Suprapubic catheter

[socrmom]

I am living alone, in a w/c and having trouble with transfers. Anyone having the catheter pros/cons. Anyone who had the procedure but had it removed tell me why. Your info will be more helpful than the doctors.

Thank you in advance.

[owlnona]

My urologist didn't recomend it for me,I self cath. I'm in a wheelchair,but can walk some,short transfers..
I'm sad you live alone,do you have any help?
God Bless keep us posted Nona Judy

[kellygrn]

I too am in a wheelchair & have use of only one arm. So self cathing is out for me.

I have had my supra pubic cath for 5 years. I have a nurse change it every 3 weeks. It has been a life saver for me.

I can tell you that if you take the cath out & leave it that way for 90 minutes, you will have to have surgery again to place it.

KK

[socrmom]

I too am in a wheelchair & have use of only one arm. So self cathing is out for me.

I have had my supra pubic cath for 5 years. I have a nurse change it every 3 weeks. It has been a life saver for me.

I can tell you that if you take the cath out & leave it that way for 90 minutes, you will have to have surgery again to place it.

KK

Do you live alone? A nurse comes to your home to change the catheter?

[kellygrn]

Yes I live alone. I have aides 36 hours a week Mon - Sun. I have a home health nurse come every three weeks. If I need PT or OT, they come to my home also.

Being house bound has a few perks. LOL!!!

KK

[socrmom]

Yes I live alone. I have aides 36 hours a week Mon - Sun. I have a home health nurse come every three weeks. If I need PT or OT, they come to my home also.

Being house bound has a few perks. LOL!!!

KK

Wow!! I have an aide only 9 hrs (thats all I can afford). I heard Medicare will cover aides if a nurse has to come to your home.

Do you wear long pants all the time?

It is so nice having someone to talk to about this.

[kellygrn]

I don't get Medicare yet. Got 4 more years. The state of Texas pays for the max amount of time for my aides. They do everything for me. Tomorrow I have a PCP doc appt. The aide is going to met me at his office. It is 2 blocks from my house. I will go in my wheelchair & she will drive her car there.

Slacks are a pain to take on & off. I wear "flowing dresses. LOL!!! Very comfortable & easy to transfer from bed to chair.

KK

[kebsa]

intermittent self cath would have been my urologists preference for me but mobility issues makes that impractical. I put off the whole idea of permanent catheter for as long as i could as i really did not like the idea but to be honest, it has been far better than pads and accidents etc. apart from anything else, i have had less UTIs since the catheter

if you were given an option of self cathing, that is worth a go, its not as hard as you might think, i have tought women in the past and would have preferred this option but i am completely wheelchair dependant and have poor manual dexterity and mobility so it is not practical.

I have a visiting continence nurse and use a long term silicone catheter that gets changed every 6 weeks. As mentioned before, i find loose fitting pants work well for me but "flowing" skirts would be ok, i just have not been a skirt person for a long time!