15 replies to this topic

[keeptrukin]

I was told that I needed a super pub put in because I cath every 4 hours and still have alot of leakage. I have been put on diffenrent medicines to help calm my bladder but it seems my bladder is doing its own thing.

I have heard that there are benifits to this, it's more sanitary- less likely to get infections- easier to deal with- and that it is not a permanant thing.

I have also heard that there are con's to having one, blockage (being number 1) - leakage from super pub site both urine and other fluids- bag inflation problems.

I want to hear from anyone who has more information on this. I am not ready to subject myself to anymore procedures until I know what the pro's and con's are, and feel confident in my decision.

Please let me know what you know.
Thanks

[Apparelyzed]

Hi,

Here are my views on S.P catheters.

http://www.apparelyz...p?showtopic=545

Regards

Simon

[urologynurse]

Hi..........I have a ton of info on SPTs. I will bring some info home Monday-it's Sunday here-and post Monday night.

[keeptrukin]

Apparelyzed, on Oct 22 2006, 04:19 AM, said:

Hi,

Here are my views on S.P catheters.

http://www.apparelyz...p?showtopic=545

Regards

Simon

Thank you this was very helpful.
Tell me are you glad you have one? Does it make daily life easier?

[keeptrukin]

urologynurse, on Oct 22 2006, 09:51 PM, said:

Hi..........I have a ton of info on SPTs. I will bring some info home Monday-it's Sunday here-and post Monday night.

I look forward to reading about it, thanks

[Lucydog]

I dont think there is a right or wrong decision. many people here fell that a SPC has really improved their lives dramatically. I had one temporarily as I get one infection after another and my urologist wanted to give my bladder a break. It was fine and I dont have strong opinions either way. For me it was more of a mental thing in that I didnt feel I was ready for this to be part of me yet, after all its good to feel you have some sort of control over your body. Having said that I wouldnt be averse to having one in the future.

You may want to wait a while if possible so you can come to terms more with what has happened, then you may feel more able to make an informed decision.
cheers
Lucy

[Apparelyzed]

Hi,

For me, a SPC has given me confidence, and independance.

I don't have to worry about leaks or blowouts, no worries about getting wet etc.

Also, a SPC is far better when it comes to sex, as there is no catheter passing through the urethra.

Simon

[lovinghim]

Apparelyzed, on Oct 23 2006, 01:33 PM, said:

Hi,

For me, a SPC has given me confidence, and independance.

I don't have to worry about leaks or blowouts, no worries about getting wet etc.

Also, a SPC is far better when it comes to sex, as there is no catheter passing through the urethra.

Simon

my partners got a spc and it ws the best thing he did, as he was getting very fed up with leaks and getting wet.
i aslo agree with simom that it is a lot better when it comes to sex...

jo

[urologynurse]

After reading Simons link in his post I realized that I might not have that much more to add!

The SPC is a great alternative to a foley cath. It cuts out the chance of urethral tearing and streaching which we see alot. It does enable the person to have sex - which is always a plus!

Most people with SPCs will always have a mild UTI - sterile pyuria - but don't have any signs of one other than checking thier urine and sending it for a C&S. Unless someone is having the actual symptoms of a UTI, we don't treat it due to so may UTIs being resistant to may of the antibiotics.

HTH a little!

Oh.........the cranberry juice is not a good idea if you have kidney stone. Depending on the type of stones you have, cranberry juice can actually cause them to grow faster....................lemonade or water with lemon in it is much better for your kidneys.

[orangejello]

I also can't add anything practical to what has already been said in terms of the advantages and disadvantages.

I had mine done at around six months post injury and it was a very good decision for me in terms of making things easier for myself and my caregivers. For that reason alone, I think it was a good choice for me. But it might be different for others.

[russ1]

There's some more info and some stuff I wrote
here
and
here

Edited by russ1, 25 October 2006 - 09:53 AM.

[Apparelyzed]

urologynurse, on Oct 25 2006, 03:23 AM, said:

Oh.........the cranberry juice is not a good idea if you have kidney stone. Depending on the type of stones you have,

In some people, cranberry juice can also cause additional encrustation of the tip of the catheter.

On the topic of UTI's, I have had my SPC for over 14 years now, and been UTI free. As long as you drink plenty, you should not have any problems. But, everyone is different, and some people are more resistant to UTI's than others.

Simon.

[gazrobsuk]

I was close to getting one in Stoke M but they persevered etc & I was told that once your bladder kinda gets used to being the size of a golfball etc due to permanent drainage then there comes a point when it can't recover from that as it's a muscle & needs using. Was that info wrong? as I always kinda assumed that a SPC was permanent (not temporary) especially if it's in for a year or more.

Having said all that all the folks who had them either in hospital or ones I've 'chatted' to electronically since all swear by them so I wouldn't have minded too, though I'm lucky I do get a 5 minute warning when I'm full & can go normally so I guess that's the ideal & have only had one or two small accidents when I couldn't make it in time but now I'm more pro-active but also I do drink plenty & take concentrated cranberry tablets daily so not had a UTI since hospital.

Edited by gazrobsuk, 25 October 2006 - 01:01 PM.

[russ1]

gazrobsuk, on Oct 25 2006, 02:00 PM, said:

I was told that once your bladder kinda gets used to being the size of a golfball etc due to permanent drainage then there comes a point when it can't recover from that as it's a muscle & needs using. Was that info wrong? as I always kinda assumed that a SPC was permanent (not temporary) especially if it's in for a year or more.

It depends how you use an SPC - as long as you don't free drain your SPC then it's no different to using intermittents. I've had mine in over three years and my bladder still holds 2-300 mls I don't free drain all the time just more often than not. So there's no reason why it should be permanant.

However if you do free drain then your advice was correct - or at least that's my understanding.

[Zammo]

I self-cath every 2-3 hours currently and drink what I like. I was finding though that I was leaking on a regular basis, especially during any exertion (i.e. transfers). I got fed up of changing out of wet clothes all the time so I now wear a sheath and a small leg bag which collects my spillages (only 10mils or so). I still self-cath through the sheath. Works for me.

[cvelusc]

urologynurse, on Oct 25 2006, 03:23 AM, said:

[snip]
Oh.........the cranberry juice is not a good idea if you have kidney stone. Depending on the type of stones you have, cranberry juice can actually cause them to grow faster....................lemonade or water with lemon in it is much better for your kidneys.

Thanks UN! I had no idea that cranberry juice can be actually cause stones to grow faster.