Re: [QUAD-L] UTI
I just obtained another uti. I believe the uti's are coming from not emptying my bladder all the way. I use a condom catheter all the time but i straight cath every morning and night to completely empty my bladder. Well, last friday and monday night my aide them nights had a broken finger and i did not get the bladder empty. Now, Thursday/Friday, i have a uti. Does anyone think this would cause it? Or is it just circumstances? Thanks, Derrick C-5 - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 6:18 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Bladder Thumping some can while others can't Bladder thumping is kinda an artform. Some can while others can't. Some have tighten muscles, while others don't. Be prepared for that day when thumping won't help you empty or relieve your bladder and.. best wishes W n a message dated 10/13/2006 1:35:08 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Do any of you tap around your bladder to cause muscle contractions? I have done this since erehab. It causes the muscles to contract and the sphincter to release the urine in several flows. Because of it I can use an external catheter and avoid all the infections from indwelling catheters. It is just a gentle serious of taps on the tummy and then the bladder muscles contract and empty it. By the way, the sediment is usually caused when you have a bladder that is not emptying. This allows bacteria to grow in the bladder, often causing stones to form which in turn cause more bacteria to grow. I'm still a proponent of anti-infectives and large doses of vitamin C. For those of you on anti biotics, try that new Dan-active from Dannon between doses and see if it really helps avoid the constipation and the runs that are so common with anti biotic use. I personnally just use acidophalous capsules between any anti biotics that I take john
[QUAD-L] Reason I have supra pubic catheter
I have Multiple Sclerosis & have no feeling from the breast down including my left arm but the right arm works as normal as anything.I tried to intermittent cath but with only one arm, it was almost impossible to do. Being 58 years old, having 3 natural births , my bladder is mis-shapened with lots of crannies & pockets that hold urine. The bladder has gotten smaller over the years. Have had the SP Cath for 2 years & the doc is amazed that I have had so few problems with it. Still get infections but less than ever before.At night I hang the bag on the bed rail. So far no problems.KK Get your email and more, right on the new Yahoo.com
RE: [QUAD-L] HANGING A BEDBAG
i HAVE DISCOVERED IT TO BE EASIER to put the condom cath on pointing down, I run the tube between my legs and under my knee. Then I put the bag on the floor. The other thing I have discovered is barrier wipes, used on my penis before applying Wide Band, or similar "extra adhesive styly external cath. Last night I discovered another trick. My urnal was full, I had already removed the external, and needed to empty. I connected a condom cath the usual way, but instead of putting it on my penis I wrapped the sticky part arround the funnel end and straight cathed right into the bed bag. JT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 1:42 PMTo: quad-list@eskimo.comSubject: Re: [QUAD-L] HANGING A BEDBAG I've seen some amazing rigs and rituals that people use for hanging bedbags so they fill with comfort and avoid back preasure. After 31 years I have this down to a simple matter of water always seeking the lowest point. When you lay in bed route the catheter over your leg and into a loop on the bed. The loop should be large enough that the line hanging down never drops below the bottom of the bag and the higher the more comfortable it will be. Those little green clips with rubber bands keep the loop from falling off the bed. As it fills with urine it creates a mild vacuum that actually helps condom catheters stay on better.This same vacuum also aids in draining the bladder and keeping it draining without any backup. I've seen hospitals and nursing homes where the bag line lays on the floor and then goes back up to the bag. This is uncomfortable and very likely to pull off external catheters. Gravity loops are working best when full of urine. Do not play with them and empty them as this eliminates its vacuum effect. john
[QUAD-L] Bladder Thumping.... some can while others can't
You are, my friend, most fortunate. I hope that you continue to have that fortune, and it is. Just ask anyone who can't, and wished they could. Some Uro's don't support that as they claim the bladder is never fully emptied and bacteria is harbored and allowed to colonized. Best Wishes W In a message dated 10/13/2006 5:52:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have been able to empty my bladder in the shower just by leaning forward and pushing. at c-6 incomplete I have some abs. My 2 sense... JT
RE: [QUAD-L] Bladder Thumping.... some can while others can't
I have been able to empty my bladder in the shower just by leaning forward and pushing. at c-6 incomplete I have some abs. My 2 sense... JT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 6:18 PMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; quad-list@eskimo.comSubject: [QUAD-L] Bladder Thumping some can while others can't Bladder thumping is kinda an artform. Some can while others can't. Some have tighten muscles, while others don't. Be prepared for that day when thumping won't help you empty or relieve your bladder and.. best wishes W n a message dated 10/13/2006 1:35:08 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Do any of you tap around your bladder to cause muscle contractions? I have done this since erehab. It causes the muscles to contract and the sphincter to release the urine in several flows. Because of it I can use an external catheter and avoid all the infections from indwelling catheters. It is just a gentle serious of taps on the tummy and then the bladder muscles contract and empty it. By the way, the sediment is usually caused when you have a bladder that is not emptying. This allows bacteria to grow in the bladder, often causing stones to form which in turn cause more bacteria to grow. I'm still a proponent of anti-infectives and large doses of vitamin C. For those of you on anti biotics, try that new Dan-active from Dannon between doses and see if it really helps avoid the constipation and the runs that are so common with anti biotic use. I personnally just use acidophalous capsules between any anti biotics that I take john
[QUAD-L] Bladder Thumping.... some can while others can't
Bladder thumping is kinda an artform. Some can while others can't. Some have tighten muscles, while others don't. Be prepared for that day when thumping won't help you empty or relieve your bladder and.. best wishes W n a message dated 10/13/2006 1:35:08 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Do any of you tap around your bladder to cause muscle contractions? I have done this since erehab. It causes the muscles to contract and the sphincter to release the urine in several flows. Because of it I can use an external catheter and avoid all the infections from indwelling catheters. It is just a gentle serious of taps on the tummy and then the bladder muscles contract and empty it. By the way, the sediment is usually caused when you have a bladder that is not emptying. This allows bacteria to grow in the bladder, often causing stones to form which in turn cause more bacteria to grow. I'm still a proponent of anti-infectives and large doses of vitamin C. For those of you on anti biotics, try that new Dan-active from Dannon between doses and see if it really helps avoid the constipation and the runs that are so common with anti biotic use. I personnally just use acidophalous capsules between any anti biotics that I take john
Re: [QUAD-L] Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Hi Mike, I used a Plantronics USB and it cost around $69, plus the additional $20 for the warranty . I usually find mine at micro Center. You can buy an extended warranty for two years there, which has come in very handy. I would really like to try a wireless, but they are around 200 I think. I was looking at the web site under KnowBrainer for their wireless mics. Has anyone ever tried a wireless mic. I wonder how long the charge will last. I don't wear my mic I clamped it to my boom in bed or near my computer , when I'm in my chair. I don't know if you can get the warranty if you buy online, or how many stores offer the warranty. I'm glad you asked that question. Dana
[QUAD-L] Dr G tonite about quad who died in a park. Repeat if you missed it
Dr. G: Medical Examiner ADVERTISEMENTDr. G: Medical Examiner DHC Oct 13 10:00pm Series/Other, 60 Mins. "The Desperate Crossing" Episode #25. Dr. G must solve the case of a quadriplegic who died a long distance from her wheelchair. Original Airdate: June 23, 2006. Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
[QUAD-L] Dragon NaturallySpeaking
What is the best desktop microphone to use with Dragon? Mike~ www.MurGallery.com
RE: [QUAD-L] I have to go to bed for two weeks plus
Hope you have a speedy recovery Bobbie and you're in my thoughts. Hurry Back. Mark Jackson - Original Message - From: To: quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: 10/12/2006 6:04:38 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] I have to go to bed for two weeks plus Hi All, I just came back from my Doctor and she is insisting I go straight to bed for two weeks until I see her again. The tiny sore is VERY close the my butt bone. She said she hope's I'll be up for Thanksgiving. So, I'm going to sign off but if I get my lap top working I'll sign back on. Keep me in your thoughts. Bye for now, Bobbie
Re: [QUAD-L] Supra-pubic question
I do the same thing John and came across it by accident when I was trying to cough and pushing on my stomach. Works well too. Mark Jackson - Original Message - From: To: quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: 10/13/2006 1:35:14 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Supra-pubic question Do any of you tap around your bladder to cause muscle contractions? I have done this since erehab. It causes the muscles to contract and the sphincter to release the urine in several flows. Because of it I can use an external catheter and avoid all the infections from indwelling catheters. It is just a gentle serious of taps on the tummy and then the bladder muscles contract and empty it. By the way, the sediment is usually caused when you have a bladder that is not emptying. This allows bacteria to grow in the bladder, often causing stones to form which in turn cause more bacteria to grow. I'm still a proponent of anti-infectives and large doses of vitamin C. For those of you on anti biotics, try that new Dan-active from Dannon between doses and see if it really helps avoid the constipation and the runs that are so common with anti biotic use. I personnally just use acidophalous capsules between any anti biotics that I take john In a message dated 10/12/2006 7:13:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: In addition to spinning the catheter, I would recommend pulling it slightly up. I have also had problems with the catheter adhering to the bottom of my bladder. Additionally I have to make sure the tubing is going straight to the bag in order to get drainage. I have cut a 2000 bag for my wheelchair and I utilize a 4000 cc bag for my bed.. The only difference is my bed bag is in a basin at the foot of my bed so that the tubing is as straight as possible without being too taut. What size is your catheter? Right now I'm utilizing a 22, but I may have to go down to a 20 because there is some scar tissue which is making it difficult to insert the size 22 which I have been using for at least four years now. Good luck.Quadius (I have had my suprapubic for 11 years now.)Dylan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hey Friends,I've had the suprapubic for emptying my bladder for about a year and a half now and it has worked pretty well. Within the last week or two it has stopped working efficiently and I'm not sure what the problem is. I've been using catheters of all sorts for twenty years now so I'm quite familiar with all of the things that can go wrong with them. What is happening now is that the thing will just refuse to flow. I'm drinking plenty, the catheter is well irrigated and clear, and yet the liquid still will not flow. I'll even start everything new (bag, catheter, etc). irrigate a few times; and then by the end of the day, or in the early morning, (especially if I'm not careful and fall asleep too deeply, and wake up with an extreme case of it) I'll find myself with increasing levels of disreflexia(you know, ! the kind that makes your body convulse every 15secs or so and leaves you with the headache from hell). Until I use the 60cc syringe to draw the liquid out. There are usually about 3 syringe-fulls in the bladder by that point. When I begin to irrigate it can be quite difficult to pull, but the strange part is that the urine is clear, with little/no sediment build-up. After the initial difficulty in starting the emptying pull, the pull becomes easy as it normally was. The other strange thing however, is that if I stop drawing the liquid out, it just refuses to flow out on its own, as it normally used to.I did subsequently make some changes to my arrangements, and they did seem to help things a little bit, but the flow-stoppage is still happening. I cut the bed bag from the tubing and now have the tubing going in as direct and as downhill a path as possible into an open container (and this did work for awhile but the flow is ! still negligible and still ends up with me having the dist! ended bl adder problem).I seem to remember the urologist saying that I would likely have to increase the size of the catheter as I aged, so that might be the solution, but I've made the earliest MD appointment I could for Dec 12, and a phone conversation tomorrow.I pretty much value you alls' experience over anything else so I'm wondering if any of you have experienced these symptoms. And if so, what can be done to fix the situation? I would like to know if this is a unique experience, or if other quads have adapted to similar situations. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.DylanPS. Oh yeah, on a completely different topic, do any of you play World of Warcraft by an chance? If you do, and you want to, send me an email. I have been playing for over a year now and I can't believe how far I've gotten, considering I'm a quadriplegic. Its great fun, and just as in the real world, we have to find ways to adapt to! our handicaps and I've figured out ways to work around my shortcomings so that I can at least
Re: [QUAD-L] Supra-pubic question, one more question
I used an indwelling folley for over 3 years, but due to recurring scar tissue and blockage I had to get a supra-pubic..I have had it about 6 years now and it has only clogged up twice and that was in the 1st year i had it put in. My wife loves to only drain the pee early in the morning and at night as compared to having used to cath me 3 times a day. I use a number 24 french size catheter and my wife changes the catheter once a month.. ( very easy to change ) The only drawback for me is that i get a lot of bladder infections ( But I got them a lot with an indwelling folley also ) so we really enjoy the freedom of not having to cath. good luck ! Dan H. c-6Dillon Ewa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Hello all, I have mentioned before about my problem with sediment in my urine and the resulting blockage which have caused numerous problems. In your opinion, with getting a suprapubic solve my problem with sediment, would blockage still occur, are the chances of an infection reduced and if you had an indwelling Foley prior to your suprapubic, which method to you prefer - a suprapubic or an indwelling Foley? ThanksDillon"B. Kimberlin (Quadius)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:In addition to spinning the catheter, I would recommend pulling it slightly up. I have also had problems with the catheter adhering to the bottom of my bladder. Additionally I have to make sure the tubing is going straight to the bag in order to get drainage. I have cut a 2000 bag for my wheelchair and I utilize a 4000 cc bag for my bed. The only difference is my bed bag is in a basin at the foot of my bed so that the tubing is as straight as possible without being too taut. What size is your catheter? Right now I'm utilizing a 22, but I may have to go down to a 20 because there is some scar tissue which is making it difficult to insert the size 22 which I have been using for at least four years now. Good luck.Quadius (I have had my suprapubic for 11 years now.)Dylan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hey Friends,I've had the suprapubic for emptying my bladder for about a year and a half now and it has worked pretty well. Within the last week or two it has stopped working efficiently and I'm not sure what the problem is. I've been using catheters of all sorts for twenty years now so I'm quite familiar with all of the things that can go wrong with them. What is happening now is that the thing will just refuse to flow. I'm drinking plenty, the catheter is well irrigated and clear, and yet the liquid still will not flow. I'll even start everything new (bag, catheter, etc). irrigate a few times; and then by the end of the day, or in the early morning, (especially if I'm not careful and fall asleep too deeply, and wake up with an extreme case of it) I'll find myself with increasing levels of disreflexia(you know, the kind that makes your body convulse every 15secs or so and leaves you with the headache from hell). Until I use the 60cc syringe to draw the liquid out. There are usually about 3 syringe-fulls in the bladder by that point. When I begin to irrigate it can be quite difficult to pull, but the strange part is that the urine is clear, with little/no sediment build-up. After the initial difficulty in starting the emptying pull, the pull becomes easy as it normally was. The other strange thing however, is that if I stop drawing the liquid out, it just refuses to flow out on its own, as it normally used to.I did subsequently make some changes to my arrangements, and they did seem to help things a little bit, but the flow-stoppage is still happening. I cut the bed bag from the tubing and now have the tubing going in as direct and as downhill a path as possible into an open container (and this did work for awhile but the flow is still negligible and still ends up with me having the distended bladder problem).I seem to remember the urologist saying that I would likely have to increase the size of the catheter as I aged, so that might be the solution, but I've made the earliest MD appointment I could for Dec 12, and a phone conversation tomorrow.I pretty much value you alls' experience over anything else so I'm wondering if any of you have experienced these symptoms. And if so, what can be done to fix the situation? I would like to know if this is a unique experience, or if other quads have adapted to similar situations. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.DylanPS. Oh yeah, on a completely different topic, do any of you play World of Warcraft by an chance? If you do, and you want to, send me an email. I have been playing for over a year now and I can't believe how far I've gotten, considering I'm a quadriplegic. Its great fun, and just as in the real world, we have to find ways to adapt to our handicaps and I've figured out ways to work around my shortcomings so that I can at least contribute to a team effort. Its fun and challenging. Do you Yahoo!?Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
Re: [QUAD-L] Supra-pubic question
Do any of you tap around your bladder to cause muscle contractions? I have done this since erehab. It causes the muscles to contract and the sphincter to release the urine in several flows. Because of it I can use an external catheter and avoid all the infections from indwelling catheters. It is just a gentle serious of taps on the tummy and then the bladder muscles contract and empty it. By the way, the sediment is usually caused when you have a bladder that is not emptying. This allows bacteria to grow in the bladder, often causing stones to form which in turn cause more bacteria to grow. I'm still a proponent of anti-infectives and large doses of vitamin C. For those of you on anti biotics, try that new Dan-active from Dannon between doses and see if it really helps avoid the constipation and the runs that are so common with anti biotic use. I personnally just use acidophalous capsules between any anti biotics that I take john In a message dated 10/12/2006 7:13:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: In addition to spinning the catheter, I would recommend pulling it slightly up. I have also had problems with the catheter adhering to the bottom of my bladder. Additionally I have to make sure the tubing is going straight to the bag in order to get drainage. I have cut a 2000 bag for my wheelchair and I utilize a 4000 cc bag for my bed. The only difference is my bed bag is in a basin at the foot of my bed so that the tubing is as straight as possible without being too taut. What size is your catheter? Right now I'm utilizing a 22, but I may have to go down to a 20 because there is some scar tissue which is making it difficult to insert the size 22 which I have been using for at least four years now. Good luck.Quadius (I have had my suprapubic for 11 years now.)Dylan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hey Friends,I've had the suprapubic for emptying my bladder for about a year and a half now and it has worked pretty well. Within the last week or two it has stopped working efficiently and I'm not sure what the problem is. I've been using catheters of all sorts for twenty years now so I'm quite familiar with all of the things that can go wrong with them. What is happening now is that the thing will just refuse to flow. I'm drinking plenty, the catheter is well irrigated and clear, and yet the liquid still will not flow. I'll even start everything new (bag, catheter, etc). irrigate a few times; and then by the end of the day, or in the early morning, (especially if I'm not careful and fall asleep too deeply, and wake up with an extreme case of it) I'll find myself with increasing levels of disreflexia(you know, the kind that makes your body convulse every 15secs or so and leaves you with the headache from hell). Until I use the 60cc syringe to draw the liquid out. There are usually about 3 syringe-fulls in the bladder by that point. When I begin to irrigate it can be quite difficult to pull, but the strange part is that the urine is clear, with little/no sediment build-up. After the initial difficulty in starting the emptying pull, the pull becomes easy as it normally was. The other strange thing however, is that if I stop drawing the liquid out, it just refuses to flow out on its own, as it normally used to.I did subsequently make some changes to my arrangements, and they did seem to help things a little bit, but the flow-stoppage is still happening. I cut the bed bag from the tubing and now have the tubing going in as direct and as downhill a path as possible into an open container (and this did work for awhile but the flow is still negligible and still ends up with me having the distended bladder problem).I seem to remember the urologist saying that I would likely have to increase the size of the catheter as I aged, so that might be the solution, but I've made the earliest MD appointment I could for Dec 12, and a phone conversation tomorrow.I pretty much value you alls' experience over anything else so I'm wondering if any of you have experienced these symptoms. And if so, what can be done to fix the situation? I would like to know if this is a unique experience, or if other quads have adapted to similar situations. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.DylanPS. Oh yeah, on a completely different topic, do any of you play World of Warcraft by an chance? If you do, and you want to, send me an email. I have been playing for over a year now and I can't believe how far I've gotten, considering I'm a quadriplegic. Its great fun, and just as in the real world, we have to find ways to adapt to our handicaps and I've figured out ways to work around my shortcomings so that I can at least contribute to a team effort. Its fun and challenging.
Re: [QUAD-L] HANGING A BEDBAG
I've seen some amazing rigs and rituals that people use for hanging bedbags so they fill with comfort and avoid back preasure. After 31 years I have this down to a simple matter of water always seeking the lowest point. When you lay in bed route the catheter over your leg and into a loop on the bed. The loop should be large enough that the line hanging down never drops below the bottom of the bag and the higher the more comfortable it will be. Those little green clips with rubber bands keep the loop from falling off the bed. As it fills with urine it creates a mild vacuum that actually helps condom catheters stay on better.This same vacuum also aids in draining the bladder and keeping it draining without any backup. I've seen hospitals and nursing homes where the bag line lays on the floor and then goes back up to the bag. This is uncomfortable and very likely to pull off external catheters. Gravity loops are working best when full of urine. Do not play with them and empty them as this eliminates its vacuum effect. john
[QUAD-L] Re: Medicare Privatization in DEEP Trouble
FYI Dear Dana, Back in 2003, when the so-called Medicare Modernization Act was being debated in Congress, we warned that this latest round of Medicare privatization contained severe flaws that would hurt consumers and taxpayers while lining the pockets of special interests. With nearly two years of hindsight, we can safely say we were right: The MMA has been a major disappointment for consumers and taxpayers, but a windfall for private insurance and drug companies. We've laid out the extent of the MMA's failures in a new report: Medicare Privatization: Windfall for the Special Interests. The report chronicles the failures of the MMA in three key areas: Medicare Advantage overpayments, subsidies to regional PPOs, and drug prices. View the report here Among the key findings: Under the MMA, Medicare has been significantly overpaying private plans under Medicare Advantage. In 2005, Medicare overpaid private plans by at least 7% per beneficiary, costing taxpayers: $2.7 billion. In 2006, overpayment reached 11% per beneficiary, costing taxpayers $4.6 billion. Under the MMA, Congress set aside $10 billion for an unnecessary subsidy (or "stabilization fund") to regional PPOs. This year, however, 88% of beneficiaries have access to a regional PPO, before the so-called "stabilization fund" was even tapped--no subsidy was necessary. Medicare Part D drug prices are substantially higher than the prices obtained by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which negotiates prices on behalf of consumers. For all of the top 20 drugs prescribed to seniors, the lowest price charged by any Part D plan was higher than the lowest price secured by the VA. Yet Congress refused to let Medicare negotiate directly with the drug companies, as the VA does. View the report here Bottom line: this report shows that, unfortunately for consumers and taxpayers, the MMA has not even come close to meeting the high expectations set for it by Congress. Consumers are getting hurt and taxpayers fleeced, while insurance companies and drug manufacturers are raking in money faster than they can count it. Congress needs to move away from this deeply flawed privatization model, and instead focus on strengthening Medicare. We urge you to disseminate this report far and wide and to use it aggressively in your advocacy efforts. Luis HestreseAdvocacy Coordinator, Families USA Use the "Tell-a-Friend" link below to spread the word about this new report: Tell-a-friend! If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Families USA. This message was sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from Families USA, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line). Families USA | 1201 New York Ave., NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005www.familiesusa.org | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
