Among the many home medical suppliesyou can have, the most commonly sought after are catheters. This device is used to collect urine from the bladder when a patient can no longer urinate on his own. They can also be used by patients after having surgery when mobility is compromised and it becomes difficult to urinate freely.

One type of catheter is the Foley catheter which is also called an indwelling catheter. This kind of device stays in the patient for extended periods. A plastic tube with a deflated balloon on one end is inserted through the urethra until the deflated balloon reaches the bladder. Once in place, sterile water is placed through the tube to inflate the balloon which keeps the catheter in place.

Urine flows through the tube and stored in a bag. The bag should be emptied every day and cleaned before reattaching it to the tube. When the catheter is no longer needed, the balloon is deflated and the tube pulled out gently from the patient’s body.

Another type of catheter is the Texas catheter which is sometimes called a condom catheter. A condom-like bag is placed over the penis and then attached to a tube with a bag on the lower part. Urine will flow through the plastic tube and flow down to the storage bag. These types of catheters are not used for long periods due to the risk of urethral blockage, urinary tract infection and injury to the penis from friction.

The third type of catheter is the intermittent catheter that is used only when needed. The patient can insert the catheter by himself through the urethra when he feels the need to relieve himself. It can also be inserted with the help of someone else. Before inserting the plastic tube through the urethra, wash your hands and the surrounding area of the urethra with an antiseptic or soap and water.

Use a water based lubricant on the tip of the plastic tube before inserting the tube through the urethra. Slowly insert the tube up the urethra and wait till the bladder is emptied and you see the urine no longer flowing through the tube. Remove the tube and throw the urine out and clean the catheter. You can get the home medical supplies such as these catheters from online stores that sell them for less than retail price.