It is a crap shoot. When I began having problems with my catheter plugging beginning in 1989... it happened so often that I *had to* irrigate. I was not having any UTI problems at the time. Only sludge and much sediment. I cannot remember what I used way back then but it was since then that irrigating became a part of my life right through to the year 2000. Then, strangely enough, the sludge and the sediment disappeared but I began having numerous UTIs. Figure that one out!
Anyway, I remember in 1998 I was irrigating with a mixture of distilled water (best) and vinegar. I had to keep doing this for the catheter to flow. I think NOW that in 2000 ... it was the very beginning of my stones forming. Because in 2001 or very early 2002 I had an ultrasound done and the results showed three tiny stones. The stupid urologist I chose then at that time told me that they were probably not the problem for my UTIs. Because I asked him directly... "Will this help my problem with my ongoing urinary tract infections?" His response was "no." And I was so afraid of having anything surgically done that I did not need to. I had had many, many, many tiny stones before that I had not caused me any UTI so I figured I was in the clear. But the UTIs got worse and worse and worse ever since and you know what has happened since. I finally had the CT scan done here in Arizona and I had rocks in my bladder rather than tiny little stones. Obviously harboring bacteria...BAD bacteria. >From my husband's medical experience and standpoint... unless you are having a problem with sediment or sludge... irrigating only pushes things back up into the bladder. OPPORTUNISTIC. So why do it just for the heck of it? >From my experience... I would check (via a specimen for it specifically) every six months to make sure that the pH of your urine is at or very close to a 6. That was my problem... because I could not get it down near a 6 .... I had no idea why until I read that article about potassium. So much for A URO NOT SOLVING THAT ONE. So I guess my answer is no irrigating unless absolutely necessary. AND YES... ABOUT TIME YOU GOT A NEW URO BEFORE YOUR UTIs got the better of you! I thought you had a death wish the way you were playing around so long. But why did you have to spend time in the hospital instead of receiving the IV antibiotics at home? Hospitals are breeding grounds for bacteria so I am surprised that was the chosen route??? Lori Michaelson C4/5 complete quad, 28 years post Tucson, AZ On 10/26/07, Danny Hearn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > *Hi - All---- My new Urologist thinks I should irrigate thru my supra > pubic catheter about once a week or so, to help prevent bladder stones. Does > anyone else in here do this on a regular basis ? It sounds like a good idea, > but I was wondering if irrigating might cause more UTI's or bladder > infections.* > * > Dan H.* >
