www.incontinentsupport.org

Had my catheter changed last Wednesday after it had been in for eight weeks and started to feel ill by Sunday night. Last night even worse with temp of 102 so took a water sample to the doc and sure enough I have a UTI.
He has given me co Amoxiclav a weeks supply. Am not happy I was wishing for it not to be a UTI and just a flu bug or something. There is no blood like last time but my wee does smell a bit different.
I have had a great run with it for the last couple of months it's just so disappointing. I had obviously done everything right keeping clean and drinking loads but what's the point if every time I have it changed I get poorly it's just not good.
Am seeing the consultant in a couple of weeks I may ask about what he would think about a suprapubic one and if that might make for less infections.

4wheeldave.

I regretted reading that your Foley caused a UTI, and I hope that Amoxiclav will clear it up for you. This must be disappointing. Perhaps your consultant will sort things out. Meanwhile, if diapers are necessary, use them in good health and good spirits.

Thanks for that Patrick am already starting to feel better but I don't want this every eight weeks.
Will see what they say and have to offer at the hospital in a couple of weeks.

4wheeldave.

Sorry to hear of the infection - they are a bit miserable aren't they. You should be back to normal soon though.

My super-pubic certainly didn't ever get infected so ti would be a good choice. If you have it done, get them to teach you haw to change it. With that skill you can fix things yourself if there's a blockage. My wife did mine fore ages.

Thanks wheels will certainly be mentioning a supra p when I see him. It's just so disappointing when you have done everything right hygiene wise for 8 weeks and then they change the thing and that's that's more antibiotics.
Still not feeling great but am not running the high temperature now.

4wheeldave.

Well, doing it right or not, I can get infected in a day with e coli if I have an ordinary Foley in place so you have done well to last so long. Some people seem to stay infection free for years but not me and, by the sound of it, not you either. The supra-pubic might just work for you, though.

Incidentally, what sort of intermittent catheters were you using that caused you problems? if you haven't tried that Coloplast Speedxcath compact you might find it worth a try. The product if very slick and easy to use and the tube is really quite thin and very slippery.

I was using the Vapro for self cath but this did not cure my incontinence it only sorted the retention. Having the foley means I don't have to wear diapers anymore which is great.
If it wasn't for the infections I am much better with the foley than self cathing and diapers. It's also more easy for my carer. It is early days yet but if things don't get better I will have to consider the supra or going back to diapers but it had only been three months since I switched to the foley so will see. Thanks for your help and input
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4wheeldave.

4wheel

I don’t know how your medical works in England or how much input you have in your care.

First I use 2yle as my scream name I been using a Foley catheter for over four years now infection free going on four years. I have posted a lot a while back some of what I said may be useful to you. I am no authority or genius about Foleys just trying to live a long life like everyone.

I think there are things you can try before going to a SP catheter although there are some real benefits to a SP.

Have you tried any of the silicone catheters that are antibiotic silver coated? When I went to these catheters my UTI's stopped.
Most UTI's are started when the catheter is changed so even though the coating only last for five days that is five days infections are stopped hopefully they die off before they can start.

My doctor has me changing my own Foleys at home reason less chance of infections. He also has me taking an antibiotic for three days after catheter change here again to stop infections from starting.
So I change my own catheter useing one of the antibiotic silver coated catheters and take Cipro an antibiotic for three days and I have not had an infection now four years.

To me the best catheter in this type is Bard LUBRI-SIL® I.C. Infection Control Foley Catheters.

These type of catheters are also available through Rush and Rochester there may be others I stayed with Bard to me they worked the best.

But there is always a But there is a relative new type of Foley catheter made by Poiesis called Duette.

Before I got going I been on this board for many years some know me most don’t but I am no rep of any of the companies I am talked about.

Duette Foley has two balloons one of which is on all Foleys the anchor balloon the other when filed covers the tips of the catheter so it can’t rub and cause trauma to the walls of the bladder. To me of all the catheters I tried and used this is the best most comfortable catheter made.
But there is that word again but I don’t think it is available yet in England.

Any of these catheters can be looked up on the net.

As one catheter user to another I hope you find a solution to stopping UTI's.
You got a lot of advice from good people we all have a little different way to approach the same end goal.

As for having a SP catheter I can’t say much about them my doctor did mention down the road I may have to go that route I will cross that bridge when I get there.

Lyle

Thanks so much for all that good stuff Lyle I will make a note of the things you have suggested and discus them with the urologist is a few days time. I do use a silicone catheter but it's not silver coated.
Am feeling a bit better am just waiting for the team to arrive to change the catheter it's morning over here.
I will persist with this until we get it right.

Thanks for your help

4wheeldave.

Back from hospital appointment and I am to have the antibiotic Cephalexin for three days before each scheduled catheter change. I mentioned the silver catheter but they are not convinced they will help. That probably means they cost to much and they hope I won't need them but we will see what happens with my next change with just the tablets.
Thanks for the comments I will post again when I am next due a change of cath in about eight weeks.

Thanks.

4wheeldave.