Catheter and sores etc

Christopher Paddon · 07-01-2002, 10:51 PM

My life is a nightmare - severe depression and:

Is it connected that I'm really depressed and I'm getting a lot of health problems and irritations?

My glued on catheter (uratip) doesn't stay on any more for more than 4 hours (since my depression started 6 weeks ago
These used to stay on for 2 days - now memocathstent is in urine just dribbles everywhere

I'm starting to get pressure sores on my bum and foot
My weight is so low since renal failure last year - it's better for my arms I suppose but I just have bones in some places

I'm constipated

SHOOT ME NOW

if it were our cat she'd be put down for her sake

Sue Pendleton · 07-02-2002, 07:10 AM

Chris, I recently spoke to a relative of mine. We both agreed on one thing--AGING IS NOT FOR SISSIES! I'm DA and she's AB. I'm your age and have broken an arm in the past. She's well, "mature". She broke her hip in the last year. We both have arthritis in places. She's survived cancer while I am being tested for that and many other things. We both agreed that "life goes on".

It's good to hear you're being treated for the depression. I know the meds for that often take awhile to kick in. But you have got to get out there and live TODAY whether you like it or not. Everyone ages, some better than others. If you want to be a rigid, miserable old man, go for it. I prefer to deal with things as they come up and not worry too much about a future I can't predict.

And your poll? It's insulting! I can't decently push a manual chair far because I don't have hand and finger dexterity to worry about losing. I use a power chair so that I CAN be independent more. I could not get my coffee and breakfast out of the microwave if I had to sit it in my lap and then push. I can balance it on a towel over one knee and drive with my other hand. My husband and I switched to a minivan (Ford Winstar) because he'd be dead if he kept trying to lift me into our VW Jetta. He's come to actually like what he refers to as "the truck". I can stand with help so I don't need a lift and to ride in my chair. So I have a Braun Companion Seat on the passenger seat. My dog gets the second row of seats for herself and we took out the third (they are removable and then replaceable) row so my manual chair, the one we use for going places, can be easily thrown in the back.

I talk with my doctors and when needed physical therapists or OTs to make the most of what I have now and learn to adapt new things I can do and readapt things that get more difficult.

Your attitude is such that if you were an AB you'd be bitching about having to take asprin if you had arthritis pain show up whe you hit 50 from playing tennis or golf or something. GET OVER YOURSELF, MAN! We all age. So loosen up, quit blaming your rigidity and laziness on a different personality than the rest of the world and get on with TODAY! And please, no more admiring people on here. That is downright rude to do that "oh what a great attitude you have" thing. I have a shitty attitude today actually. I'm tired, I ache and I'd like to have my tricep on my right and both hands back so I could slip back into bed by myself for a nap and be able to get out of bed again later. But that's not going to happen today so I'm going to take my travel pillow and heat pack to the diningroom table and blonk down on it for a snooze. So quit your whining.

SCI-Nurse · 07-02-2002, 07:29 AM

Chris2, I'm so sorry I don't have any magical answers for you. Depression is a biochemical problem in the brain. There are some good drugs available to help but they take at least a couple of weeks to start working. If you have chronic renal failure (you didn't say which you had a year ago: acute or chronic) the dosing of the drugs gets tricky. Your fluid balance will also impact your bowels--hence the constipation. And the renal failure could make your depression worse and contribute to your pressure sores as well.

You really need to check in with a team of doctors who work together: an SCI doc, a kidney doc (nephrologist) and a psychiatrist to help with managing the depression.

Depression makes taking care of yourself well very difficult. I hope you have friends you can talk to and help you do "what must be done" as Garrison Keeler puts it.

I've struggled with depression in my own life and know from experience how hard it is to keep going. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
RAB

Chris Chappell · 07-02-2002, 03:13 PM

What Sue and Sci Nurse said.

Man, you are depressing and I can't hold my tongue any longer.

Stop whining or I'll fly to NZ and kick your para ass.

We've all got problems. Deal with yours PLEASE one at a time.

Onward and Upward!

07-01-2002, 10:51 PM	#1
Christopher Paddon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: New Zealand Posts: 3,207	Catheter and sores etc My life is a nightmare - severe depression and: Is it connected that I'm really depressed and I'm getting a lot of health problems and irritations? My glued on catheter (uratip) doesn't stay on any more for more than 4 hours (since my depression started 6 weeks ago These used to stay on for 2 days - now memocathstent is in urine just dribbles everywhere I'm starting to get pressure sores on my bum and foot My weight is so low since renal failure last year - it's better for my arms I suppose but I just have bones in some places I'm constipated SHOOT ME NOW if it were our cat she'd be put down for her sake

07-02-2002, 07:29 AM	#3
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,333	Depression Chris2, I'm so sorry I don't have any magical answers for you. Depression is a biochemical problem in the brain. There are some good drugs available to help but they take at least a couple of weeks to start working. If you have chronic renal failure (you didn't say which you had a year ago: acute or chronic) the dosing of the drugs gets tricky. Your fluid balance will also impact your bowels--hence the constipation. And the renal failure could make your depression worse and contribute to your pressure sores as well. You really need to check in with a team of doctors who work together: an SCI doc, a kidney doc (nephrologist) and a psychiatrist to help with managing the depression. Depression makes taking care of yourself well very difficult. I hope you have friends you can talk to and help you do "what must be done" as Garrison Keeler puts it. I've struggled with depression in my own life and know from experience how hard it is to keep going. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. RAB

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07-02-2002, 07:10 AM	#2
Sue Pendleton Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Wisconsin USA Posts: 9,112	Chris, I recently spoke to a relative of mine. We both agreed on one thing--AGING IS NOT FOR SISSIES! I'm DA and she's AB. I'm your age and have broken an arm in the past. She's well, "mature". She broke her hip in the last year. We both have arthritis in places. She's survived cancer while I am being tested for that and many other things. We both agreed that "life goes on". It's good to hear you're being treated for the depression. I know the meds for that often take awhile to kick in. But you have got to get out there and live TODAY whether you like it or not. Everyone ages, some better than others. If you want to be a rigid, miserable old man, go for it. I prefer to deal with things as they come up and not worry too much about a future I can't predict. And your poll? It's insulting! I can't decently push a manual chair far because I don't have hand and finger dexterity to worry about losing. I use a power chair so that I CAN be independent more. I could not get my coffee and breakfast out of the microwave if I had to sit it in my lap and then push. I can balance it on a towel over one knee and drive with my other hand. My husband and I switched to a minivan (Ford Winstar) because he'd be dead if he kept trying to lift me into our VW Jetta. He's come to actually like what he refers to as "the truck". I can stand with help so I don't need a lift and to ride in my chair. So I have a Braun Companion Seat on the passenger seat. My dog gets the second row of seats for herself and we took out the third (they are removable and then replaceable) row so my manual chair, the one we use for going places, can be easily thrown in the back. I talk with my doctors and when needed physical therapists or OTs to make the most of what I have now and learn to adapt new things I can do and readapt things that get more difficult. Your attitude is such that if you were an AB you'd be bitching about having to take asprin if you had arthritis pain show up whe you hit 50 from playing tennis or golf or something. GET OVER YOURSELF, MAN! We all age. So loosen up, quit blaming your rigidity and laziness on a different personality than the rest of the world and get on with TODAY! And please, no more admiring people on here. That is downright rude to do that "oh what a great attitude you have" thing. I have a shitty attitude today actually. I'm tired, I ache and I'd like to have my tricep on my right and both hands back so I could slip back into bed by myself for a nap and be able to get out of bed again later. But that's not going to happen today so I'm going to take my travel pillow and heat pack to the diningroom table and blonk down on it for a snooze. So quit your whining.

07-02-2002, 03:13 PM	#4
Chris Chappell Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7,035	What Sue and Sci Nurse said. Man, you are depressing and I can't hold my tongue any longer. Stop whining or I'll fly to NZ and kick your para ass. We've all got problems. Deal with yours PLEASE one at a time. Onward and Upward!