my wife may have to live with a catheter. ... - PSP Association
my wife may have to live with a catheter. Any expreience to share?
Hi there. My dad had to have a catheter because he was having a difficult time releasing and was retaining urine. Our experience was pretty good. We kept the catheter very clean and used leg straps to make sure that it didn't get pulled (especially when lifting my dad up when he would slide down in his wheelchair. We had a bag cover to make sure that it was concealed when we went out. All in all -it made things a little easier and perserved some dignity -dad did not go on himself etc -which made him feel better. The downside - no matter well you keep it clean -infections will happen - it's just something foreign in the body.
My comments are about the same as dilera, husband had one fitted because of all the urinary and mobility problems, he had it changed to the pubic catheter last September and there has been no trouble apart from the odd UTI, which have been managed by the staff quickly. He was inclined to pull the first type out, the pubic one has been a good answer for us.
Dear ''Bweha"
My mum has one, also due to urine retention, and mobility probs, she has had it for about 4 months. She didnt want it, but we couldnt carry on with her falling and getting up loads of times a night. It does block constantly - which requires wash out by the district nurses - they come at least twice a week, and if we have problems in the night, a night response team comes out. The service is excellent. She wears a night bag which is easy to dispose of in the morning - I hate urine and I cope with it, tear top off, urine down loo and bag in a provided littel black bin bag, and into the rubbish. A new one every night. You will manage. there will be infections as the others said above and your wife will take a lot of antiobiotics as a result. it solves some problems and creates others, we all have to decide which ones we can cope with and which ones we can't! all the best
Clara xx
After weeks and weeks and weeks of changing the bedclothes every day, the real worry of urine retention creating infection or sitting in urine breaking down the skin I gave in and agreed to let my husband have a catheter fitted. He put up no objections, it was a quick and painless procedure and I wished I hadn't waited so long. His bladder now works perfectly, we have had very few infection problems (except when he went into respite!), it has only blocked once and even if we go out somewhere there are always disabled loos where we can go to empty the leg bag. His carers are very competent, the leg bag gets changed once a week and their catheter care is excellent. A district nurse comes every twelve weeks to change the catheter. Once you get one, if it seems not to be flowing just stretch the tube a bit, sometimes little air bubbles gather and just need a tweek.
I know we make it sound easy when in reality it is a huge step but honestly your mum will benefit and so will you. It's easier and better than you think. Good luck.
Take care
SheilaN
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