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Urgent! need info about my indiana pouch
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Urgent! need info about my indiana pouch
Hi, I just found this board and am hoping someone can help me. I have had my pouch for about 12yrs. Up until now I have never had any problems. Latley it is getting more and more difficult inserting my cath. One night I began to wonder if I should go to the er. I tried it again a little later and it went right in. This is begining to happen more often than I am comfortable with. I am new to this part of the country and am going to a urologist as soon as I find one but in the mean time has anyone else had this happen to them? All I can think of is having to have surgery again and I don't even want to go down that road again. That first one almost killed me. (not literally) Anyway, can anyone relate to this?
My pouch is 13 years old now. I had lots of trouble in the beginning with getting the catheter in so I had to use a smaller size catheter. At times it still happens and I just go to the smaller size. I am wondering though if your stoma is starting to stenose which means to close up. If that is the case they may need to do a revision of the stoma and enlarge it. The other issue may be that you have some sort of infection and it is swollen. I would go see a urologist to get it evaluated. Where are you now? Maybe your old uro can give a name of someone they know where you now live? I am on the East coast and I go to Lahey Clinic in Burlington Ma. Judith
Re: Urgent! need info about my indiana pouch
What you're dealing with is frustrating but not unusual. I wouldn't worry about having more surgery or even running back to the doctor at this point. Here are a few things you can try:
1. RELAX. Sometimes when the catheter won't slide in very quickly you just need to be patient and, literally, relax.
2. Use a jab-like approach. Inch it in while pushing it, pulling it back a bit, and turning it slightly on each forward motion.
3. If you aren't already, try using a straight [red] catheter that's more rigid. The soft yellow ones can really be tough to get in.
4. If all else fails, use a smaller diameter cat, e.g. 14 vs. 12.
5. If your pouch ever gets distended to the point that you can't get in [your pouch] to drain it, have an NG tube on hand. They're great for emergencies. An NG tube is a long, rigid plastic tube [like they use for inserting into people's stomach, via throat, for feeding]. This will save you a lot of agonizing pain, trust me!
And last, give yourself a break once in a while! Use the following advice with a grain of salt because abusing it could potentially lead to bacterial infections:
1. You'll need a slit sponge [gauze pad], tape, and a plastic plug for the end of the catheter.
2. Tape on the gauze pad, insert the cat, drain the pouch, plug the end, and then tape the catheter to the gauze pad.
3. Leave the cat in. Next time you have to drain, just pop the plug!
Good luck to you!
1. RELAX. Sometimes when the catheter won't slide in very quickly you just need to be patient and, literally, relax.
2. Use a jab-like approach. Inch it in while pushing it, pulling it back a bit, and turning it slightly on each forward motion.
3. If you aren't already, try using a straight [red] catheter that's more rigid. The soft yellow ones can really be tough to get in.
4. If all else fails, use a smaller diameter cat, e.g. 14 vs. 12.
5. If your pouch ever gets distended to the point that you can't get in [your pouch] to drain it, have an NG tube on hand. They're great for emergencies. An NG tube is a long, rigid plastic tube [like they use for inserting into people's stomach, via throat, for feeding]. This will save you a lot of agonizing pain, trust me!
And last, give yourself a break once in a while! Use the following advice with a grain of salt because abusing it could potentially lead to bacterial infections:
1. You'll need a slit sponge [gauze pad], tape, and a plastic plug for the end of the catheter.
2. Tape on the gauze pad, insert the cat, drain the pouch, plug the end, and then tape the catheter to the gauze pad.
3. Leave the cat in. Next time you have to drain, just pop the plug!
Good luck to you!