11 Months on the SP Catheter

Today marks the end of the 11th full month I have been on these suprapubic catheters.  That's a run of 335 continuous days on the cath.  If you add that to the 101 days prior to the SP, then I have been on catheters now a total of 436 days, well over a year.  9 of them have been foley's through the penis, and 12 of them have been the SP type.  Included in the 335 days of SP's, I spent a total of 39 days with 2 catheters in place at the same time, both a foley and an SP.

Based on the average number of spasms I have in a day, would estimate I have experienced over 5,000 bladder spasms.  Could not tell you how many ditropan pills I have consumed  (2-4 per day) and the amount of prescription pain meds I have been through during this time.

I never would have believed that stats like this were even possible.  Of course, the SRT made all these matters much worse, and is still the root cause of the most painful elements of my journey.

Tommorow, it will be 3 weeks to this next major surgery, I am nervous about it, as I will wake up with another major change in lifestyle.  I can only hope I am doing  the right thing, and that I won't be plagued with complications again.

David in SC

Good Luck David with your surgery tomorrow, you are due for some good news!!!!!!!

Thanks, squid, shu, and larry.

Yesterday, was a rare, low pain and problem day, I was being lulled into thinking, "this isn't so bad". Today, its been a "hurting" since I woke up kind of day, extreme bladder neck and bowel pains, lots of pain in lower back and right hip. It amazes me what even the difference of a day can make.

My mother is needing some computer help at her house 8 miles away, I am laying here debating whether I want to go through the effort to put on a leg bag and go over there. For whatever reason, the leg bag time always increases my level of catheter pain.

This has all got to end at some point.

I sincerely hope so Mel, though all surgery has risks, and I know my surgeon, or any other surgeon, can not guarantee results or side effects in advance.

Did go help mom, but was in so much pain, ended up bringing her "net" book home, and my youngest son had her virus problem fixed for free in the first 5 mins.

Now I am on meds again, hoping to shake this terrible pain

Judy,

In all honesty, attempting to help others, helps me too, in that it takes the focus off my own woes. While all of our journeys have different twists and angles, some better than others, of course, we still are fighting the same Beast. It's best when we share and learn from each other. The combined knowledge via experience base here is the best I've seen in a support group, and the degree of brotherhood/sisterhood here is outstanding 99% of the time. Since we all have our own weaknesses and shortcomings, perfection can't exist here, or anywhere else of course.

While, like others, I give here, I have also taken away my fair share of help and support along the path.

I especially like the wives and daughters that frequent here, often on the behalf of their men folk. Some men aren't good at communicating their emotional feelings in these situations, but I assure you, and the other fine ladies here, that your help and assistence is surely appreciated, even when the right words don't come out right.

David in SC

I have to believe that Bronson, there's a part of me that wants to cancel this next step, but then all I have to do is think of the intense pain I went through just two weeks ago when the tube had to be changed out. I can't keep going through that level of raw pain, over and over again.

I just need to stay focused on why I am about to do this next surgery, and think of what I may be like after recovery. At least have a shot at a somewhat normal physical life, and do enjoy doing a few things that I like to do.

There is an event here everyyear held at the BMW plant in Spartanburg. Its called Euro Fest, and its become the largest all foreign car show on the East Coast. This year is #15, I have been to all of the previous 14 shows, never missed one.

I was telling my oldest son, that due to recovery from this next surgery, I may not be well enough to go due to all the walking, as there is usually 400-600 cars on show. He made me feel good, and said if we have to rent a wheel chair for the day, he will take me and push me, so that I don't have to break my perfect attendence record. Thats a good boy

David, you have more experience with catheters than anyone else here I'm aware of. I know your next procedure will result in some permanent changes but, I believe your QoL will be better. I'm sure you've done your homework.

I support your decision and faced with the same situation, I'd probably do the same. You have a supportive family at home and lots of people here rooting for you...

I only had a relatively short time on my single catheter and was lucky that, once it came out, I was continent with no problems.

Many thanks for always posting your experiences. Good or bad, they add a lot of experience and knowledge value.

Mike

PS: Will the hospital accept a large shipment of chocolates to your room?

Mike, you have been a great ally and friend. You know my situation pretty well, even away from HW, and I have always appreciated your kindness and friendship.

This op is a bit of a leap of faith, an educated attempt to break out of the "purgatory" of being stuck in a limbo of constant pain and limitations. Its time to move on and try this, I can't mentally handle even another month of going through this, despite lasting it 11 months so far. Not sure how many others here would have lasted even this long without going nuts or the deep end. My surgeon is highly experienced doing this, my GP gave him high marks too, and thinks this is my best hope. That's all I can ask for, is a chance to break this misery, and I am willing to gamble on this after much research and deliberations.

Yeah, some good chocolate will be required on the recovery side. Best not to send to hospital, as I will be on a feeding tube for 3-4 days to begin.

Stay in touch, my friend

David

Cool, godiva in IV drip form might be the ticket. Are you still going to get to go to Jeff's Hoot-en-anny? I hope you can, it can't be that faOr for you, if you have the available time. That's a great part of the country, and I will surely miss the fellowship of being with so many brothers at one time. When Jeff tells me to look out the window from the hospital, I will do so, I can always pretend its the Northern Lights, lol.

Or if you could convince Jetguy, to come pick me up at the Downtown Greenville Airport in his Gulfstream, perhaps I could come on a gurney, only be about a 2 hour flight or less.

Jetguy....Time to step up...LOL.

I'm sure Worried Guy (Jeff) will do really good and be most creative! I will attempt to help in all manners technologically possible.

You'll have a lot of people wishing you well in your surgery:)

yes, i can. but have never taken one before with all my ops.

the first few days, i will have so many stents and tubes and stuff down my nose/throat/neck and on morphine, wont be thinking much about computers to be honest.

i will probably wait till i am back home in the recovery mode before coming back on line. for my distracters, they can have a "non-purgatory" break, lol.

a couple of guys here have my phone number, and i will get my wife to relay a message or two once i am on the other side

cox and mikey, a big thanks to you guys.

NEIrish, thanks to you and your husband in advance. I like the Irish part of your name. With my last name, and my wife's maiden name, we arent too removed from being Irish. My mother is British, but both my Grandfathers were from Belfast. I use to head the only branch of "Irish Northern Aid" in the whole state of South Carolina for several years before the Good Friday Agreement was signed.

David,

If there are other events you don't want to miss, but are not up for, you could do what the NASA ARC center director did while recovering from surgery: he hired an "avatar" robot droid:

http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2010/08/center-director-1.html

Sort of looks like a Segway with no person attached.


DJ