Catheter Chaos!

I’ve always been a great advocate of the supra pubic catheter (SPC) and the freedom it brings. I have had mine now for four years and not once have I had a UTI, mainly due to the fact I drink between two and three litres of water a day. Well on Tuesday that all changed, as a horrible pus like discharge came from my SPC site and we realised I had an infection, the doctor was able to prescribe me Metronidazole cream to be applied twice a day. Unfortunately, by Thursday I felt like I was going to bypass (this is when the wee does not come out through the catheter but through the urethra), hubby soon hoisted me on to the bed and luckily once I was laid flat the feeling soon passed. We telephoned the community nursing team, and a few hours later a Healthcare Support Worker (HSW) came to my assistance. 

 

Hubby and I had realised that the problem was the fact that my last catheter change was with a silicone catheter and not a latex one. In the early days of me having the SPC I had a similar reaction to the silicone as my skin is sensitive to it. 
The HSW was reluctant to change it again as it was only a week ago it was done, I really had to stress my rights to have it done, fortunately I still had one of the Bared catheter trays which I had brought down from Bucks, so I had all the stuff she required. 
Oh my Gosh, what happened next has never happened to me in all the time I have had an SPC, the old catheter was taken out but when the new one was inserted it was done with such force (I’m not even sure how it happens) that I just wet myself. 

I was so angry, nothing like that has happened for years, I was ready to burst into tears. It was made worse by being told “don’t worry dear these things quite often happen, it’s all to do with hooking the catheter round in the right place, I can help your husband change you, although I must say I didn’t allow for so much time being spent here”. Those of you that know me well know that I couldn’t keep my trap shut, so I replied “it’s your own fault you shouldn’t have been so heavy handed”.

 

All changed, now hubby had to find my other sling which hadn’t yet been unpacked following our move. Luckily found, I was hoisted back into my chair and the HSW was free to go.

This visit had not been typical of my two previous visits from the community team on the Island, but I so miss my favourite nurse from Buckinghamshire (you know who you are!). It is so important to have a good relationship with the community team, although I did push it in Buckinghamshire, as my favourite nurse used to come in the mornings at 8 o’clock before hubby went to work and before she went in to the office, I used to give her a uniform inspection, as she had a great habit of not turning down her collar properly and God forbid her tunic top might be tucked into her trousers, that being said she was the best nurse (with the exception of SMD) anybody could ask for.

I suppose the lesson for anybody who has an SPC is to check your sensitivity prior to ordering the catheter. I am disappointed though that I am unable to order the catheter tray in Hampshire, as I am told it costs to much and I will have to order things individually. As my PA types this her words are “how stingy”.