had a scare

[ZoesMom]

We had a scare last night. Zoe threw up for the first time in her entire life and she was very lethargic. Went to the ER immediately. They did a CT and come to find out her Hydro is better than it was last year but they said there has been a wicked bad stomach virus going around the Wichita area. Also if anyone is on Facebook look me up (Andrea Donovan) and add me. Also you should join my group http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=413010655295&ref=nf. :sign0009:Im trying to get a movement of people going to get Kansas Medicaid laws changed. Kansas is one of only TWO STATES in the US that give only 10 caths a MONTH. They also dont supply any irrigation supplies.

[Jill]

Scary! Glad to hear it was okay! Hope she recovers from the bug quickly.

[LisaJoy]

And hope the rest of you don't get it!

[ZoesMom]

Yeah, she seems to be doing better today. Sleeping a lot and not really eatting but still doing better.

[Lifeisgood]

Only 10 caths a month?!?!?!? That is ABSURD!!!!!
I am glad Zoe is on the road to recovery and that it was only a stomach bug. It must have been terrifying though!

[XoBLoNDiE85]

So glad her shunt is ok!! The cath deal blows...we dont get enough thru our ins either so we just buy outta pocket not ideal but i dont like to re use!

[valerie]

Thats good she is doing ok, good news its not the shunt. We are lucky here, we use new caths everytime and they are supplied thankfully. Good on you for doing something about it

[Lifeisgood]

Thankfully my insurance reimburses me 80% of the catheter costs. I do not like to reuse either (due to chronic UTI's), so the cost adds up really fast. I did the math the other night, and it turns out that it costs about approximately $2400 for me to pee a year. Up until this summer, I used to be able to do that for free.

[Dodger67]

I reuse, in fact the catheter I use lasts about a year before the surface smoothness wears away.
Costs about US$30 for a year.

[bcain]

My uro told me that new/sterile caths are not going to prevent infections. I believe also, it was a marketing pitch by some medical suppliers to promote the choice of more expensive one-time-use only caths.

The problem is that bacteria gets into the urethral opening, (where you cannot wash them out), then cathing pushes the bacteria further in. Even if you are using a new/ sterile cath, this still happens. With healthy normal bladders this small amount is not a problem and is usually flushed out with the next voiding of urine. But with a neurogenic bladder, the lining is not smooth, and with the bladder not emptying completely, these bacteria set up shop and multiply quickly.
My uro only prescribes disposeable caths if the person/family seems to have hygiene problems in general, Or maybe for travel. Sterile/new caths are nice, but not necessary.

Clean caths, then dry them out before next use. I have a large syringe to push air through to help them dry faster. To freshen up they can be put into hydrogen peroxide overnight and then rinse & dry. We use 4 caths a day. That's 16 a month if I threw them out once a week. I like the disposeable caths when I'm out of the house though. I ignore the ads about needing a new cath everytime, it's put out by suppliers that are in bed with medicaid.

[Dodger67]

My silicone reusable cath is stored wet in diluted hypochlorite sterilising solution. It is never dried.
I rinse it under the hot tap making sure that hot water flows through it for at least 10 seconds before it goes into its storage tube. Because it has a super smooth surface bacterial growth can't cling to it.

If you catheterise you will ALWAYS have bacteria in your bladder. It should only be regarded as an infection and treated if it causes problems. A positive test for bacteria on its own means nothing. A well established colony of "tame" bacteria in the bladder actually helps to supress activity by harmful bacteria.

[katie]

That happened to me about 3 years ago - it's agony. I was doubled through the night with cramp and sickness and my GP reckoned it was my shunt, but when I was admitted to hospital they said it was gastrointeritis (or something like that spelling!) They stuck me on a hydrating drip for 2 days and I got extra strong pain pillers for a week or two after that as I'd wrenched my stomach so badly....not nice.

I do hope everything is ok. You are alway better to be safe than sorry if you suspect anything is wrong even if it turns out ok x.

[Lifeisgood]

I actually do reuse caths at home, but always use disposable when I am outside of the house (which is a lot). I find it too much of a hassle to clean caths when I am out and about and having fun.