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A new UTI from the Catheter

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Posted 12/10/2009 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Four days after my uro did the painful SP catheter replacement, they call me up and not surprisingly, they did a culture and found a new UTI in my bladder.  So off to the drug store I go again for some antibiotics.  I hate taking them, unless absolutely needed, as I dont want to get immune to them.

I never had a UTI in my entire life until I started on the SP catheters.  This is my second one so far.  The first SP produced one, and I was on antibiotics for 10 days, 4x a day.  Don't know about you, but they tend to make me nauseated.

The dr. did say Monday, that with that type of cath, that's a downside, because within 48 hours of insertion of a new sterile one, cultures will attach and grow to it.

I wonder if thsi infection added to the unexpected pain on Monday when he did the insertion of the new one?  Four days later, still sore from that procedure, tender to the touch.

David in SC

Posted 12/10/2009 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
David...just a pun...but you are beginning to be the official Timex PCa boy..."Takes a lickin and keeps on tickin" Sorry to hear the latest...just another pearl in this string of pearls that one day will shine very brightly.

Keep the faith bro...
Posted 12/10/2009 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Les, perhaps I am the turd that can't be polished, lol, all that rubbing, and still no shine.

I also forgot to compensate in this formula, that my immune system is way down compared to normal since I went through radiation, that might be making a difference too.

David in sC
Posted 12/10/2009 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Anytime we stick a tube in us, we stand a risk of infection. Problem with SP's, you are only an inch from the ouside world. A regular catheter makes the little buggers crawl farther before they hit pay dirt.

Thank heaven for antibiotics !
Posted 12/10/2009 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, and I have never been one to abuse them or use them needlessly. More than an inch, I am afraid, got some good thermal padding between the outside world and the bladder wall.
Posted 12/11/2009 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
about time you caught a break David. Those UTIs are no fun. I remember getting one (first and only) about a month after surgery...............probably the passage was made somewhat easier for the little buggers with the leaking pathway. I would be surprised if the infection did not increase your pain; after all most infections are accompanied by swelling and painful redness.......part of our defense mechanism I guess. Hang in there ol' mate, for this too shall pass.
Bill
Posted 12/11/2009 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Billy, I am sure that poor bladder was raw inside, and probably added to the pain when he stuck in the new tube, it really shouldn't have hurt so bad, so it took both me and the doctor by surprise.
Posted 12/11/2009 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
hey david i know you have had the cathers for such a long time count your self luckey you only had two. i had the cath for two months and had one. ive been self cathering for three weeks now and hadnt had one . im very luckey. hope you get rid of that devil. neil
Posted 12/11/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
David I am kinda new to this stuff.What is the difference between a sp cath and a foley?

Zach
Posted 12/11/2009 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Zach,

Thats a good question, and easy to answer, and we will assume we are talking about the two types being used on a male patient.

A foley catheter, as you know first hand, enters from your penis, through your urethra, past your bladder neck, and into the bladder itself. After it is installed, the dr/nurse inserts saline into a balloon on the inside end of the catheter. It fills up, and keeps the catheter from being forced right back out your penis. As urine builds up, it flows into the tiny inlet end of the catheter, which is right on the other side of the balloon portion, and drains out into either a leg bag or the big bag, the night time bag.

A SP catheter stands for suprapubic, it has to be inserted surgically, and it typical comes out of your body an inch or so to the left or right of your navel. It goes right through your skin and muscle, and penetrates the wall of the bladder. A balloon is used just like in the foley, but instead of the balloon resting at the bottom of your bladder against your bladder neck, it sits up higher in your bladder. It then drains into bags just like any other catheter.

If you are going to be on one long term like me, the usual rule is to change them out every 4-6 weeks. In most nursing homes, catheters have to be changed every 28 days by regulation.

I had so much trouble with my bladder neck closing up after surgery, and requiring painful dialation procedures, and corrective surgeries to re-open it, that when I was about to start my radiation treatments, it was decided that since the radiation would cause swelling, we mutually decided to have the SP installed on me, knowing that I would need to be on a catheter for at least 3 full months. It is still a nuisance, but not as bad as if it were a foley for so long.

Hope this helps

David in SC
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