8 replies to this topic

[fastwheels]

my spinal dr said i should have a SPC put in ive been using indwelling catheters for over 10 years now but im having alot of probs with the caths with bladder spasms and been having blaader urethral trauma as well



can any one give me good advice to me i dont know what to do

BIG THANKS [b]


FASTWHEELS

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[~!*Sunshine*!~]

I can't tell ya whether to have it done or not, but I'll share my experience. For a year after my accident my dad and very close friends did the self cathing for me as I'm a C-5 and don't have enough hand function to hold on to it. However when I went to college last fall and had to hire attendants to help me I was told they were not allowed to do that so my only option was getting a SP and I def. wasn't thrilled. I had to use an indwelling cath for a week or so 'til I could get the SP put in and I don't understand how anyone with feeling could handle that. Anways, a year later I have to say its given me more freedom and is much more comfortable than an indwelling one through the lower region. In the beginning we had to play with how much fluid to put in the balloon to reduce spasms and how often to have it changed to prevent stones from forming after we got that figured out its been smooth sailing. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask!

Keep On Keepin' On~
Sunshine

[wheelnsportsman]

I am a C4/5 almost 6yrs. post injury. Have had a SP for 5 1\2 yrs. and no problems. Best invention for a quad since the wheelchair. good luck

[BillS]

I've had mine in for over 25 years. Back in 1981 I had a 105 fever and very bad bladder stones and infection. My doctor packed me in ice and operated right away. While they were there they did the surapubic cather. It was fantastic.

I started out on intermitant catheterization, it was a real pain cathing every few hours and didn't really work out. Then we went to the external catheter, that didn't work well at all I do void my bladder through reflex when my bladder fills but my...well we're all adults...penis shrinks just before voiding and the external catherter would fall off. I ended up putting the tape on real tight to keep the external cather on and this caused pressure sores on my penis. Then we tried a foley catheter, this actually cause a split in the head of my penis where the catheter entered. Plus I had the 105 fever and bladder stones.

Since I've had the suprapubic tube I've only had one small bought of bladder stones. I do get mild UTIs once or twice a year but they're easily treated by antobiotics. 25 years later I'm still very happy about having the suprapubic catheter.

[bocktribe]

Hi. I am a male 36 years old. I suffered a torn spinal cord from a snowboarding accident 8 years ago. I lost the muscle control of my bladder. I was and am very fortunate. I had to self cath to start. Well forget that, I stilll had feeling and could only do it a few times a day if at all. I had a 'super pube tube' as my DR. called it, put in. I have had spasms and reduced them by only using 5cc or even 4cc of water in the 10cc foley ballon. They have meds to stop the contractions, but they are sure to have unwanted side effects. Stones or a shell builds up on the catheter if I leave it in for 2 months. If I change it every month it is ok with minimal calcium buildup. If you can self cath it may be better in the long run if you are not getting too much trauma. Indwelling is bad in the long run. I have been told it can bladder cancer, but there is no prof that I have found.

[Scribbler]

Hi,

I hate to be a 'Damp Squib' re the Suprupubic Cath, but you did ask for peoples experiences.

I'm a C4/5 and been injured 50 years. I was really lucky, as I had full feeling, knew when I needed to pee so just used a Condom and leg bag.

Gradually my bladder stretched and lost its ability to empty so I saw my Spinal Urologist who performed a Suprapubic; that was over 3 years ago.

For me its the worse thing I ever had, as I still get Urethral leakage, which I was told would settle down, but its actually got worse.

I wear 2 leg bags in the day and have to use 2 night bags, as my Suprupubic doesn't drain much in the night; most drains through my penis.

I have my SPC changed every 5 weeks by my District Nurses; even they don't know why I have these problems, maybe I'm unique.

If I'd had a choice, I'd have had the neck of my bladder stretched and not had the SPC. As for infections since my Suprapubic, I used to get some, but don't anymore, as I use a catheter that has silver threads in it, which helps prevent them.

I suppose if I made a fuss and went to my Spinal Unit, they would admit me and do some medical proceedure, but as I'm pushing 70 I cant be bothered with going back in hospital, as there's no gaurentee I'd be better off.

I hope things go ok for you as lots of people are happy with their Suprapubic Cath; maybe I'm just an awkward sod...

Edited by Scribbler, 28 November 2008 - 10:06 AM.

[Tassievic]

Hi everyone. My name is Vicki. I'm a T4/5 complete paraplegic, and have been for 37 years. For about the first 10 years of being in a chair, I suffered heavy bladder spasms and would sweat profusely after about an hour of sitting up. I would have to change my clothing quite a few times through the day as I would be totally saturated from the sweat. I also suffered from blocked catheters every couple of days.

I decided after about 10 years of sweating to have a SPC in the hope that the sweating would subside. I thought that the bladder spasms were probably being caused by the extra pressure on my bladder from the catheter balloon while sitting up. My Dr wasn't happy about me having a SPC, and told me that bladder cancer would be a higher risk with it in. I was happy to take that risk though as I was pretty fed up with how uncomfortable the sweating made me feel, along with lots of stomach spasms.

Having the SPC put in was the best thing I could have done. I have had the SPC for around 27 years now. I used to regularly get bladder stones and infections before I had the SPC, but since then I have been totally free of stones and rarely have had infections. The sweating has also decreased by about 95%.

One thing I did make sure of was that I got the largest size SPC that I could have. My thinking on doing this was that I wouldn't end up having as many blocked catheters. I also make sure that I don't let air get up into my bladder, as I was told this creates bladder grit. I think these two points are what have kept away the stones and infections. I haven't ever had a blocked catheter since having the SPC.

My only regret is that I have a shrunken bladder from having catheters, and not clamping them off over the years to keep the bladder toned. I now have to make sure that my catheter is positioned rather precisely in my bladder otherwise I can leak. I get around this problem by taping my catheter in place on my stomach.

[Scribbler]

Am I just unlucky or what? Why is it everyone else is ok with their SPC but I have so much urethral leakage?

What size cath do you all use? Mine says 16CH 10ml.

[Tassievic]

Scribbler, on Nov 28 2008, 03:46 PM, said:

Am I just unlucky or what? Why is it everyone else is ok with their SPC but I have so much urethral leakage?

What size cath do you all use? Mine says 16CH 10ml.

I use size 26CH 10ml. One thing you can try if you haven't already done so, is to use a drainage bag that has wider tubing. The same with your leg bags. I can't use any thin tubed bags at all. If I try to I just leak. I guess with my shrunken bladder it just puts resistance on my bladder while using the thinner tubed bags, and that is enough to make me leak.

Also, I would curl the tubing of your overnight bag into a circle at the end of the catheter (not curled over the side of the bed, but curled on the bed so that no air gets into your bladder) as this helps to get a better flow of the urine through to your overnight drainage bag.

If you find that you have less leakage for a while after just after changing your catheter then I would presume that any resistance on your bladder is possibly the source of the problem.

I don't know if positioning of where your SPC is entering your bladder has any effect, but I asked for mine to be positioned as low as possible when I first got it.