UOAA Discussion Board

I am post op Indiana Pouch and full hysterectomy 12 weeks and doing amazingly well. I was blessed here in Kansas City, MO by Dr. Austenfeld, Jaime Mehl and the entire KC Urology team. The nurses at St. Lukes Hospital were angels on earth for my hubby and I. Can't say enough about all of my support team, medical and personal. At any rate, I am still flushing 2x a day and will be traveling to Vegas in October for a work conference. I am wondering if anyone with the same needs travels/has traveled and what you do to "tote" your saline. I have thought of pre-mixing and using water bottles or something to that effect but thought I would ask the experts. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

You may find by that time that you are going to be away, you will not need to irrigate 2x a day anymore. Maybe only once a day. How long will you be gone for? My pouch is 14 years old and I no longer irrigate, though I really should. When I irrigate my pouch goes into spasms due to the disease I had. At any rate, I would pre mix the saline and bring it or you can spend lots of money to buy premixed saline. You will find with time that by drinking lots of fluids, especially water that the mucus will thin out and not be as thick or have as much as you do right now. When it gets closer to the time for your trip, ask your doctor or ET nurse if you can get away with not irrigating during your trip.

Thank you so much, I do find it is getting less and less. I will be fone for 5 days so I am thinking it is best to be prepared rather than not. I am sorry to hear about your spasms, I hope 14 yrs from now I am still going as strong as you are! Thanks for the info!

I use pre-filled saline syringes to flush my cook's catheter daily. I get them from my pharmacy with a prescription. I can get a box of 30 for under 25.00 at Costco. Blue Cross is not contracted with Costco for this item. I used to fill my own syringes but I was not comfortable (I am plagued with infections of the kidney and was nervous about my filling the syringes and worried that the saline and syringes wer not remaining sterile through the whole process).

The pre-filled are simply great!

Thank You for the suggestion. Do you need a script to get them from Costco? I have those here in KC but not sure what I need to get. I am sure my doc will give me a script if I need one...thanks again!

Yes, you need a script to get them from Costco. I will let you know how they work out. I pick up my first order tomorrow.

Charlene A

fabuolous! Thanks!

Picked up a box of 100 syringes (minimum amount because they won't break a box) at 75.00/box. What a bargain. The previous order was through Blue Cross PPO and it was 30 count for 78.00 and Blue Cross only paid 25.00 of it!!! So I paid 50.00 for 30.

Persistance pays off.
Charlene A.

Great news Charlene! I am glad it worked out for you, I go to see my doc next Monday so I will be asking for a script as well! Take care!

Let me know how it works out for you.
Charlene