Hi Michelle, one question, when you did supra pubic did you use a Foley catheter? you would have had to? Please let me know thanks!
> On 12/11/2023 9:52 PM EST Michelle Harkness <hotwheelsmiche...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > Hey Shirley! I've been on this page forever and learned lots from y'all, but > I tend to keep kinda quiet. Not sure what your situation is exactly, but > I've been a C5-6 quad for 30 years and I had always done intermittent > cathing, relying on someone else for help with it. In February of this year, > I finally took the plunge and got a Mitrofinoff with bladder augmentation. I > had tried a suprapubic for about 6 months, but hated it and the multiple > never ending infections it caused, so I started looking more into the > Mitrofinoff then. I can now do my own cathing almost all of the time, > through a stoma in my belly button that I use a male 16" catheter for. The > bladder augmentation helped wonders, and I was pretty unfamiliar with what > that was, or what wonders it could do when I received it. It helps absorb > the bladder spasms, gives you more capacity and my doc said it helps lessen > infections somehow (still trying to figure that out). The only draw back is > they use your bowel for the augmentation, which in turn causes lots of > goobers in your urine (doc says the bowel still does what its supposed to > do). But it's super nice to not have to lay down 4 times a day to use the > restroom, and basically pee wherever I want to! > > Have an amazing day! > > Michelle > > On Mon, Dec 11, 2023 at 3:58 PM wheelch...@aol.com mailto:wheelch...@aol.com > <wheelch...@aol.com mailto:wheelch...@aol.com> wrote: > > > > > Thanks for the update. The bladder, over time, for those with indwelling > > caths, will/can shrink to the size of a walnut, compared to what it used to > > be. When you consider the size of the cath, plus the balloon, inside a > > walnut. there is not much room for urine to collect and it may pass > > quicker. > > Best Wishes. > > > > On Monday, December 11, 2023 at 02:34:15 PM CST, SHIRLEY BELL > > <sbell...@cox.net mailto:sbell...@cox.net> wrote: > > > > > > Hi all, well I had my cystoscopy and all he found was a shrunken bladder. > > That is what is causing spasms on and off and rejecting catheters on and > > off. Not lasting as long. They are going to change my meds to see if that > > helps. Botox is an option as well. 47 years of indwelling catheter use has > > taken a toll. Not much they can do but I am looking into it. There is an > > external catheter option called a pur wick for women of course but I have > > doubts about it. I am trying not to worry but geez, not great. A suprapubic > > may be an option, not a cure but may be easier for me and my caretakers to > > deal with this. Hope you all doing ok, quad life is an ongoing challenge > > for sure. Have a great holiday season.Shirley If you want to see how I make > > my living check out my Etsy shop here. > > https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShirleyBell?ref=seller-platform-mcnav > > >
