Hi all,
I had a suprapubic cather fitted a couple of weeks ago and am looking for any practical advise.
The leg starps have been a problem so my mum made me new ones which are far better. Yesterday I received a complimentary leg sock thingy, which is keeping it in place much better. I also received a sample box of all sorts of goodies from Optimum Medical Solutions after signing up, which looks amazing, and well worth asking for.
We’re off to Canada at the weekend for a wedding, so any flying tips will be great 
Thanks,
Beverley
I haven’t been on this forum for ages. I follow …personalised vitamin d therapy for ms @ Michael Cawley…on Facebook.
I have had a supra- pubic catheter for 25 yrs. Mine is changed every 5 weeks by urology nurse. Now l do not use any straps…just thread a piece of elastic lace through the holes on the long side and tie around my waist. I have a female length catheter and my bags are direct inlet…no lengths of tubing as l find they twist and kink causing by passing. I can wear tight jeans/ shorts/ and dresses without it showing. It sits nicely just under the waistband of my jeans. Tap end by my hip…easy to empty. I stay like this at night as well. No need to connect to a nightstand bag. I use manfred sauer bags 600ml 710.2204s. The catheters l use are from US. Duette…Poiesis. They have two balloons. Do not irritate bladder wall as they have a balloon on the tip. Look on YouTube. Luckily, a friend collects them from Florida…as l can’t get them in UK.The manufacturers let me have 3 yrs supply at a time. The urology nurse used to come to the house to change mine…but they are short staffed…so l make the journey to her every 5 weeks. Takes me nearly an hour to drive to the hospital. But worth it.
Try not to be constipated…as this causes by-passing. Pressure of full bowel on bladder. And drink lots of water…l drink 4 pints a day. Mainly because l am on the vitamin d therapy. Michael Cawley trained with Dr Coimbra …the Brazilian Neurologist and now has his own group. He also has MS…and is based in Dublin.
If you find you are bypassing…wetting yourself…this means something has blocked the tiny drainage holes in the catheter. You need to use a bladder washout. Get your GP to order them in for you.Urotainer is the one l have. If you haven’t tried one…all you do is sit on the loo…take the bag off the catheter end. Take stopper off the urotainer and insert into catheter…push the fluid into the bladder via the catheter. This should clear out any sediment.
The supra- pubic catheter has been a life saver for me. Years l spent nappies up!!! Hated it…couldn’t sleep…kept wanting to pee. And the meds the doctors prescribed have horrible side-effects.
Good luck…any questions please ask. After all these years l now have a subject l could do on mastermind.
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Travelling by aircraft seems a daunting experience for anyone Disabled in a wheelchair or not, but in reality, it isn’t it can be a seamless experience as you are helped every step of the way, (that’s not meant as a pun). I worked for British Airways for 26 years, as such travelled to many parts of the World. In fact, in 1988 I travelled twice around the World, some 48,000 miles in 5 days on aircraft, sponsored for Charity. Not something I would recommend but shows you it is possible. Stick to these guidelines and you will really enjoy the experience. First on booking your flight tell them you would like assistance from check-in to the gate. This could be a wheelchair with someone pushing or a lift on a Golf type buggy. The gate could be over one mile away so don’t think you are doing any favour’s by not asking for help. The aircraft has a certain slot for take off, if you are late because of walking difficulties, THE AIRCRAFT HAS TO GO without you, otherwise, it costs mega bucks. If you have problems walking down the aisle when you get aircraft side, no problem, quite a few aircraft now have small wheelchairs especially to take people up and down the isle. If you can’t walk whatsoever, no problem, tell them and facilities will be put in place from check-in to take you to the aircraft by ambulance, high lift you to the aircraft and trained medical staff to lift you in the seat. The golden rule here is ‘tell them.’ With some airlines you can pre-book your seat. If so get one that has more leg room and near the toilets, probably a bulkhead seat. The Civil Aviation Authority has made a ruling that no Disabled person can have a seat by an Emergency Exit for obvious reasons. If for some reason you get to your destination and your wheelchair is missing or worse still damaged it is the airlines, or should I say good airlines signed up to something called the Haig Protocol to restore or repair your chair, see the airlines staff. I remember I went to San Diego from Gatwick once and they left my chair behind. I was in a rush had to go down to Tijuana and the only one they had to loan me had a large sign above my head saying ‘AVIS Rent a Car.’ The times I was stopped in my Hotel by people saying “hey fella, where can I get a car.” Have a good time, don’t worry as far as flying is concerned you will be looked after. As a matter of interest, wheelchairs go to the front of any queue. Do not think you are being rude you and your pusher go to the front. George