Help! Still having cath troubles!

[momw/ic]

I hate to make a nuisance of myself but I am still having problems with this self-cathing thing. I am having trouble with some of the medication spilling out of the top of the catheter. Sometimes when I remove the syringe the medicine is just sitting in the top of the catheter. Any ideas? I use the LoFric catheters if that helps.

Something else that occurred to me is should I be drawing each med out and then mixing it into a container or using the same syringe draw out the med one at a time. I was worried about the medicines mixing in the bottles if I accidentally push in on the plunger. Does that make sense?

And lastly for those of you who use marcaine and heparin...I have noticed that for a few minutes after my instill I feel shakey and sort of weird (kind of how asthma medicine makes you feel)but after a few minutes it goes away and I feel fine.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!!

[Sharyn]

I tried to self cath but because I have neck and back pain, it is difficult to maintain the position for any extended period of time.

I just compelted my 6th treatment which was given to me by a home nurse. We mix the heparin etc. in a separate container and then pour it into the tube. Once or twice it was necessary to draw some air up and then plunge it down. I don't know if this your problem. You can call call your doctor's office and ask how to correct the problem. Does this treatment help you and how often do you do it?

I got some temporary relief for about 3 or 4 days and then the pain returned. Not sure what Dr. Payne will do now.

I will keep everyone posted.

[Dixiefireball]

the way i do it is i draw the heparin out the marcaine you can just pop the top off of it the heparin is the one i have to draw out with a needle. then i put in the water put them in a clean cup i then shake it then i put the cath in with the ky jelly on it over the tolit a mirror may help you. then i put the syringe on the cath. pour the medicine in it and relax if i dont relax the medicine want go in.

[ICNDonna]

Rhonda, you don't have to take the top off the heparin bottle. What you do is to suck air into the syringe --- for example, if you need 4cc of heparin, pull the plunger on the syringe back until it reads 4cc --- then insert the needle through the rubber top of the heparin container and expel the air into the container. You then make sure the end of the needle is in the liquid and pull back the plunger again --- presto --- you have replaced 4cc of air with 4cc of heparin.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[peiti]

Hi,

To prevent the medication coming out from the top of catheter, you need to keep your butt and lower back on the ground (or lower than the catheter top). When I do self cath at home, I lied down on the floor. The position was like a sit up with my shoulders, neck and head up so I can see my self in the mirror. You can use a pillow under you neck to hold your upper body. After you instill your last medication, don't pull your syringe right out immediately. You can slightly straighten the catheter so the liquid can go directly into the bladder, but be careful don't pull the catheter too hard cause it may come out of your urethra. You don't want this to happen before making sure all the medication goes into your bladder.

Besides, my nurse taught me to insert some air afterwards. This can push the medication remained in the catheter into your bladder.

Hope this helps.

[momw/ic]

Thank you all so much! It really helps to hear from others who have done it. Today I could feel the meds entering my bladder and then all of the sudden it was "backing up" and coming out at the top of the catheter where the syringe was inserted. I am thinking maybe I tightened up my muscles or something.

Both of my meds are where I have to draw them out with a needle - I think I got that about mastered!
My uro has me doing this once a day everyday and even though I have only been doing it 4 days I can tell a difference in my pain. I have been having a really painful spot (probably a hunner's patch) and when it is really burning the marcaine numbs it for several hours. I guess that is why I want to get it right because this is one thing that really seems to be helping! In the past DMSO always has helped until now and it just stopped working for me.

Again, thanks so much. grouphug