Catheter watch

[Georgepa]

Catheter number seven !!!!! ( since Sept 9th)

[Heady]

That brings tears to my eyes. Poor, poor V and her important little places.

Lots of love

Heady

[Georgepa in reply to Heady]

Brings tears to my eyes too,she seems so vulnerable just lying there and not really understanding what is going on .DNs brilliant again out in half an hour and so gentle and kind .I have been given optiflow now to pump in twice a week to try to stop these wretched blockages .Dr ordered it today just a bit too late for the latest one but I shall don my trusty rubber gloves and go into action .

[abirke in reply to Georgepa]

Are they telling you exactly why catheter is not working?

[Georgepa in reply to abirke]

Yesan infection which is ongoing and not responsive to antibiotics.Sometimes the tube blocks and sometimes it iscrystals on the tip .

[abirke in reply to Georgepa]

1/2C. (120ML) Pure Cranberry juice diluted w 2 cups (480ML)water daily.

I cannot remember if your wife has a PEG, if she does consuming is alot easier...If not, then sweetened juice would work....

Cranberry juice does not allow the bacteria to adhere to the catheter....it makes it a slippery surface thus they cannot colonize! Good Luck,,, I know you must be run rugged I am sorry for the both of you!

AVB

[Georgepa in reply to abirke]

We are on cranberry juice and also fresh lemon juice ,changes the ph in urine whatever that means been on it for weeks still blocking .

[abirke in reply to Georgepa]

Fusion, Chinese herbal remedy..... I just looked up this Chinese medicine; I'ts a combo of herbs that reduces inflammation urine retention as well as a host of other problems with Cystitis ( which is the complete UTI from Kidney to bladder to urethra)! I have not tried it...but it was the first product that came up when I looked at pH levels in urine....it's worth a shot....

Good luck and may V get her pee on!

AVB

[doglington]

You're aiming for the gold medal, aren't you ?

Love, Jean x

[Georgepa in reply to doglington]

You guessed

[jzygirl]

Georgpa it is about time they gave Van an open tipped catheter. They are less likely to block. Jane xx

[Georgepa in reply to jzygirl]

They say that ooen tipped are only used with super pubic catheter system -is that right?

[Julieandrog in reply to Georgepa]

hi

sorry to hear your problems rog has an open tip catheter as he was having unexplained leakages, really due to huge productions of urine for no reason which just bipassed the small catheter opening.

with my nursey head on is it worth getting a gynae referral there may be some structural reason for blocking, maybe oestrogen cream might be helpful.

wishing you both a dry day!

julie x

[jzygirl in reply to Georgepa]

No way. They just like a normal catheter but in stead of 2 little drainage holes that can block easilythis has got a larger hole. They are called folysil catheter open end.. by coloplast. I have 3 brand new ones sitting here on the end of the hospital bed underneath the hoist and in amongst all the other equipment that has got to be picked up. Jane xx

[Georgepa in reply to jzygirl]

These are definitely for women arethey ?Sorry to ask but down here in Devon we are a bit behind the times our DNs havenot heard of them and it was the out of hours people whosaid super pubic .Its abit difficult whenyouhave to tactfully tell people what you would expecrt them to know without getting them uppity .

[jzygirl in reply to Georgepa]

They just like a normal catheter (uni-sex) but they don't have the small holes just one large one. Wish we lived closer as I could of given you the 3 I have sitting here doing nothing. Jane xx

[Georgepa in reply to jzygirl]

If any one approached me with what they put up V you wouldn't see me for dust How does the balloon bit work on a man ,on second thoughts I don't think I really want to know .

[jzygirl in reply to Georgepa]

The balloon is inflated in the bladder the same for both. Jane xx

[Georgepa in reply to jzygirl]

PLEASE DON'T TELL ME WHERE THE TUBE GOES.I am going to immediately switch off my tablet

[jzygirl in reply to Georgepa]

Oh dear George it don't bare thinking about hun. At least they do put some numing jell down before they do it lol. Jane xx

[Georgepa in reply to jzygirl]

And that makes me feel better?

[richmond1]

Ask the district nurses for a referral to continence specialist nurse they will recommend a different catheter either open tip or silver, and different bladder washouts to the optiflow, being re-catheterised this often increases risk of urine infection xxxx

[Georgepa]

They have discussed doing this .Optiflow is frowned on in this Area asthey say it simply pushes the infectionback into the bladder .But our Dr has just overruled them and has ordered regular use of optiflow before a blockage occurs .We are already on silver tipped but there is also a silicon one to try .

[Katiebow]

Poor V and poor you, let's hope the new one has no problems. I have no experience of catheters except when Ben was in hospital after hip op and he got a UTI which I presume was a result of being catheterised, it wasn't a good time for him. Fingers crossed G.

Love Kate xx

[Satt2015]

Bloody ell Georgepa sounds like an absolute nightmare!! I'd definitely want the continence team to visit, this surely cannot go on! It's just so unfair! X

[Yvonneandgeorge]

Oh George how horrible for V, hope the wash works for her, it is so unfair to have So many blockages, not fair to you to George, fingers crossed it works xxxxx

[Georgepa]

Legs crossed perhaps ?

[Amilazy]

Hi George sorry to hear about V's experience with catheters. M suffered with a few blockages early on, but we used optiflush regularly and increased M's fluids through the PEG. We also discovered that some laxatives especially the Senna variety caused blockages so they were no longer used we increased the docusate rather than introduce sennacot for constipation.

One point I discovered by chance she would try to attack the catheter if it got crimped or squashed so always checked on transfer or getting to sleep that the pipe was loose and free.

I hope V gets a better experience.

Best wishes Tim

[Patriciapmr]

George I don't know how Keith managed to pull the balloon bit out three times, it's no wonder there was so much blood, ouch, ouch and more ouch!

😲xx

[Georgepa in reply to Patriciapmr]

Oh yes ouch ,ouch and more ouch , I think putting it in is what brings tears to my eyes ,not natural for us chaps !

[Heady in reply to Georgepa]

It's a lot easier, more to hold onto!!!!

Lots of love

Heady

[Georgepa]

Steady Heady!!!!!