How often to change caths etc

[Catucci]

Hi everyone

Hubby, Nico, is getting conflicting information from GP, Specialists, District Nurse and hospital nurses regarding how often he should change his indwelling catheter and drain bag.  Specialist says change catheter once a week and bag every day.  District Nurse says change catheter every 3 months (!) and bag every 2-3 weeks.  Can anybody advise???

I know you're all going to say Nico shouldn't have indwelling catheter all the time but it's his only option at the moment.  He's got some options to consider from the Specialist which I'll probably post about when the time comes.

Thanks.

xX Cath Xx

[Gary Anderson]

Cat

Hi! Good to hear from you again.

I don't use an indwelling catheter, however, I do use a urinal sheath and drain bag as "backup" as things aint what they used to be!!

My advice - not as a doctor - but as someone who has to depend on such methods - tell Nico to do what is best and right for him.

I tend to change bags, etc, on a regular basis - my Mum likens me to a women changing her undergarments!

I tend to deal with my "bits" the same way a woman does when she has a period - you know the thing I mean - if I leave it will it smell?

So, whatever is right for Nico. There is no surefire way of dealing with these things.

As for not having an indwelling cath - bullshit. I know a man who has had one for years. I think it is that some doctors think everyone should have a suprapubic one. Not everyone can - or wants one - so whatever is right for hubby tell him to go with that.

I have to admit I change the bag every day sometimes night and morning it depends on output. I think catheter every week bag every day.

[Lieveling]

Gary's words of wisdom (again!).

My partner has an indwelling catheter (ever since his injury one year and 4 months ago) - he's going to try self-catheterisation in a few weeks. Fingers crossed that it works - he really wants it to and is working hard on his fingers so he can use them for this. They are talking about a small intervention to cut his urethra .......

Currently his catheter is changed one every six weeks and bag once every 2-3 weeks in the rehab centre. Though sometimes more often as yes Gary there's a smell !!!!

So basically those few words to say Gary's advice I think is spot on!!!

[Catucci]

Hiya

Thanks for that Gary and Lieveling.  Yes Gary, they are trying to make him have a suprapubic but he really doesn't want one, he's quite happy with an indwelling but is worried he might wreck his insides as they suggest he might.  Your thoughts on changing frequency are exactly what he's been doing so great minds think alike eh!?

Thanks again.

xX Cat Xx

[Ulla]

Hello Cat,

I change Nick's bag every 5 to 6 days and his cath (suprapubic) get changed every 4 weeks.  My dad's (indwelling) gets changed every month and has a fresh bag every morning.  I am going to Sweden to see him on Monday as his health is deteriorating rapidly.

Ulla x 

[wheels5894]

I am a supra-pubic catheter user and have been for quite a while. It is certainly preferable to a urethral catheter as it is easier to change and use. There seems to be no problems with the insertion of the SPC and no internal problems either. Anyway to the question -

• The catheter can remain in place ofr 12 weeks and I don't know of any good reason not to go the whole 12 weeks unless blockages occur. I find that drinking lots 3ltrs or maybe more, blockages are rare so we regulalry replace the catheter at about 12 weeks
• Drainage bags normally say on them that they can be used for 5 - 7 days so I tend to go with 5 days to reduce smell. The leg bag, or course, remains connected for the whole of the 5 days and is just swapped out. The night bag could be left longer but i usually swap both at once.

I hope that helps.

[wheels5894]

Sorry, but I missed a bit. Such clinical trials as I have seen suggest that there is a lower risk of infection with and SPC thanusing intermittent catheters and considerably lower than urethral catheters. So far, *crosses fingers* over quite a few years, I have not had an infection  at all even on my record run of 20 weeks before a catheter change! (20 weeks is too much - 12 is a maximun but the medical staff got a bit muddled!)

Taking into account the reasons in my earlier post and the lack of infection, amd SPC is much the best choice if you bladder cannot manage to drain itself with a sheath. Fitting the first one is a minor op and after that chnages are easy and quick. Oh, and one can easily reverse it - just pull the catheter out and the hole seals so nothing to lose really.

[Catucci]

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for all the info, I'll be showing it to Nico to have a read.  I know it's a massive subject and not a definate science so all your imput is much appreciated, thanks.

xx Cat xx