Frequency of changing Suprapubic Catheters

[Barry Simpson]

I had a suprapubic catheter installed in May 2013. For the first four months in a spinal injuries hospital, it was changed every 5 weeks. On returning home, it was changed every 12 weeks. Early in January 2019 the site where my suprapubic catheter enters into me healed more fully than I had ever noticed previously. Until then, there had always been a small amount of weeping around the site. I had no minor overheating as usually accompanies an infection after the weeping stopped until 12/2/19. My catheter was changed on 5/2/19, re-opening the wound and causing the weeping to resume. By mid March the catheter site had almost stopped weeping. Infections too had stopped: it is beginning to look as though my catheter entry point has been an entry point for the bacteria causing urinary tract infections. The next change of catheter, due on 30th April, was postponed. On 23rd May, my catheter was left with insufficient slackness. It pulled and began to leak around the site. I had a minor infection on 24th May. As the leakage around the catheter site had started, the reason for not changing my catheter had gone and it was changed on 27/5/19, a day short of 16 weeks after the previous change. So I am now left wondering when it should next be changed. 12 weeks? Longer?

[barry]

I am almost on day 40 of wearing my suprapubic catheter. I have to wear it in prep for the 1st stage of a 2 stage urethroplasty scheduled for early January.

Spasms are no fun. I take oxybutynin and it helps a good bit. I keep reminding myself to drink as much as a I can.

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