Something like this only not so "cute". https://www.ebay.com/itm/Travel-CATHETER-BAG-COVER-Urine-bag-Foley-Tube-cover-Seniors-Elderly-Kids-2000mL/152978726815?hash=item239e3e1f9f:g:w3sAAOSwBnZapGOn
On Tue, May 1, 2018 at 5:25 PM, Randy Anderson <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Ron > I am a C4/5 paralyzed from the neck down. I went with the suprapubic about > 4 months after my accident, while at rehab. > > Your concern about the bladder no longer expanding: I've thought about > this also but have never asked a urologist about it. I've been a quad for > 20 years and went to my urologist the 1st part of last month and he said > "for having a catheter as long as I have I've got the best looking bladder > that he's seen in a long time". Maybe I'm just lucky. > > As far as care for the catheter: > I change my catheter once a month. > I dress the catheter morning and night. I use a clean washcloth for > washing and rinsing and drying. I get half the washcloth wet and put soap > on one corner and wash the SP site with that corner and then rinse it with > the other corner and dry it with the rest. I put a small amount of > Silvadene around the site with a sterile Q-tip starting close to the > catheter and working my way out to about the size of a quarter. We start by > the catheter and go out so that we don't start away from the catheter and > bring germs and towards the catheter. After putting on the Silvadene I use > a 2 x 2 IV sponge (they come to to a package and each one has a slit then > it) I put one over the SP site from the bottom and the other from the top, > and then tape the top to my belly with paper tape (about 2 inches long). > > I do have a piece of what I call " proud flesh", it's a small piece of > meat that protrudes by the catheter. Sometimes it's fairly small and > sometimes it's larger, maybe as large as the small canned pea. It's not > really a problem but occasionally bleeds now and then. I have had it > cauterized a couple of times with something like a "soldering gun", but > that's been years ago and I haven't bothered with it lately. > I've always had pretty good luck regarding UTIs until about the last 5 > years, but still not too bad. > > As far as public events: > I used to use a bedside bag at night (2000 mL) and a smaller leg bag > during the day, with an electric valve that I could run few my wheelchair > to drain the bag. But that started to have some electrical problems along > with getting plugged. Besides those problems and having to clean the leg > bag and the night bag each day I just started to using the old night bag > all day 24/7. Changing the night bag once a week sometimes twice if the > tubing gets cloudy. > But what I really like, is that I have a cloth bag and tubing that I > bought online (I believe it was on eBay, for about $25. It was from a > individual person that makes them and then sells them. They come in > different colors but I prefer black, because it tends to blend in to my > wheelchair.) When I put on a new night bag I run the tubing from the bag > through the black cloth tube/sock, and then attach the bag to my catheter. > When getting dressed I run the bag down my pants leg and when I get in the > chair. On the chair I have the cloth bag hanging behind my foot rests, > pretty much out of sight except during weight shifts where I recline/tilt. > Usually these bags come with a slit in the bottom with a Velcro closure on > it, so instead of taking the night bag out of the cloth bag you can just > open the bottom and drain it from there. Although I don't recall how long > the tubing is on my night bag it's long enough that made can drain it into > the toilet or on the ground. I can usually go all day (draining it at 1 > o'clock when my aide leaves, until 8:30 PM). If you know somebody that > sews, I would think they're pretty much a piece of cake. > PS I don't know that having a bag on 24/7 instead of changing to a leg > bag morning and night, is any better or worse for you. I would think that > it may be better because the system stays sealed until you change to a new > bag. I did mention to my urologist that I was doing the 24/7 thing and he > seemed fine with it. "But to each his own" > > Randy > > > On Tue, May 1, 2018 at 3:36 PM, Eric Olson <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Could it be a prostate problem? An enlarged prostate can make it harder >> to pass a catheter. I would think your urologist would have thought of >> that though. Supra is nice. I've had mine over 15 years >> >> On Tue, May 1, 2018 at 1:02 PM, RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> I cant understand how this can change in the matter of a few days but it >>> did. Im home alone most days and have little help. ive got to keep the >>> foley in a month, then the deciding starts. Im sure when they pull the >>> foley that the catherization tube will slip in at first. Will it stay that >>> way.............probally not. Im on Flomax now and oxybutin, im hoping that >>> helps.............not sure if it will. I don't fully understand why the >>> spincter is spasming or staying closed. I guess I will try anything to get >>> it working, but at some point Im going to have to look into a superpubic. I >>> cant see how a condom cathe could work very well long term, and wont work >>> at all without removing the spincter. I just don't want to make the wrong >>> decision. Ive already screwed up on my syrinx and letting the docs put a >>> patch in my stomach after my appendix burst in 2011. I just want to know >>> when the smoke clears if the superpubic sucks that I did all I could to >>> keep what little life I have rolling. I have very little support guys. >>> Thanks for the help. >>> >>> Ron >>> >>> >>> On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 12:13 PM, Quad Dude <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Hi Ron, >>> >>> The only 2 alternative solutions I can think of will likely be >>> unappealing to you. >>> >>> Since it appears your bladder sphincter is clamping down too hard, you >>> could get a sphincterotomy which debilitates the bladder sphincter and >>> allows for the free flow of urine, however, you would need to wear an >>> external (condom) catheter from that point forward. >>> >>> Another possibly more appealing solution could be to get a suprapubic >>> catheter placement. This is done through a simple surgical procedure which >>> creates a pathway from your abdomen directly to your bladder and your >>> bladder would empty through this pathway via a Foley catheter. The side >>> benefit of this method of bladder management is it "frees Willie" and can >>> make day to day management a bit easier. The procedure is also reversible >>> as the passageway from the abdomen to your bladder will close on its own >>> over a relatively short period of time (multiple hours or days) if you >>> remove the Foley catheter. >>> >>> These may have already been discussed with your urologist. I definitely >>> encourage getting 2nd opinions before opting for any surgical procedures, >>> urology or otherwise. >>> >>> I hope you find an acceptable solution that works for you. >>> >>> Steve - C4, 30 years, auto accident >>> >>> On Tue, May 1, 2018 at 4:37 AM, RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Im a c7 quad, 20 years post that has been straight cathing for 20 years >>> with little issue. Three years ago I started leaking a bit but just dealt >>> with it until the tubes wouldn't go in( pass sphincter) without an hour of >>> pushing and sometimes 5 tries. 3 months ago things got so bad that my >>> bladder was full and I couldn't insert the tube at all and my body went >>> into severe autonomic dysreflexia. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital >>> and they inserted a foley for 3 weeks. After the foley was taken out they >>> gave me some antibiotics and the tube was slipping in like butter for the >>> next 8 days. Out of nowhere the tube started getting harder and harder to >>> get in until it was near impossible. I was put on that drug that stops or >>> decreases bladder spasms back at the urologist visit after the emergency >>> room deal. Went back to the urologist today and they had to give me the >>> nurse, she tried to run a cathe tube in me but it wouldn't go so she tried >>> a caude cathe tube with the bent tip. this got through and urine came out >>> but lots of blood came out as well which never has happened. Finally the >>> doc came in and tried to get a foley in and finally did after awhile. The >>> blood wasn't coming from the bladder, it must have knicked a wall. My last >>> urologist visit they ran a camera in and it looked great no false passage >>> or issues. The question is why is the tube not getting past the internal >>> spincter? I suggested trying Flomax and im already on oxybutynin. if there >>> is no blockage or false passage then the spincter has to be in spasm or not >>> opening right? What else should I do? I have this foley now for a month >>> that I didn't want but I got anyway. I guess if I take the Flomax and >>> oxybutynin and after the four weeks remove the foley and im sure the tube >>> will go in but within a week it might start giving me trouble again. I >>> don't really understand how the spincter could give me this much trouble >>> and if it is what else I can do. I fear that im going to get a permanent >>> bag soon because they are tired of me. maybe they can rescope me to be sure >>> next time as well........im at a loss. >>> >>> >>> Ron >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >
