[Larry Singer]

I need some help with some bladder issues and I just fiound this forum and you all seem really helpful here.

For 18 years i've been a quad. Kicked the intermittent cath to the curb and wore an external a month after discharge. I've been having moderate success...every now and then getting a bladder infection...nothing bad enough that an antibiotic couldn't handlle.
Just about 3 weks ago i've started sweating at night (i sweat only when there's a problem) and there had been moderate volumes in my night bag.. it would fluctuate. All of a sudden, i'm not urinating during the day much, whqat deoes come out looks and smells bad...i'm doing the intermittent and having fluctuating volumes...the night bag is fluctuating...i seem to do better lying down than sitting up as fasr as kicking off...cipro didn't work well..i've been to general practitioners and urologists (it's HARD to find an SCI specializing one that takes Medi/medi)...i'm taking lasix, but that's inconsistent. I just had a urodynamics done...the doctor said evberything looked o.k...but he's recomending a sphicterotomy. Does anyone have any information they can share pro or con, or mabye an alternative I need to try?

Sorry to ramble, but I wanted to get it all out there.

I look forward to anyone's advice.

Larry

[Joed]

Hi Larry and Welcome!

Here is one alternative I've found that you might be interested in checking out:

http://www.whyp.com/article4.htm

[cvelusc]

Hi Larry, can't offer you any advice but nonetheless wanted to welcome you to the forum!

[juless]

Larry

Foul smelling and small amounts of urine could mean a UTI and then it could mean kidney problems. How is your BP and I suggest lots of 100% cranberry juice or cranberries.

I would definitely get it checked out nip it in the bud before it's serious.

juless

[juls]

Hi Larry
Maybe you could also try to give your kidneys a bit of a flush. O ccasionaly i drink large amounts of water for a couple of days just to give everything a clean out and so far i haven't really had any problems.It probably wouldn't hurt just checking with your Dr. before you try any of these ideas, just in case it's not the right thing for you.
Keep us updated and welcome to the forum

[RacingAxe]

Hello Larry, I started taking cranberry pills after I got my second UTI. The UTI was not treated until a month after I got it but the cranberry pills at least made a difference by reducing the smell. Someone recomended trying a tablespoon of apple cider vineger mixed with something else to drink. I did not try this but you may want to look into it. They said it changed the pH of the urine and helped to kill off the bacteria.

[Simon]

Key question, how much do you normally drink? Sounds to me like not enough. My night bag (2 litre) is full by morning. You should drink at least 3 litres if you get aedema then even more. Most should be water but as you have infection then drink cranberry juice. In this situation, drink, drink, drink.

[Vicki]

Hi Larry

I am still taking cranberry tablets -- 3 a day (10,000) and so far I have not had a UTI. I drank a glass of alka seltzer (two tablets) last week and next thing I know my catheter tube was full of chunky bits that look like curdled custard! I nearly had a coronary! I had the catheter flushed out with sterile water (boiled -- I keep three 500 mills bottles "in stock") using a 50 mill (sterilised with boiled water also). The "chunky bits" continued to come through but fortunately so did the urine. I have not tried alka seltzer tablets since but there might be something to this suggestion that I have come across at Apparylzed about Alka seltzer tablets preventing/curing UTIs. I will let you know if I am game enough again to try Alka seltzer tablets.

I think the sphictophy (sorry about the spelling) is something you should consider.

Have a nice day.

Cheerio from sunny Queensland,
Vicki