You are definitely the exception rather than the rule...great for you if you've been able to avoid UTI's...don't forget though teat you don't have as much bacteria 'up there' as a woman who's parts are 'down there' where moisture is constantly a problem...not to mention menstruation.
A woman should never be allowed to go too long with an indwelling...if it's going to be a long-term thing, it's usually switched to a suprapubic--which is what will happen to me if I can't relearn to dress and self-cath. I'm lucky in that my Urologist is widely renown for his work in the SCI field.He's a wealth of information and was one of the docs who has pionered urological care for women with SCIs. Also, with a foley, kidneys start shutting down after ten or so years, so when possible, it should be capped off to mimic the filling and emptying of the bladder. Laura www.laurabeaudin.com --NOT just another blog! http://practical-homeschooling.org On Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 9:42 AM, Alton Ryder <a-ry...@comcast.net> wrote: > Keep things clean, and a Foley is the least apt to be involved in an UTI. > I've been, I believe, on a Foley for seven years with only one UTI. Changes > every other week. > > Alton > > On Apr 28, 2010, at 9:58 AM, Laura Beaudin wrote: > > > Actually, an indwelling catheter should be a last resort. They create > more infection since bacteria sets up a home on the catheter and they never > fully drain the bladder (since the catheter opening sits over the balloon). > Also, using an in-and-out catheter allows the bladder to expand and deflate > naturally where with the foley, it doesn't do this, which can lead to > further problems. > >
