9 replies to this topic

[tmac]

A few days ago, my husband began to feel ill...back pain, vomitting, etc. Of course, our first thought was AD. However, as it continued, I realized that what was going on didn't really seem to be results of AD. There's been a terrible bug going around, so I thought that was it...but he had fever. So, I'm thinking back pain could equal kidney infection. Anyway, it continues for a day and I begin to worry about dehydration. He also begins to shake uncontrolably all over. So, long story short...EMTs take him to emergency room where they discover he has had a low grade bladder infection that went undetected by us and allowed bacteria to get into his blood stream. He will be fine, but we have to wait on antibiotics to do their job. It's been a sad thing to watch and something we've not experienced over the last 5 years. So, I just wanted to let everyone (those of you that haven't already experienced it) that it is yet another possible issue of concern for those with SCI and/or foley cath.

[Illinois Boy]

tmac, on Jan 23 2009, 11:20 AM, said:

A few days ago, my husband began to feel ill...back pain, vomitting, etc. Of course, our first thought was AD. However, as it continued, I realized that what was going on didn't really seem to be results of AD. There's been a terrible bug going around, so I thought that was it...but he had fever. So, I'm thinking back pain could equal kidney infection. Anyway, it continues for a day and I begin to worry about dehydration. He also begins to shake uncontrolably all over. So, long story short...EMTs take him to emergency room where they discover he has had a low grade bladder infection that went undetected by us and allowed bacteria to get into his blood stream. He will be fine, but we have to wait on antibiotics to do their job. It's been a sad thing to watch and something we've not experienced over the last 5 years. So, I just wanted to let everyone (those of you that haven't already experienced it) that it is yet another possible issue of concern for those with SCI and/or foley cath.

Been there, done that........

Usually unnormal spasms means somethin's wrong....

Jim

[keidra]

my fiance gets bladder infections all the time, he is allergic to just about all meds that treat them orally, he has to have Iv form antibiotics and satys at the hopital for days to be treated ! Is there anything he could do to prevent getting them so much ? He has a suprapubic cath and this has made getting them worse that when he had the foley !! Oh and can someone please explain to me why doctors think that because you are paralyzed you feel no Pain !! His dr thinks he is faking pain , this really irritates me!!! well any input would be appreciated!!! Thanks!!


Loving Eddie Always

[not4ever]

Quote

my fiance gets bladder infections all the time, he is allergic to just about all meds that treat them orally, he has to have Iv form antibiotics and satys at the hopital for days to be treated ! Is there anything he could do to prevent getting them so much ? He has a suprapubic cath and this has made getting them worse that when he had the foley !! Oh and can someone please explain to me why doctors think that because you are paralyzed you feel no Pain !! His dr thinks he is faking pain , this really irritates me!!! well any input would be appreciated!!! Thanks!!


Loving Eddie Always

After 20 years with a SP I just recently had it removed (for other reasons than infections) and went to externals which are much better for me, but I was pretty sensitive to irritations and infections with the suprapubic catheter. Some of the things I did was: initially it could stay in for about 30 days, which is the norm. But it would start to irritate i.e. cause bleeding, dysflexia, infections, etc. So, I had it changed at shorter intervals. Starting with three weeks, then it went to two, and finally after a few years it was changed weekly. When it's changed the sterile field has to be meticulously maintained or an infection is a given. The number one thing to ward off infections was to drink, and I drank A LOT of water. I was drinking a couple of gallons a day typically, basically the urine coming out was as clear as the water going in for the vast majority of the time. It sucks to drink that much but it beats getting infections. Cranberry juice or Cranapple, etc. will help too, if he can gag it down. Here's a couple of links to the benefits of Cranberry juice for preventing UTI's.

http://www.scienceda...80721152005.htm
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5187



Don't get me started on doctors.

[tmac]

I just realized I mentioned my hubby has a foley cath...it is actually suprapubic. I don't know what I was thinking.

Anyway, not4ever, we have also had to go to changing the tube out much more often. Like you, in the beginning, we were getting by with changing it every month. Now, we are changing it out every 1 and a half to 2 weeks, and we still have issues...mostly issues of debris clogging the tube and causing urine "accidents." My huband takes the cranberry pills, and one doctor had us start him on daily doses of Vitamic C tablets as well...to help ward off infection. It actually seemed as though we were doing pretty good with UTIs, but as mentioned above we were hit out of the blue, and my husband has been fighting this blood infection (ultimately caused by UTIs) since January 20. He finally gets to come home today (YAY!).

So far, all doctors have pretty much said the same thing...that UTIs are inevitable when a person has a foreign object in his bladder, such as the cath bulb. UTIs are not really preventable but that there are some things we can do to help fight them (drink loads of water, cranberry suplements, vitamin C, clean bags, tubes, etc with hot water and vinegar). Now, the Dr. we've been dealing with this go round is supposed to offer us any and all information he has that may help with this issue upon hospital discharge. If he so happens to offer anything new, I will certainly share it with you, keidra. Hopefully, with any/all of the knowledge each of us gain through research or experience, we will be able to help each other and our loved ones.

By the way, I absolutely hear you as far as your statement goes about your fiance feeling pain. My husband is in constant pain, and it is heartbreaking to sit back and watch his struggles with it. It gets so frustrating in dealing with doctors as it seems no one really understands the injury or the level of pain associated with it. It's almost as if we need to put together an entire team of doctors for him...a general practioner, a urologist, an orthopedic, a neurologist, etc. I'm really at my wits end in attempting to figure out one doctor that can help us.

So, again, I'll keep in touch if I have any information that may be of help in your situation, and I hope you will do the same. Good luck and congratulations to you and your fiance!

Sincerely,
tmac

[not4ever]

tmac, on Mar 2 2009, 10:54 AM, said:

So far, all doctors have pretty much said the same thing...that UTIs are inevitable when a person has a foreign object in his bladder, such as the cath bulb. UTIs are not really preventable but that there are some things we can do to help fight them (drink loads of water, cranberry suplements, vitamin C, clean bags, tubes, etc with hot water and vinegar).

By the way, I absolutely hear you as far as your statement goes about your fiance feeling pain. My husband is in constant pain, and it is heartbreaking to sit back and watch his struggles with it. It gets so frustrating in dealing with doctors as it seems no one really understands the injury or the level of pain associated with it.
Sincerely,
tmac

One other thing I had forgotten was my doctor put me on Hiprex. It's not an anti-biotic but an anti-bacterial. http://www.rxlist.com/hiprex-drug.htm It may help?

And I doubt it matters but I used bleach in about a 1/15 mix to disinfect the bags. I'd let them sit for a minimum of 20 minutes (usually I gave them all the time I wasn't using them) before rinsing them. I'm sure vinegar works every bit as well, not sure which one stinks more though.

Next time the doctor tells your hubby he can't feel pain have your hubby run over the doctors foot and say, "you're right doc, I didn't feel a thing".

[Twana]

My husband is a quad three years as of March 09. He has not experienced a bladder infection yet thank God. Your information is very helpful. Have you had any angry problems. I have started being very angy with Jim for the last 3 months. He has started drinking 6 beers every night when I get in from work so I have to por 6 beers down him then help him pee after each one. Will this cause him to have bladder or kidney problems or effect his meds? Quad C-3 thru C-7. He was very drunk when he fell so this is bringing very bad memories back. I speak very mean to him, it like I have lost my mind. I have to take drugs to be nice to him. If I forget to take my wellburton I getting really angry. I love him and don't want to be mean to him but It comes out like the devil or something. We are afraid that I won't be able to keep him any more and he will have to go to a nursing home. Have you experienced this?

Edited by Twana, 19 April 2009 - 12:52 PM.

[LeahC]

I can see why you're so angry, do you have anyone coming from outside to help you care for him so you can be a wife and not a carer?

[Yong]

Illinois Boy, on Jan 23 2009, 03:09 PM, said:

tmac, on Jan 23 2009, 11:20 AM, said:

A few days ago, my husband began to feel ill...back pain, vomitting, etc. Of course, our first thought was AD. However, as it continued, I realized that what was going on didn't really seem to be results of AD. There's been a terrible bug going around, so I thought that was it...but he had fever. So, I'm thinking back pain could equal kidney infection. Anyway, it continues for a day and I begin to worry about dehydration. He also begins to shake uncontrolably all over. So, long story short...EMTs take him to emergency room where they discover he has had a low grade bladder infection that went undetected by us and allowed bacteria to get into his blood stream. He will be fine, but we have to wait on antibiotics to do their job. It's been a sad thing to watch and something we've not experienced over the last 5 years. So, I just wanted to let everyone (those of you that haven't already experienced it) that it is yet another possible issue of concern for those with SCI and/or foley cath.

Been there, done that........

Usually unnormal spasms means somethin's wrong....

Jim

abnormal.

[Slowlegs]

I get what I call "the shivers" whenever I get a severe bladder infection. Never really realised what caused it but in the past I have usually tried to sleep it off until I feel good enough to get out of bed and to the doctors. Apparently Hiprex actually can work better if taken with vitamin C. My Urologist suggested I should take a month of Hiprex and vitamin C and a month of cider vinegar, that way the urine changes from acid to alkali regularly and most of the bugs can't handle that. Problem is the Hiprex and Vitamin C gives me severe diarrhoea. I usually have to stop taking it before I can see if it actually works as my colostomy tends not to last too long when that happens. Sometimes it has to be a choice between work and getting better but earning a wage takes precedence most times unfortunately.