Hello all
I’ve just had my SPC removed. It was put in on 3rd March and after 6 months of UTIs, wound infections, altogether 7 lots of antibiotics, and general discomfort, I saw the urologist today and we agreed to remove it.
Last week I tested out a flip-flow valve in order to make sure my bladder would hold urine after having 6 months of free flow. And the test was fairly successful, I measured the output and it went from 100mls at the start to 300ml and even 500mls once. Then I got another flipping UTI. So went back to a bag for the last two days.
Today (after checking I still had some ISC catheters), I took all my notes about what infections I’ve had, the various antibiotics and symptoms I’d experienced to my appointment. In fact, the process of going through my diary and checking what happened when horrified me, I hadn’t realised quite how many times I’d had a UTI. (Fair enough there was a reasonable excuse once when I’d just had my colostomy and suddenly the remnants of what was in the last bit of rectum exploded causing an e.coli infection!)
I double checked that if necessary I could have an SPC put in again in the future. The urologist also suggested a Mitrofanoff procedure (a surgical means of using the appendix to create a conduit between the abdomen and the bladder, which would then be emptied using a catheter). I’ll be holding this in reserve for if all else fails.
Then she neatly whipped the offending item out. She gave me a prescription for antibiotics for the current infection and any leftover wound infection nastiness. And all would be fine if it weren’t for the UTI. I do keep wanting a wee, my urethra is burning and whinging about having catheters inserted when it already feels poorly.
But, if I can last out the next few days, the antibiotics do their stuff, the hole in my abdomen heals up nicely without any wee escaping through it, and I manage to transfer to the loo about a million times in 24 hours without falling over (Mr Sssue fears this!) then all will be well.
Sue