I use my catheters until it is obvious that they need a final burial. :-) I have a small microwave in my bedroom, and I use a rubber 14 French, so before each use. They are boiled for five minutes. Any bags that we use are bleached twice a week, and I insist that anyone doing my catheterization is using gloves. My catheters usually last for a month. Not only do we bleach the inside of the bag, we bleach the outside too, so there is minimal odor.
As far as UTIs go, I have been so fortunate. Perhaps once a year my urine smells or looks funny, and if it has not cleaned up within a day or two, I'll get a urine sample and take it to the lab. As I mentioned before, the only serious UTI I had was obtained in the hospital. Just fancy that! We are just like anyone else when it comes to being susceptible to infections. There is a great variation in our susceptibility, and if we look back on our lives before SCI, we probably had the same type of susceptibility to infections. I.e.: we very seldom caught colds, or we always got everyone's cold et cetera. I hate getting a cold, especially when it settles in my chest, and the subsequent quad coughs and gunk cleaning that follows. :-( even though I am exposed to many children's colds and coughs, I am fortunate that that my resistance remains high. I am outside a great deal, and luckily even in winter, I can still be outside. Reno is a very high, sunny day place. So even when it is only 35° out, I am able to go out on my back deck, which is sheltered from most of the wind. The thermometer on the siding will often register 100°, even though the air temperature is actually only 40 or 50. I really feel that being outdoors has a great deal to do with my being so very healthy. Joan, C4 quad 1990 _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 1:20 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] uti's I get a UTI about once or twice a year. As long as we deal with catheters we will get UTI's. I use a condom catheter but I still have to check the residual in my bladder every month to six weeks. Often I have an infection that would be critical to normal folks. I think most of us build up a tolerance to UTI's untill they are pretty bad. You have to calculate a balance between a tolerance to bugs and becoming immune to anti biotics. I'm open to listening to anyone's news on the subject. I heard there was work on a vaccine for certain UTI's. That was years ago and frankly, I haven't been to see my uro in about 5 years. I just keep anti biotics (cipro & bactrim DS) on hand. I have a perpetual refill with his DA. I'd call him if I couldn't clear it up. Sometimes I do wonder if I'm septic but since I can't be sure without testing, I won't know when I'm in end stage and with any luck, I won't know I should have died. I always seem to be pretty good untill they say I'm in an awful state and should have died yesterday. I think some people die just because they are told they are going to. I've been told I'm circling the drain since the day I was run over. Maybe I'm too stubborn to stop breathing(or too stupid). But I digress. I think a good doctor would try to keep your infection at a mild roar and hope you build a tolerance to the infection before you build an immunity to the treatments available. john C-5 31 years post -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Sent: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 6:26 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] uti's Hi Kathy, So sorry that you are feeling so horrible Kathy. I do have UTI's with my ostomy, I don't know if I have three per year as I don't really keep track, which I should. They do make you feel horrible at first until you get the proper medication. I always have it checked when the smell really changes, a lot more sedimentation than normal or am getting a lot of spasms. They usually always do a culture with me, so it takes longer. My visiting nurse tries to come by quickly, when I e-mail her or call her. I'm glad I don't have to go to the doctor to get cultures for my lungs or urinary. My lung doctor likes to see me, which is very difficult sometimes as I don't have transportation immediately, just when my best friend is off work, which he doesn't seem to understand. I knew they have doctors to come to your home. I need to find out if my insurance will cover which I really doubt. I hope you feel better quickly. I know we always take a chance when we go out among a lot of people to get viruses or colds, but I guess I don't let that stop me. I like to get out as much as I can. Get well soon as my friend. Dana How many UTI's do the rest of you get? _____ size=2 width="100%" align=center> <http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/1615326657x4311227241x4298082137/aol?redir=ht tp%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaol%2Ecom%2Fnewaol> Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
