18 replies to this topic

[Wicky]

So only a monthly basis i have to get my indwelling catheter change but i has become very difficult so now the doc is talking about want to put in a super pubic, can anyone give me insight to these things or a personal experience would be great also

Edited by Wicky, 20 January 2012 - 06:57 PM.

[Spinner]

Wicky, on 20 January 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

So only a monthly basis i have to get my indwelling catheter change but i has become very difficult so now the doc is talking about want to put in a super pubic, can anyone give me insight to these things or a personal experience would be great also

My husband has had a suprapubic catheter for over 20 years. We have been together for 4 years and during that entire time he has only had two bladder issues, both of which were minor and never developed into UTI's. He has the catheter changed approximately every six weeks and changes the bag every four weeks. All in all it has been a very positive thing for him. We wash and dress the insertion site daily with soap and water and change the dressing.

Edited by Spinner, 20 January 2012 - 09:26 PM.

[Wicky]

Spinner, on 20 January 2012 - 09:25 PM, said:

Wicky, on 20 January 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

So only a monthly basis i have to get my indwelling catheter change but i has become very difficult so now the doc is talking about want to put in a super pubic, can anyone give me insight to these things or a personal experience would be great also

My husband has had a suprapubic catheter for over 20 years. We have been together for 4 years and during that entire time he has only had two bladder issues, both of which were minor and never developed into UTI's. He has the catheter changed approximately every six weeks and changes the bag every four weeks. All in all it has been a very positive thing for him. We wash and dress the insertion site daily with soap and water and change the dressing.

Thank You for your input

[andy w]

Wicky, on 20 January 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

So only a monthly basis i have to get my indwelling catheter change but i has become very difficult so now the doc is talking about want to put in a super pubic, can anyone give me insight to these things or a personal experience would be great also

hi my name is andy i had a super pubic,but i was a blocker it was taken out and now a indwelling but down for another super pubic.It is the only option for me due to my level of injury. It only takes half hour, However i,ve been told that you are either a blocker or not, bit of a gamble but in my opinion it is cleaner and neater and NO BAG.. Good Luck.

[Spinner]

andy w, on 20 January 2012 - 10:43 PM, said:

Wicky, on 20 January 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

So only a monthly basis i have to get my indwelling catheter change but i has become very difficult so now the doc is talking about want to put in a super pubic, can anyone give me insight to these things or a personal experience would be great also

hi my name is andy i had a super pubic,but i was a blocker it was taken out and now a indwelling but down for another super pubic.It is the only option for me due to my level of injury. It only takes half hour, However i,ve been told that you are either a blocker or not, bit of a gamble but in my opinion it is cleaner and neater and NO BAG.. Good Luck.

What is a blocker? (Sorry if that is a silly question. ) Also, how is it set up that you don't need a bag? Also, @Wicky my husband corrected me, he changes the bag every three weeks.

[why_d]

i've had mine 2 1/2 years with no issues. well, my only issue was that i found the silicone ones didn't work for me as they were too rigid so i use latex ones, which are great! it gets changed every 12 weeks and i very rarely have a reason to deviate from this schedule. now and again it needs replaced slightly sooner due to blockages but as long as you drink enough each day you should be fine. i change my bag weekly, but it's personal preference i suppose

[Scottyblaze]

I've had a SP tube in for almost my entire time in the chair, about 6 1/2 years. It was initially only supposed to be in for a little bit, but I opted to keep it for as long as it will last. The doc says that its not meant for long term as your bladder with shrink and other problems can arise from that, but it is very convenient otherwise. I get it changed about every five weeks or so and rarely get UTI's, maybe 3 a year. I have it flushed everyday with salene and change the dressing as well and the bag is changed weekly. Although I must say that the area around the SP tube site is very sensitive and any slight press on my bladder or tug on the tube can be extremely uncomfortable (I get dysreflexia).

Stay hydrated and you'll have less chance of any problems.

Edited by Scottyblaze, 21 January 2012 - 04:31 AM.

[St. Elmo]

I am a T4-5 pare who has been using SP catheters for over 27 years with only occasional problems, most of which can be easily avoided. I change mine myself easily every 8-10 weeks, but the medical community will want you to do it monthly.I have almost no problems with leakage, and do not have to use any dressing on mine. I have had no UTI's in 8 years becuase I drink a lot of water. I always carry some with me and drink 3/4-1 gal a day. I use the Urocare 32 oz. thick latex leg bags ( bag #9032 for long pants, and #8032, which is shorter and rounder for wearing with shorts). These bags last forever, and will not burst when filled all the way. I also use the wide cloth Urocare straps to hold the bags on my leg. They are way gentler then the thin rubber straps that come with the bags. Stay hydrated and you will have few problems. I think the main advantage with these catheters and bags is that you can drink a lot or all the time and not worry about it. Hell, if you use the large 4000cc bedside bags you can drink tons of beer and not worry about it overnight. My friends that do Intermitent Catheretization all get UTI's kinda regularly cuz they can't drink enough to keep their bladders flushed without doing the cath thing all the time, which is not a problem I have. I did have problems with UTI's in the past when I didn't change the catheters for long periods of time and drink unfiltered water, which is also very important. Stay away from soft drinks, the things are terrible for ya, and drink water, or fruit juices. You might have to test the different kinds of SP's, My body likes the Silastic type from Bard. With other types my body produced lots of calcium that clogged the tubes up very quickly, this is something you will have to get with your urogolist about. My body still produces a small amount of calicum, so in the mornings I have to pay attention that I have a good flow going, but other then that I have had a good experience with mine, and you probably will also as long as you drink enough and change them regularly.

[MrBump]

Ive had a sp for 4 years with not 1 issue.
I don't use a bag, I have a flipFlo valve that I just turn on when I need to go. I hate the bags....

[Spinner]

@St Elmo, my husband is convinced that staying hydrated is the key to avoiding all kinds of health problems. He drinks at least a gallon a day and when he has had issues they are minor and heal quickly.

[Stand]

If you are able to be intermittently cathed, I'm guessing switching over to a SP would not make much sense. Am I correct in saying this?

[coffeecups]

I have had mine for 18 months. I like it. I wear a belly bag and I like that so much better than a leg/night bag. I don't have to worry about skirts or capris. And I don't have to change it at night. I have been thinking about doing the mitrofanoff surgery. But I hesitate because of limiting my fluids etc. But honestly, I hate that site. I just think it's ugly. I need to decide soon. The urologist told me my bladder hadn't shrunk much. So I would not need a bladder augmentation.

[sliqnes]

Can somebody post a link about the SP'S thats being discussed i use a condom catheter and im not sure what this is.......

[trikerv8]

I've had mine about 4 years,change it myself every 6 weeks,had no problems and only 1 uti,and no leakage still use leg bag, find it better than condom i used to use

[Spinner]

sliqnes, on 01 February 2012 - 04:57 PM, said:

Can somebody post a link about the SP'S thats being discussed i use a condom catheter and im not sure what this is.......

@sliqnes, here is some information on suprapubic catheters and here is some more information that includes a picture. of the stoma with a dressing.

[janbow]

Could anyone let me know if it's o.k. to bath after having a suprapubic catheter. Also must the area always be covered. Thanks.

[Rolilancou]

My fiance has a SP and says he didn't have any problems with it until a couple of years ago that it started to be uncomfortable and painful at all times and I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. His mother didn't use to clean the foley or the bags when changing them and I have done so ever since we've been together with alcohol at all times the foley and clean the bags with urolux religiously. I thought alcohol would be better than peroxide for the end of the foley when changing the bags, besides I thoguht that it would evaporate at the time of changing the bags but maybe it does reach his bladder and irritate it? or am I not being hygenic enough? Also I don't know if the brand he's using for his foley and his leg bag changed composition a couple of months ago and I don't know if any of you had this issue that the leg bag and the foley smell very strongly of urine lately. I have tried everything, lysol, vinager, more urolux, less urolux, soap and the smell is still there. has anyone had the same problem with the urine smell in the leg bag? If so what have you done to eliminate it?. it's getting worse and worse with time.

[KK*]

I have had a SP since Oct 2010 and it was the best decision i ever made. With my spasms it is not feasible to self cath - i tried in rehab and my Dr agreed the SP is the best solution for me plus it is completely reversible. They say the bladder heals and closes the hole within 48 hours. I like being able to take lasix at night to reduce fluid retention and I have the choice of a belly bag or leg bag during the day with work or completely plug it off to go swimming, wear shorts, etc...

[neuroSD]

I had a indwelling cath for 9 months post injury then it started to make opening on penis into a slit so before got worse my urologist put in a SP cath and i used a leg bag with it. I changed it and bag myself every 4 weeks, real easy to do. I blocked it once in awhile for swimming or wearing shorts but it's not good to block SP's for long because the pressure created is bad with any placed cath inside bladder. I did also use a condom cath when in electric chair which was the next best thing to self cathing, but a 6 months post injury i switched to push chair and it came off alot. About a year ago i had SP removed and started self cathing the hole closed quick. Once you make past first couple months of training your bladder it's best thing ever, makes dressing quicker easier, wearing shorts, swimming, and sex is better with out cath and bag to worry about less of shock on girl when you take her home or where ever[ just make sure you cath right before and watch your drinking right before specially liquor].