Hi Ken
Thanks for the message and kind thoughts, yes I feel frustrated from this situation and no words to describe it. I will hope the meds are working faster then what is documented, I will try to enjoy the weekend with my daughter and not think about it,
Enjoy your weekend with your grand kids
Thanks again for caring
John
Good luck with the CIC. It is important to use the right size. Hopefully you can find someone that is knowledgeable and has experience in educating males about CIC use. I've used Speedicath for more than six months. The Cleveland Clinic has a female RN assigned to catheter sizing and education, this includes watching a video. The nurse has probably seen hundreds of patients and can determine the correct size w/o any hands on. Another issue of mine is I prefer female RNs performing as many procedures as possible.At the CC I've never seen a male nurse or PA in the urology dept. Male urologists don't trouble me.
Hi David, thanks for the message and vote of confidence, I did ordered from coloplast the speedicath lubricated with a coude 14fr and 16fr, I'm waiting to get rid of my infection first and some soreness from my last cystoscopy, I also have another rectal echo next friday and will also find out about PAE to see who practise this method in the Montreal area where I live.
Thanks for the tips
John
I've used Speedicath for some time. Get price quotes from at least two suppliers. The advantage of Speedicath is that it is prelubricated and designed for time use. The sheath can be folded in two and carried in a pocket.
I'm fortunate in that I've never experienced any pain during a cystoscopy or from the lidocane injection.
One risk, with all catheters CIC or Foly,is UTIs. It takes two or three days to obtain the results of the lab culture, as the sample has to be observed overnight. The test identifies the antibiotic likely to be most effective, although some MDs will prescribe an antibiotic on the basis of the dip stick test, awaiting the lab report.
The TRUS is a good idea.It is painless and when used in conjunction with the cystoscope provides a more thorough view of the prostate.
Your experience with folding the Speedicath is different from most. While Speedicath is my favorite catheter, I find they cannot be folded for more than a couple of hours before becoming kinked, twisted, and difficult to use. Even more so with a Coude (bent) tip which has to be oriented properly. For that reason, I carry Speedicath's in a back pack, inside a card board tube. Keeps them straight.
As to UTI's, only symptomatic UTI's should be treated when you are self cathing. Even a positive cuture is not an indication because asymptomatic UTI's (colonization) is normal and harmless. Unfortunately, most non-specialists (and some specialists even) do not understand this. For example, every time I walk into a "doc in the box" and get a urinalysis they always give me antibiotics because my leucocytes and sometimes my nitrites are positive. I try to explain to them that I don't have a symptomatic UTI but they don't get it. Sometimes they literally force the Rx on me so I have learned to take it gracefully and then toss it.
Jim
Jim
Hey John just checking on you. I had my heart cath a few days ago had one stent put in. Artery was 90% block. doing good a little tired but ok. How are you doing did you go to the CIC class I hope you can do it. Life would be so much better for you without the catheter and the surgery. Take care Buddy. Have a great Father's Day Ken
Hi Ken thanks for the kind message, hope you are ok following your heart stent operation, that's huge I'm sure you will feel better day by day. As for me well CIC is not working it's really painful seems like it's stuck when going through the prostate, since I can't urinate at all the urethra is squeezed by the prostate so it makes it extremely painful to pass the cath. I have finally found an hospital doing PAE and I have an appointment this coming Tuesday afternoon, it took me 2 weeks of solid search and calling all over including the Medical College, the Canadian and Quebec Urologist Association, emailed about 20 urologists, radiologist and finally one called me back, all others ignored me and the Urologist association told me they can't reveal professional contact info and told me to ask my urologists which aren't returning my calls, emails, etc. seem to be a code of silence for that PAE method,
So for me it's either PAE or HOLEP I'll find out more on Tuesday, I also made a new post asking more feedback from men who had these operations.
Have a good father day too this coming Sunday
John
I'm sorry about the CIC What size of a catheter do you use maybe a smaller one would work. I hope you can have the PAE I think that would be best for you. I will keep you in my prayers. Have a good day with your daughter..Ken
Hi Ken, happy father's day I used 16fr and 14fr coude, in any case I'm looking forward to my Tuesday appointment for PAE
I'll keep you posted
Thanks
John
I don't know if the nurses did it right for you when they tryed CIC. But when I have my heart ablation in August my urologist told me to tell them ( He knows I will ) that to use a 14fr coude catheter and when they put it in to have the tip facing me that makes it easier to get it into the prostate. I wish you good luck and tell them that this is what you want. ( I just read a post that this doctor did a PAE on a man with a prostate size of 600 ). I will keep you in my prayers Ken
Somehow I missed your message. I'm attempting to phase out the CICs after the Rezum, but still need them to assure that the Rezum is working. PVRs have been in the 150ml. range since the procedure in May, which for me is a dramatic instrument. I don't even carry the Speedicaths in my pocket, I leave a few in the car.
My urologist prescribed Nitrofuran, for use as a prophylatic if I feel I need them. However the last two urine cultures were negative so I don't take them. I have a mild issue with GERD and might have mistaken the abdominal discomfort for a UTI. Never any fever, visible blood, or painful urinating, so I feel I'm safe.
Hi Ken thanks for the message, yes the 14fr coude catheter tip facing me that's how we tried it , in any case the PAE appointment will help me decide which way to go, I'm still reading and finding as much info as I possibly can on PAE to make an educated decision, I just don't want to do this and find out that it's not helping my case much like some cases I read. Some men are saying that they still have the same symptoms of waking up 3, 4 times a night to urinate, others are saying that it's the best thing they ever done so I need to weigh both methods PAE and HOLEP, I might decide on PAE if I can have it done before the HOLEP date of end of July, if PAE can't happen before the HOLEP date, I don't want to blow my chances with HOLEP.
Still lot's to think about
Thanks for your kind words Ken
John
John I know you like to get this over with has soon as you can but don't make a rush discison. There are good and bad in all of them. I just read a post from a guy that had a holep and the doctor mest him up. There are some bad one with the PAE to you have to get all the information you can. I know you are the one to pick but I would try the PAE first and if it work you don't have to have your prostate cut out. Then if it don't do the job you have no choise Good Luck Ken
Hi Ken yes I know what you mean, no matter what I chose there are risks but I can't stay this way anymore, if I could urinate a little than it would be easier for me to do the CIC but since not a drop is coming out my urethra is really squiched by my prostate so CIC is very painful, not sure if PAE will do the trick they also say it could take 1 month to 6 months to see a difference, in any case I'll have a better feel on Tuesday
Thanks
John
I wish you luck.. Did you have a nice time with your daughter. I stayed home by myslf and relaxed. Heard form my kids and That is fine with me there older and they have there own familys. My groin was hurting today and is bruising but that happens.. What you doing up so late Ken.
Hey John. Been thinking of you this week. How was Father's Day with your daughter. How are you doing any good news. Hope to hear from you today. Will be off line for a few days. Will be going into the hospital in the morning and will be home later on. Having a LING Monitor put in my chest. Things here are doing ok. Getting use to the stent was tired for a few days. No damage from the mild heart attack. I just keep pushing. That what you have to do. I know I'm not a fan of the procedures that take away some thing from us but you have to do what you feel will be best for you. God speed Ken
Hi Ken
How are you doing, yes father's day was great, spent it with my daughter, did a bit of shopping, went for lunch, later went for dinner to a restaurant, she spoiled me with perfume, jogger pants and tank top, great momorable moments with her, she's my sunshine. Glad to hear that you're doing ok after your heart issues, hope things will be smoother for you.
As for me well I went to my PAE appointment consultation, was not to impressed, the hospital did about 4 intervention 2 success, 2 failure so it's a 50-50 chance for me plus the outcome may not be enough for me to urinate naturally, it might take a month before I see any results up to 6 months, plus they can't do it right away, need to do test, mri, etc. first so it will go to about 6 weeks and that might be after my HOLEP tentative date of the 26th of July, so I mind myself for the HOLEP and pray the Lord that it will happen on that date and the outcome will be positive for me, I just need to remove that catheter.
I'll keep you posted
Enjoy your weekend
John
I 'm not a fan of the holep purcedure but I guess it's better then a turp. Your main goal is to get that tube out and be able to pee on your own. I would make sure the doctor is sure that you will be able to pee after you have it done. And not just do it to do it Your bladder is misssed up with having that chap in you for so long. That first doctor did a number on u. Take it easy and good luck Ken