tchang65
07-16-2009, 01:48 PM
Can someone recommend a good urologist in the Southern California area near West Covina? I am switching my insurance from Kaiser to Blue Shield PPO in September and I am looking for an urologist who is familiar with SCI patients.
I am a C5/6 quadriplegic complete. I have been using a foley catheter for more than 18 years. For the past 5 years, I suffer from chronic UTI. Most antibodies do not kill the bugs I have. As soon as I stop the treatment, the symptom returns. My family doctor finally put me on long term Macrodantin 100mg daily but I still get symptoms. My Kaiser urologist told me there is nothing he can do for me because the foley will always introduce bacteria. He wants me to cath intermittently. I can not cath myself and I don't have someone to cath me. My urine culture typically shows multi-organisms and the lab frequently discard my sample assuming it is contaminated.
My UTI symptoms usually developed at night. The foley catheter is connected to an Urocare 2000cc night drain bottle through a plastic tube. For some unknown reason, the urine only flows when I am in the sitting or elevated position while in bed. If I am lying down flat on my back, the urine pools in the bladder and does not flow. Many times a night I must sit up to let the urine drain from the bladder. My bladder has shrink over the years and it can only hold very little urine before it starts to spasm. I often wake up in sweat at night because of AD due to bladder is full. I take ditropan when I have symptoms. During the day my foley is connected to a leg bag. I don't have this problem sitting in chair.
I suspect the bacteria multiple while the urine stagnate in the bladder. This may be the reason for my frequent UTI. Has anyone experience a similar problem? I did not have this problem when I was first injured. This problem started in the last a few years.
My Kaiser doctors are clueless. I finally decide to pay more premiums and switch to Blue Shield PPO so I can have more choices of doctors. There must be someone out there who can help me.
Thank you for your advice.
I am a C5/6 quadriplegic complete. I have been using a foley catheter for more than 18 years. For the past 5 years, I suffer from chronic UTI. Most antibodies do not kill the bugs I have. As soon as I stop the treatment, the symptom returns. My family doctor finally put me on long term Macrodantin 100mg daily but I still get symptoms. My Kaiser urologist told me there is nothing he can do for me because the foley will always introduce bacteria. He wants me to cath intermittently. I can not cath myself and I don't have someone to cath me. My urine culture typically shows multi-organisms and the lab frequently discard my sample assuming it is contaminated.
My UTI symptoms usually developed at night. The foley catheter is connected to an Urocare 2000cc night drain bottle through a plastic tube. For some unknown reason, the urine only flows when I am in the sitting or elevated position while in bed. If I am lying down flat on my back, the urine pools in the bladder and does not flow. Many times a night I must sit up to let the urine drain from the bladder. My bladder has shrink over the years and it can only hold very little urine before it starts to spasm. I often wake up in sweat at night because of AD due to bladder is full. I take ditropan when I have symptoms. During the day my foley is connected to a leg bag. I don't have this problem sitting in chair.
I suspect the bacteria multiple while the urine stagnate in the bladder. This may be the reason for my frequent UTI. Has anyone experience a similar problem? I did not have this problem when I was first injured. This problem started in the last a few years.
My Kaiser doctors are clueless. I finally decide to pay more premiums and switch to Blue Shield PPO so I can have more choices of doctors. There must be someone out there who can help me.
Thank you for your advice.