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Some of our users tell us about their life using LoFric Catheters.
Click on the links to the right to read testimonials from some of our patients or scroll down to read some LoFric user comments.
If you would like to help others by providing your own story about how ISC and LoFric has helped you, please email urology.uk@astratech.com
Your comments may be published anonymously in our Select magazine as well as appearing in this section of our website.
Comment One
I have been using LoFric Primo twice a day for the last few months. After the first couple of days, getting used to using them, the catheters have been very easy and comfortable to use. Their quality and ease of use have made what could have been an uncomfortable task not at all unpleasant.
Comment Two
At last a product that meets all of my needs, the new size LoFric Primo is fantastic and even fits in my smallest of handbags! It’s really convenient and will be coming with me everywhere.
Comment Three
I have been using the LoFric range of catheters for a number of years. I started off with LoFric Plus, which was great but when you are working you don’t always want to advertise to your colleagues that you have to self catheterise, trying to fill it discreetly in public was a problem. Then I met our local Astra Tech rep and she recommended LoFric Hydro-Kit II, what a difference! No more skulking in the corner trying to fill it without anyone noticing…
I am not sure whose idea it was to provide a catheter with its own water supply but they deserve a medal, and even better,, LoFric Hydro-Kit II comes with a drainage bag for those awkward times when there isn’t a loo handy.
Comment Four
My name is Colin and I am 13. Two years ago I had a Mitrofanoff because of my bladder problems and about a year ago I had a kidney transplant. I started using catheters after my Mitrofanoff. I used LoFric at first and I found that they were easy enough to use. Then I was introduced to Primo. I like using Primo for a few reasons, one because I don’t have to go and fill the catheter with water and it saves me waiting for my sisters to finish in the bathroom so that I could fill it up with water. Two, I can go to my friend’s house and three no one can notice it. When I go out I can stick one in my bag and use it when I need to. This is why I like using Primo.
Comment Five
I have been using LoFric Hydro-Kit II for quite a few months now and have noticed that I do not suffer from as many infections since the change from basic catheters.
I have quite a few problems with my back and when it gets too bad I have to have a permanent catheter fitted which can be quite debilitating and limits my choice of clothes. Intermittent self catheterisation makes such a difference to my physical and mental state. I also find it very comforting to read the personal letters in your magazine as at times I get a bit depressed and it makes such a difference knowing that other people have the same problems. Thank you for your great service.
Comment Six
One month ago I was admitted to hospital with acute retention after suffering months of problems. I first thought it was just my age and got on with my very active life. I spent four days in hospital and at 3.30am my last day, a nurse came to my bedside and did a scan of my bladder, it was full. She showed me a LoFric catheter. I had one lesson and found the insertion so easy and simple to use that I was allowed home. I use one catheter in the morning and one late evening.
My life has changed beyond my wildest dreams, I sleep all night, even after a late night drink. Your home delivery is excellent and your staff are a joy to speak with. Would you please give my thanks to your telephone girls and thank you Astra Tech, I have my life back!
Comment Seven
Margaret is a very active 69 year old lady who lives with her husband Harry in York. Both were married before, and have between them seven children, 19 grandchildren and one great–granddaughter! Following an accident ten years ago when she was knocked down by a quad bike at a show, Margaret subsequently suffered nerve damage to her urinary tract and now she needs to self catheterise around five times a day.
Margaret says: ‘My previous catheter was quite rigid and painful to use. I then had a different one but I had to fill it with water when I went to the loo and I found this very embarrassing in public places. The LoFric catheter is much more flexible and easier to use and what’s really good is that nobody knows I am using it! I pop a few in my handbag and always have one in my pocket. People wonder how I cope but you just have to get on with it, don’t you? I love walking in the countryside, shopping, going to my exercise class and to the bingo and this has made my life a lot easier. I can now go on holiday too, without worrying.’
Comment Eight
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the end of 2001 after having no symptoms other than needing to empty my bladder a lot at night. I had three months of radiotherapy during which time I went into retention and started doing ISC, which I was told would be short term. It turned out that the radiotherapy burnt my bladder, which as well as causing blood clots, meant that my bladder nerves were ruined and I would have to catheterise forever.
ISC was difficult at first and I had a few accidents, but now it is amazing and fits into my life easily. As I have no feeling of needing to empty my bladder, I monitor my fluid intake and keep an eye on the time. LoFric Hydro-Kit II is ideal and very useful when I am out of the house.
Comment Nine
When I first learned that I would have to use catheters on a regular three-times-a-day basis, I was horrified as I thought I would never be able to perform this task on myself. I work as a beauty consultant for a perfumery company and in the course of my work I visit some very glamorous venues and hotels and I thought my employment in a job I love would have to end.
Thanks to Astra Tech and LoFric my situation is as near normal as possible. After a very short instruction I was able to perform ISC with no bother at all, as it is both simple and painless. Also with all the various accessories I can be very discreet when the bathroom door is closed.
With LoFric Primo it is even better, when I am at work or out and about, everything I need is in one simple small package concealed in my handbag.
LoFric has made what I thought was going to a difficult and embarrassing situation into a simple procedure. I use the home delivery service which is reliable, quick and has made my life stress-free, the service is fantastic and I cannot thank you enough.
Comment Ten
My bladder was not working correctly as I was retaining a great deal of urine. I had an operation for enlarged Prostate after which the bladder did not work at all. I was fitted with a catheter, leg bag and a night bag hoping the rested bladder would eventually work again. This for me was not a happy situation as I was a young sixty-four! The prospect of no more swimming, no more wearing shorts and worst of all, no more sex, was the beginning of a nightmare.
After many visits to the hospital, each time involving removal of the catheter and drinking what seemed like gallons of water to kick start the bladder, (which did not work), then replacing the catheter and coming back the next month, I decided to see a consultant privately. He told me there was nothing that could be done to make the bladder work again, but he could improve things for me. He recommended ISC and Astra Tech LoFric catheters, which I now use all the time.
You must hear this all the time, but I would like to thank you and your product for changing my life.
Comment Eleven
After more than ten years of suffering from everything that major waterworks problems can bring, I was determined to overcome as many of them as possible. With a lot of support and help from an expert in the profession who I now look upon as a good friend, I eventually learned how to carry out ISC properly.
For me, the key to it all was carrying out catheterisation in the standing position, as advised by my expert friend. Reading this by now you will probably have guessed I am of the male species! It all took a long time, almost a year, but during that time I was soon able to do so many things I had not managed previously without a great deal of difficulty and a lot of pain. Bending down was the worst part and trying to sort out the garden was not as enjoyable as it had been years ago. Even going out shopping or driving the car were events I did not look forward to. By the afternoon I would be feeling pretty rough, it was all down to bladder infection and after too many years of it I had finally had enough.
By now I had become good at using this marvellous and simple device, the LoFric catheter, life is so much better now. I did sometime ago try out another manufacturer’s catheter, but it proved to be for me rather uncomfortable on insertion. The tip end which goes into the bladder seemed to be slightly different in design to LoFric and I could only assume this was where the trouble lay. Since then I have used and continue to use LoFric products.
So to end my story may I say thank you to Astra Tech for their excellent products and to the profession for helping me reach for a better life and prove determination can achieve success.
Comment Twelve
Having been catheterising six times a day for fifteen years, I am now well practiced at fitting ISC into my daily life. This said, when travelling around the UK and abroad, I find myself more aware of the inconvenience that ISC can be, especially when toilet facilities are limited.
Those of you that have travelled around Europe will know how hard it can be trying to catheterise in tiny cubicles with timed lights and doors! Either you find yourself plunged into darkness mid-catheterisation or on public display.
In July last year I read about LoFric Hydro-Kit II, boasting ‘all you need for hygienic catheterisation’. I requested a sample of the product and have been using it ever since. I used standard LoFric before, but now the water sachet takes away the worry of finding clean water.
When driving to Spain earlier this year, I could not believe the difference that it made for me. Last year our drive around Europe was tailored to where the public conveniences were located – not usually the most picturesque of settings. With LoFric Hydro –Kit II, I was able to drive whatever route I fancied, with no worry about finding a loo. For me the drainage bag is definitely the best feature. Now when I travel all I have to think about is enjoying the view!
Comment Thirteen
For reasons unknown, some years ago my bladder ceased to empty itself satisfactorily. I struggled along, very incontinent but because I was otherwise an extremely healthy person and every test I seemed to have came back as ‘normal’, I just got on with taking antibiotics and coping.
Eventually a test proved I was retaining urine and I was taught to self catheterise. That was in January 2004. Since then I have had only one infection (which I was able to get through without medication) and I have been dry and comfortable ever since.
Whilst I find it hard to accept that such a fundamental bodily function as being able to urinate properly has been taken from me (everything else works well!) your product has meant that I can lead a very active, healthy life. I think your product is a lifesaver. Thank you.
Comment Fourteen
I went along to my doctor’s in response to an invitation to all over 60’s, to have an ultrasound scan to check for aortic aneurism, unaware of any problems. The nurse doing the scan asked, much to my surprise, if I needed to void my bladder, as it was very full. As an attempt to do so did not significantly empty my bladder, I was referred to the local hospital Urology Department.
After a brief consultation with the Registrar I was shown a video of some people using ISC. This was followed by using a LoFric catheter for the first time, after emptying my bladder in the normal way. The result, to my amazement was 1.74 litres drained off – I lost 4lbs in weight without any effort!
I was then given a packet of LoFric catheters and told to use them daily, preferably twice a day. Obviously not too happy about this, I was also given a card and told that if I had any difficulties I was not to hesitate to get in touch. My daughter, who is a doctor made the comment that it’s no worse than using contact lenses! All this was in September 2002. I am still using LoFric catheters very easily and no longer suffer from an over-filled bladder.
A bonus is that I no longer get up in the night as I had for more than ten years. In this time I have travelled for three months around Europe in my motor home and round the world for another three months including stops in Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Delhi. LoFric catheters have been easily used in all these places and also in airports and at least twice on board flying aircraft. So far, I have never experienced any problems. Supplies have always arrived and they are excellent. Carefully following the instructions I was given at the outset, I have never had any trace of infection.
Comment Fifteen
Just over seven years ago, my bladder took a turn for the worst. Having suffered with Ulcerative Colitis (inflammation of the colon and rectum) for over 20 years, I was used to living with medication and inconvenient toilet procedures and tried to accept that things were to be different, yet again. One gets used to the ups and downs of life and learns to put on a ‘yes thanks, I am fine’ voice and try to move on – now it was more difficult.
After many setbacks, minor surgery was done on the bladder and I was taught to catheterise, which seemed fairly straightforward but rather a daunting job. I arrived home with my bag full of goodies rather more depressed than I thought.
I pressed on in a haphazard way not entirely happy with the catheters and having to take continual antibiotics for infections. I turned to my computer – looking up the whole long story. It was then that LoFric and Astra Tech came up. From that day to this I have almost come to terms with the inconvenience but I now have a far better quality of life than for six years and despite being on a low fluid intake I can almost get the bladder to do what I want. That does not include wonderful long nights of sleep though – four hours seems the limit.
It often occurs to me that had I not found this back-up on the web, my life would not have been as easy as it is now. Both hospitals that I am under are helpful, but as we all know they are so overworked with bowel and bladder diseases these days that any help we can give ourselves, not to mention sharing with other sufferers, must be a good thing?
My life is busy and mostly fulfilled now, enabling me to travel quite extensively with my husband, visiting friends and relatives. We have much to be thankful for, especially the cheery and helpful girls at Astra Tech. The chap who delivers my monthly parcels must wonder why I am glad to see him – I think that goes for all of us.
Thank you for all the help and encouragement you have given me over the past year.
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