Hi W,
I didn't see the post from luke you responded to. I have had a supra
pubic 18 french size for over 10 years. I too am very active and live alone and
can't imagine any other way. I use a leg or belly bag (for shorts or
swimming). Then at night I use a 4000 ml bedside bag in order to prevent a
smaller bag from backing up and causing disreflexia.
A BIG ADVANTAGE to using the large bag at night is that I can drink as
much water or whatever during the night as I want. Also I can go to a sporting
event, concert, movie, church or drive a long way without stopping for a potty
break.
The only disadvantage is that I have my cathater changed at least once
each month. Also by having the cath in my bladder I contantly have a way for
bacteria to get in my system. I have found that rinsing the bags 1/3 full twice
with water and shaking them hard to clean all the corners and tube. Followed
buy 1/3 bag of water and I use a 60ml syringe to add vinegar 1 to small bags
and 2 to the bedside bag. Which I leave in the bag with the caps on the ends of
the tubing, hanging from the towel bar until ready to use again. This has
helped reduce UTI's to about one every 90 days. My cath does bleed
occasionally, but usually only a small amount, less than a golfball size spot
on a pad that I sleep on my belly on. Usually a day or two following the
change, and then if it gets pulled on hard by clothing or carelessness by
providers. Which doesn't happen very often. Another helper is an elastic leg
strap which holds the cathater in place at the connection of the bag and cath.
near my crotch, always leaving slack between the strap and belly. I change my
cath. once a month every month usually teachng someone ow to do it. I get my
supplies delivered every month through http://www.byramhealthcare.com/. Every
morning and night I have caregivers clean around the cathater site where it
enters my belly. 1st I have hem take 3 quares of toilet paper and roll it up
about the size of a cigarette to make a circle around the tube site on my belly
to stop liquids from spilling. Then we use a 1/3 cap of Hydrogen Peroxide
poured around the tube and then a q-tip to clean any mucous or blood. Then 2
drops of Betadine on the hole and triple antibiotic on a Q-tip to lubricate
around the tube and pull the cathater to stretch it slightly and lube around
the tube up about 1/2".
One last piece of advice is to learn how to change the cathater sterily
from the doctor. I would even suggest video taping the doctor changing it
properly. Then watch it over and over so you know how to explain to someone how
to do it if an emergency occurs. I have caught several nurses not making the
change properly while talking through every step before they did it.Twice I had
a careless caregiver pull it out of my belly accidentally. And a few times the
cathater has stopped up inside my bladder. Requiring me to teach anyone with
TWO HANDS to deflate the defective cath. bulb and replace it quick. As I said I
have had my super pubic in over 3,950 days so it is not a very common
occurance. Good Luck, Jim Rice
""I have a dream that one day soon, all people with physical challenges will be
treated equally. I will not let things I am not able to do yet, Stop what the
LORD & I can. !!!"
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 9:15 PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] supur pubic tube
Hiya Luke
Check out the term "Walnut Bladder."
Check out the Uro-cycler too. They are based in Florida or Texas.
Best Wishes
W
In a message dated 7/18/2007 8:57:44 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL
PROTECTED] writes:
hey everyone
i just got back from my urologist's office and I found out that because
I've had a foley cath in for the past three years my bladder has shrunk. i
have a lot of discomfort (pain) with the foley. he has told me my alternatives
to the foley and i believe my best option is a supur pubic tube. i'm really
active, i do all my own transfers, i live independently--will i still be able
to do these things with a supur pubic tube? i hear that they can bleed. what
y'alls experiences with the supur pubic tube?
Luke c-5/6 incomplete 7yrs on Monday
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