Supra public care questions

[ECUrach85]

1. Am I supposed to flush the tube out often or just when it's clogged?

2. How often should I be cleaning the leg bag and bed bag

3. Does having a smaller bladder ( peanut sized) increase irritation and likelihood over other bad stuff like UTIs?

I just read an article about bladder cancer and it kinda freaked me out because I got the sp when I was 25 So this will be in me for quite a while. I'm terrible about drinking water too. Maybe a bottle or 2 a day. This scared me straight

[SCI-Nurse]

The indwelling causes your bladder to shrink because it is continuously empty. We order a lose dose anticholinergic such as Oxybutynin 5 2-3 times a day or Detrol to prevent this or start if it starts leaking.
Irrigation is done to keep the bladder draining well so it depends on your urine. If you have sediment then irrigate with sterile water or normal saline as needed. Some are on a routine schedule of 1-2 times a day and that is fine also.
Most clean their bags when they take them off - ( while the other one is on) just rinse with hot water and liquid soap and then rinse again and let air dry-( or some use a little vinegar or bleach but soap and water is fine but studies haven't shown this is needed).
When it gets discolored etc.. then quit using.
CWO

[SCI-Nurse]

Also the tube in your bladder is what increases your risk of infection.
CWO

[SCI-Nurse]

We haven't seen an increased risk of bladder cancer. There are studies being done and there should be a report out soon. The current recommendation was to do surveilance cystoscopes after 7 to 8 years of indwelling tubes with cystology- (bladder washings). Or do if there is any bleeding etc- after checked for UTI and cleared.
I know more people with bladder cancer who never had had a cath in or been cathed in their life.
Smoking is one MAJOR cause also. So while the studies still say there is a 5-10% chance over time and we do surveillance cystos and early treatment would be the wise choice.... it is nothing to lose sleep over !
CWO

[gjnl]

Originally Posted by ECUrach85

1. Am I supposed to flush the tube out often or just when it's clogged?
Many of us who have suprapubic catheters use Vetericyn to help prevent bladder colonization and urinary tract infections. Vetericyn or Vetericyn VF or Puracyn or Mycrocyn is instilled into the bladder and retained for a period of time. Vetericyn is a proprietary formulation of oxychlorine compounds based upon the Microcyn® Technology platform. Vetericyn’s base ingredient, oxychlorine, is similar to that produced by healthy cells in the body. The ingredients in Vetericyn are Electrolyzed Water (H2OSodium Chloride (NaCISodium Hypochlorite (NaOCI& Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI)(0.003%).
Vetericyn was originally developed for wound treatment. It is not an antibiotic. It may more properly be characterized as an antiseptic.
You might want to read these threads for more information:

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=133414
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=149966
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=143797
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=167480

http://vetericyn.com/technology/faq.php


2. How often should I be cleaning the leg bag and bed bag
I clean my leg bag or bed bag whenever I disconnect the bags from the suprapubic catheter.
I change leg bags every 4 weeks. I have a night drain bottle by Urocare that I prefer to a bed bag. The bottle is a heavy plastic container with a drainage tube that goes through a plastic lid on top of the bottle. I place the bottle in a plastic shoe box on the floor next to the bed.
I change the catheter every 4 weeks.

3. Does having a smaller bladder ( peanut sized) increase irritation and likelihood over other bad stuff like UTIs?
You can experience irritation from the tip of the catheter against the wall of the bladder and from the inflated balloon at the end of the stoma inside the bladder wall. As "CWO" indicates anticholinergic medications can help with spasms and the mild autonomia and/or leakage they may cause.

I just read an article about bladder cancer and it kinda freaked me out because I got the sp when I was 25 So this will be in me for quite a while. I'm terrible about drinking water too. Maybe a bottle or 2 a day. This scared me straight
In that there is nothing definitive about indwelling catheters or intermittent catheters, for that matter, increasing the risk of bladder cancer, information on that remains to be proved. The best that you can do is prevent as much irritation, inflammation, and infection as possible. Drinking enough liquid every day is key to keeping the bladder flushed out. The recommendation is 2-4 liters of water a day. That said, you really can drink too much water and lower your blood sodium to a dangerous point. After having several blood tests that indicated my blood sodium was too low, my endocrinologist recommended that I cut back on water consumption to help bring the blood sodium level into a safe range.

All the best,
GJ

[zillazangel]

Comments within....

Originally Posted by ECUrach85

1. Am I supposed to flush the tube out often or just when it's clogged? I never flush Chad's. His never gets clogged - or rather, maybe a handful of times over several years, and that's only been when he has a gnarly UTI that causes over the top sediment. KLD usually says not to flush a catheter routinely

2. How often should I be cleaning the leg bag and bed bag. Every time you disconnect it. I drain it, fill it up with water using a funnel, drain it. Fill it up with a 10% bleach solution, shake the ever loving crap out of it (so to speak) for at least 1 minute (which is a long time....), then drain it and hang it up to dry. Then I put a fresh bag (either new one or washed in this fashion but dried) on. KLD would also disagree with the soap and water comment and would recommend bleach

3. Does having a smaller bladder ( peanut sized) increase irritation and likelihood over other bad stuff like UTIs? Not in our experience. He takes Sanctuara for bladder spasms, he took it before the SP and now after.

I just read an article about bladder cancer and it kinda freaked me out because I got the sp when I was 25 So this will be in me for quite a while. Yes, we are concerned about that too but its one of those risks that are not well delineated yet so we're just hoping for the best. I'm terrible about drinking water too. Maybe a bottle or 2 a day. This scared me straightt Good!!! DRINK ALOT. Chad drinks at least 3 liters of water a day minimum

[ECUrach85]

Ok I never wash the bag out. I feel dumb now. Is everyday seriously necessary? That's a hassle! I do change every 4 weeks

[zillazangel]

Do you at least rinse it out? If not doesn't the urine left over after draining it begin to stink? Our theory is that every time you disconnect is a chance for bugs to crawl in.

[LindaT]

We had a crazy SP morning. The night drain bag was empty so changed SP even if has been less than the usual monthly change.
Urine had come through his penis which is unusual.
As soon as deflated and pulled tube out a river of urine gushed out of SP stoma and kept coming.
The end of the SP tube that is in the bladder had a long string of slime on it which was weird.
As soon has we put day leg bag on it filled up.

When I (or aide) change day to night and back we flush the bag with 10% bleach water and then rinse with water and hang to drain/dry.
We just do it that way because how we were taught at rehab.
I know some use soap and water or vinegar water which as I understand fine too.
We switch to new bags weekly.

Thanks for providing the links GJ. You are so helpful to people with questions here.

[alittleslower]

I've had mine 7 yrs you can call me strange but heres my way that works for me. 100% silicone 32 french 30cc cath. (i now know the cath is large but thats what the dr. did first cath. and im sticking with it.) 5mg oxybutin/bladder spasm 1 a day -nightbag always i dont disconnect it to another bag i have a nice carrybag it fits in on my power chair- 1000mg cranberry everyday and as much water as i can remember to drink. i leave everything connected for about two weeks then change the whole setup. My logic behind not changing bags " is the less disconnecting and reconnecting the less chance of introducing bugs" thats just me.
If i drink half the water im supposed to and drink only water i stay uti free. maybe 1 a year however if im a jackass and have a mocha and my normal water it increases a likely chance of uti. So 1 coffee tons of water next 2 days water sucks but we have different needs now water=healthy no water= antibiotics
I empathize with you big time wheelchair life f--kin sucks it just does enough said.
Adam c4-c5 since 11/03/03 i think cant remember and don't really care to more important things to remember.
GOOD LUCK i hope this helps