8 replies to this topic

[shady]

Hi All

I had my suprapubic procedure 3 weeks ago but am having a few probs. I was wondering if anyone can help.
The wound is infected and I am now taking my second course of antibiotics. Has anyone else had this problem?
I was told to expect weeping at first and that maybe it would always weep a little but how much can I expect to see and what colour should it be??

Edited by shady, 17 June 2010 - 05:25 PM.

[S&W Winger]

They really should warn people more what to expect about the procedure...mine not only became infected, but I had a raging staph infection through my entire abdomen, and was in the hospital a couple weeks on IV antibiotics...then took more oral ones for a few weeks...finally resolved, but infection looking redness comes and goes for me...others here have had much better luck with their's...so please don't expect the worst! I hear many people have had much success with them!

Now, 9 months later, my CNA nearly pulled mine out the other day...I had to change the cath 2 days in the row to get it to work right...calming down again...

I keep mine really clean...use sodium chloride/sterile saline on gauze daily...then dab it wth betadine/iodine...clean a bit again with the saline...then surrond the opening with Neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment...then I cover with drain sponges, and loosley tape them down with paper tape...did I hear "OVERKILL!!??" sure, but my infections have calmed way down since my daily neurotic regime...

Since your's is very new, expect some discharge of varying colors: yellow,brownish, but if it gets smelly or bloody/dark, best visit the urologist as may be infected...but there may always be a bit if a yellowish goo...just keep a drain sponge or piece of gauze over it, even if your clears up nicely from the infection...

I also usually can feel an infection right away with the bladder spasms for a UTI...and worse spasms when the suprapubic is getting infected...

Hope your's heals well and you have better success than me...however, it sure beats the alternative!! I also am still considering the bladder reconstruction with stoma and then do intermittent self-cathing...

Don't forget to post with your progress!

Edited by S&W Winger, 18 June 2010 - 04:43 AM.

[shady]

Thanks for your reply. I feel better about it now.

I am back at the Urologist in a couple of weeks for the first change so am going to tell him that a little more info would have been useful.

The community nurses seem to know jack about it and you get conflicting advise from them all.

I too have been cleansing daily with saline and covering with gauze and tape.

Will gladly post progress.

Edited by shady, 18 June 2010 - 04:09 PM.

[allister]

Hi Shady
I had my sp done in january, and it too got a slight infection, and that lovely snotty discharge. The sp site was red and also looked inflamed.
My District nurse team are fab, and I was told to get a presciption for a cream/gel called "POLYFAX" Ointment.
Its an antibiotic, and anti imflamitory. With in 5 days it had cleared up, and when i was just in hospital, the staff commented on how neat, clean the site was.
Every morning the site is cleaned well with saline and sterile gauze, dried, then a small amount of the Polyax cream is applied to the entry point of the sp into the abdoman. I then 'wiggle' the sp around, as well as moving it in/out of the hole. This ensures that the cream is covering all the entry/exit hole, and has also been worked down into the hole too. I then apply a "softpore" dressing/padded & breathable plaster over the site. I make a single cut from the edge into the centre of te plaster befor placing it over the site, the cut enables it to slightly wrap around the cath. When I get in bed at night, the plaster is removed, and the site is cleaned, aswell as the end of the cath that has contact with and into the body.

Might sound fiddly, but it has kept me bug free, and the site is perfectly healed. No redness, and no tenderness.
Ask your GP or chemist to look up the Polyfax cream/ointment for you.
I can honestly recomend it, so does my Urology outreach team.
Cheers
Al

[shady]

Hi Allister and thanks for your help and advice.

Am having a further swab taken on Wed to see if infection is still present and if it is I will mention this cream. I live in a small northern county where there isnt much experience of spinal injury so all advice and recommendations are usually welcomed by health staff.

Will let you know if I get to try it.

[shady]

Hi all, posting progress as requested.

All is going well now and asked consultant at Spinal unit about cream Allister, which he is going to explain about in a letter to my GP. Like you, he thinks its a good idea to use it.
Moving onto the first cath change. Is there anyone with incomplete lesions who experience really bad hypersensitive pain on changing. It sent me to another planet.

[Millard]

shady, on 07 August 2010 - 03:43 PM, said:

Hi all, posting progress as requested.

All is going well now and asked consultant at Spinal unit about cream Allister, which he is going to explain about in a letter to my GP. Like you, he thinks its a good idea to use it.
Moving onto the first cath change. Is there anyone with incomplete lesions who experience really bad hypersensitive pain on changing. It sent me to another planet.

I found the easiest and least painful for me was to take deep breaths.  Actually, removing the catheter was much more painful for me.  After removal I would take about five deep breaths and insert the catheter.  I would then get a towel and wipe the sweat off my face, clean the KY from around the stoma and be on my way.

I hope this helps.

[shady]

Hi Millard
It helps alot to know that it is painful for others. It took me completely by surprise as I wasnt expecting any pain. Thanks for that. Will definitely use deep breating next time.

[jasperb]

Millard, on 13 August 2010 - 10:22 PM, said:

shady, on 07 August 2010 - 03:43 PM, said:

Hi all, posting progress as requested.

All is going well now and asked consultant at Spinal unit about cream Allister, which he is going to explain about in a letter to my GP. Like you, he thinks its a good idea to use it.
Moving onto the first cath change. Is there anyone with incomplete lesions who experience really bad hypersensitive pain on changing. It sent me to another planet.

I found the easiest and least painful for me was to take deep breaths.  Actually, removing the catheter was much more painful for me.  After removal I would take about five deep breaths and insert the catheter.  I would then get a towel and wipe the sweat off my face, clean the KY from around the stoma and be on my way.

I hope this helps.

Hi There, with my guys who have this problem, I tend to use Xylocaine/lignocaine gel, first I clean around the site then apply gel and work it in the stoma site, then I inject it down the Catheter into the bladder, wait about 5 minutes then bingo no problems.

Good luck

Jasperb