Long-term Catheter Use: How I Battle My UTI’s
Hello! My name is Tiffiny Carlson and I’m the newest blogger for New Britain Medical Supplies. As a quadriplegic the past 20 years, I’m more than comfortable with medical supplies, especially when it comes to the all-important catheter.
Not surprisingly, I’ve had my fair share of UTI’s AKA bladder infections over these two decades. I’ve even had surgeries (stone removal and a stoma-creating procedure) in an attempt to prevent them, but nothing has ever been the holy grail. Sadly, they always come back no matter how much cranberry juice or water I guzzle.
That’s the thing – bladder infections are standard territory when you’re paralyzed. The body just doesn’t like long-term catheter-use. No matter how careful you are when you use one, wiping the area with an alcohol swab before you go or only drinking water, it’s almost impossible to not accidentally get a smidge of bacteria on yourself and wind up with a bladder infection a few days later.
You can however do a number of things to make sure they’re as infrequent as possible. I’ve got my go-to rules, and they’ve seriously been a lifesaver, even if the whole “no reusing catheters” rule is a bit hard to follow (I only receive only 3 boxes of catheters a month, with 150 catheters in each and it’s not always enough). Check out my rules below.
Only Drink Water
They tell you this over and over again in rehab – drink as much water as possible – and it’s because it’s important. Staying hydrated with water is one of the best things you can do to your body, especially to your bladder. Nothing heals the bladder more than water as it flushes out debris and toxins.
For many of you addicted to soda, know that if you open your body and bladder to water again, you may fall in love in a big way. All we know is that the concentrated nature of soda is dreadfully bad for your bladder.
Use Alcohol Prep Pads
I have a stoma in my belly button for which I go to the bathroom. It’s a pretty cool tiny inconspicuous thing that makes my life so much easier when it comes to independence in the bathroom. It was actually a procedure invented by Dr. Mitrofanoff in the 1980s; a stoma-setup designed for female wheelchair-users. I had this procedure done in 2005 and I use an alcohol prep pad on the site before each use to make sure the area is perfectly clean.
Never Reuse Catheters
If you can’t afford health insurance, or maybe the kind you have doesn’t provide you with enough free catheters each month, your next best bet is to always keep an extra box of catheters at your house in between orders. I unfortunately use more catheters each month than my insurance pays for, so I have to buy this box out-of-pocket, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind it brings.
Whatever you do, don’t try to wash or reuse any of your catheters. Many report that boiling them for a couple of minutes or soaking them in rubbing alcohol can clean them, but if this isn’t necessary, avoid it if you can. Everytime I run out and reuse, it doesn’t matter how “clean” I get them; after a couple days of reusing catheters I always get a UTI.
Irrigate Every Night
Another way I keep my bladder bacteria-free is by doing a saline irrigation of 60 ccs each night before bed. The “flushing” of the saline going in, then whooshing out, helps clean the bladder awesomely clean.
Only Treat UTI’s w/ a Fever
And lastly, one of my most important rules – don’t go crazy with the antibiotics. I’m unfortunately resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics for bladder infections, such as Sulfa and Macrobid to name a few, and this is not very safe. I have my past doctors to blame.
Many gave me antibiotics even when they weren’t necessary, and sadly I was too green to know any better. To make sure I don’t become resistant to anymore antibiotics, my new doctor will only prescribe me antibiotics for a bladder infection it is accompanied by a fever, since we all know a fever means it’s getting dangerous.
Everyone has their own methods for preventing bladder infections, it’s up to you to find the ones that work the best for you. Just know, like me, you need to be as proactive as possible in making sure your bladder stays healthy.
How do you prevent UTI’s?
Connecticut Magazine Recognizes Ryan Martin
Congratulations to one of our customers, Ryan Martin, for being recognized by Connecticut Magazine as one of this year’s best and brightest! As a wheelchair athlete, Ryan founded the “Ryan Martin Foundation” which allows children with disabilities to attend a summer basketball camp, completely free of charge. When Ryan is not playing basketball professionally in Madrid, he is dedicated to mentoring and helping develop sports camps for wounded veterans and young adult athletes. Ryan is also a program coordinator for the Hospital of Special Care mentorship program.
The Ryan Martin Foundation’s mission is to help youth and adult athletes with disabilities live independent, impassioned, productive and full lives through sports training, mentoring and education.
For more information about his foundation, visit his website at http://ryanmartinfoundation.org/
Annual Jammers/Grey Rugby Match
Photo Courtesy of Rick Hartford / January 19, 2014
On Sunday, January 19, Connecticut’s quad rugby team, The CT Jammers, played the able-bodied Grey Rugby Team in an annual match at New Horizons Village in Unionville. The CT Jammers played a great game, but lost in overtime 33-32 to the Greys. The Connecticut Jammers team, sponsored by Gaylord Hospital, is a member of the United States Quad Rugby Association which allow athletes with quadriplegia to compete against other athletes throughout the Northeast. The Connecticut Grey is an “Old Boys” rugby club founded in Oxford in 1979.
Photo courtesy of Rick Hartford / January 19, 2014
The match was featured on the 11 o’clock news on WVIT Channel 30. Here is a link for more pictures from the game, courtesy of The Courant.
