphasized as important for living well with LTCs . Acceptance has also been found to be associated with better emotional functioning amongst young adults specifically …”

Testing a Model of Self-Management of Fluid Intake in Community-Residing Long-term Indwelling Urinary Catheter Users

“…Urinary tract infection and blockage are serious and recurrent challenges for people with long-term indwelling catheters; and these catheter problems cause worry and anxiety when they disrupt normal daily activities (Wilde, 2003a). While there is a paucity of epidemiological research in this area and no relevant Cochrane reviews (Cottenden et al, 2013), two recent studies provide evidence of the widespread prevalence of these problems.…”

Comparing Transurethral and Suprapubic Catheterization for Long-term Bladder Drainage

“…They concluded that if patients understood more about their catheter and its function they would better accept the device and manage it better. Wilde 9 ,10 has also written about the experiences of 14 adults in the United States living with a urethral catheter. She found that people living with a catheter often felt that the catheter was an integral part of their lives, rather than a foreign object, but if someone drew attention to it, or if there was a urine-related accident, the catheter caused feelings of alienation, embarrassment, and shame.…”