I’m sorry to reach out in such a blatantly off topic way but as I’m sure so many of you have experienced through this awful time, getting information from medical professionals regarding elderly and vulnerable parents is challenging and very hit and miss ...so I’m just casting the net to see if anyone can offer some experience.
Basically my very old and lovely bereaved dad (my mum died of covid) has a catheter and seems to have a UTI that just wont go. He’s had the strongest antibiotic now: the one they use for the ones that just won’t go!! And yet when I speak to him earlier he says he’s still not right.
I’m so far away and so worried about him. Would be enormously grateful if anyone had any words of wisdom.
And again apologies for using this forum for a totally unrelated issue.
Wishing you all a lovely Saturday night
Bon
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If he’s in a lot of distress I’d call 111 & ask their advice.......They won’t be able to discuss his personal condition but if you know who his doctor is, they will be able to get him an urgent appointment to get some help.......possibly with another practice....they got me one on the weekend when I developed Shingles so that I could get the antivirals.Even if it’s only to clean or maybe unblock his catheter...it would set your mind at rest.
I’m sorry to hear of your feelings Bon and can empathise with you, having an elderly parent with worsening health problems.My Mum’s GP surgery required a signed letter, from her, giving them permission to share her information with me, and since then, the GP has discussed her condition with me and updated me.
Hello Bon, I am so sorry your dad is going through this and to me it does not matter and please don't apologise as you are trying to help your dear dad and that's what matters now. I can only speak from the experience I went through with my parents, in particular my mum who was sadly catheterised for the last few years of her life and suffered many a problem with this. Firstly does your dad have any care or support from district nurses or a community health team? I realise this was pre covid but we had numbers for the day and night district nurses who could attend mum, as there were times when she had blockages, needed her catheter changing or it had come away. They came out and did things such as bladder washes when there were blockages or sediment. Again she suffered UTI's and it was awful to see and on occasions swabs were taken to identify what kind of infection or bacteria it was to address the suitability of the antibiotics or treatment given. May be these things have already been done and please excuse me if this is the case. As others have mentioned, to call 111, or another practice even (as it is the weekend|) as this really does need to be addressed. I hope that you can get something sorted out and that you have peace of mind that he is ok . I send you my very best supportive wishes to you and to your dad too. xx
What a very horrible time for you. Don’t worry about asking anything here. I am so very sorry for your and your father’s loss. I lost my dad late November though not to Covid. 💕
My dad was fitted with a catheter a year ago on the pretext of uti. He didn’t actually have one at all it’s just that he needed the bathroom a lot because of the blasted diuretics they had him on and the hospital staff I think were getting annoyed with his constant bathroom trips especially at night. Anyway they messed the catheter fitting up using the wrong fitting. It took days for them to realise and fit it properly. Is it possible that the pain and difficulty he is in is not only uti but maybe the catheter is not fitted properly. It was irritating him and causing a bit of a bleed. A catheter was a terrible idea for my father who was fully mobile. He actually fell once because of it and thankfully we managed to insist it was removed and he given a chance to be without it. It was quite a fight for us. 🍀🥰
So hard to be so far away from those you love especially at this time when everything is upside down. Perhaps 111 might be able to help or to contact the DN team to check up on him?
Dear BonMy sympathies to you and your father, I’ve been in your situation and can imagine you’re sick with worry.
In my experience caring for my father with constant UTIs, the District Nurse team were key. They were the only ones who seemed to know everything about dealing with UTIs in the elderly, and it was they I always went to first. Do you know if he already has any involvement with them at all? Sorry can’t advise on how to get them on board but maybe you could call your Dad’s GP Practice and ask in general terms how one would go about it?
If your Dad is willing, he could write a letter authorising the GP to share medical information with you. In any case you could contact the GP expressing your concerns.But remember that parents, like children, can often have a moan at their nearest and dearest about not feeling well, without actually being seriously affected. Just feeling down and miserable and not right generally, especially with a catheter which he probably hates! It makes us feel rotten partly because we can't do anything remotely, and partly because we feel we should be looking after them, despite them being perfectly capable adults.
I was just hospitalised for seven days to be given a IV antibiotic for same issue. Had six infections since March so went to urologist and he said only way to clear was with this antibiotic. It was a long week but I feel it's cleared. Maybe you could ask his doctor about that option. He would be well taken care of. Might put your mind at ease. Best wishes.
HiI think the best thing to do is phone his gp explaining the situation and I’m sure he would organise a district nurse . I’m sure they will take a sample and send it to the lab.
In the meantime I would make sure he is drinking .
look to see if the urine looks clear or dark so that you can tell the gp.Does he have a temperature. Sometimes people feel very uncomfortable with a catheter in situ. I know my dad did and he had to have it removed and had a condom type catheter which helped a lot.
Does he have someone keep an eye on him ie a nurse or someone who checks his catheter.
Hello and thanks for your reply. He hates the catheter but due to what I now know is negligent care over years he was never offered any meds to reduce his prostate size so now he’s stuck with it. Sorry to bother you again but couldYou explain a bit about the “condom”
Sometimes when people can’t tolerate catheters very well ie men, they have a sheath like a condon with an opening at the end which attaches to a catheter tube . It is fitted externally like a condom and a paste like glue prevents the condon from coming away. It sounds a bit Heath Robinson but it worked for my dad . My dad would be seen regularly by the district nurse who would check everything was ok and supply him with stock as and when required. He had the catheter after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was very uncomfortable with catheter tube in
I’m not sure why your dad has a catheter but if it’s for retention of urine the catheter applied externally might not be an option. You can look it up online. It’s sometimes known as conveen catheterisation.
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