Hi
I’ll try to keep a long story as short as I can… Mother has had a long term Urinary Catheter for about 6 years for Retention.
She has had numerous Infections, some leading to Hospitalisation and IV antibiotics. The long term catheters that are supposed to last 12 weeks have rarely done so with Mother.
For months we have tackled endless blocking between us (myself and Mother) usually up in the night, hot water bottles on the tummy, pain killers, pinching the tube to remove blockages etc. Sometimes a Nurse would do a washout, sometimes they would arrive, see urine in the leg bag and say it was ok.
September another UTI started, 2 different courses of Antibiotics at home, no improvement, due to symptoms (Very high blood pressure, delirium, high temperature, confusion, blood test showing low sodium) Mother admitted to Hospital near the end of October.
Obviously I was unable to visit, except Dr asked me to go in twice to see if she was anywhere near her ‘baseline’. Told him she wasn’t really, only seemed a bit better, but she was sent home after a 2 and half week stay and 2 lots of Antibiotics and I was told her Inflammatory Markers were 'in the ‘normal range’. Also told staff over the phone, more than once, Mother had been like this before and needed IV Antibiotics.
Mother came home on the Wednesday afternoon, spent her 92nd Birthday on the Friday feeling unwell and hallucinating, so more oral antibiotics prescribed by GP, then on the Sunday and 5 Catheter changes later (by Nurses), and the same symptoms as mentioned before, I had to call an Ambulance again and Mother was taken back in Hospital.
Two lots of IV antibioitics followed. Mother was deemed ‘medically fit’ and able to come home on oral antibiotics to get rid of the last remaining bit of infection, and I was asked was this ok. I said not if she was going to end up back in there in a few days. Things changed in the Ward and Mother ended up staying longer.
Mother then ended up having 2 or 3 Bladder Washouts a day for over a week due to the blocking (she is on a fluid restriction for other issues so cannot just drink more water).
This has been cut down to once a day and she is due home this weekend with a Nurse coming in daily to do them.
I was wondering if anyone else out there has these daily washouts and if so, what kind is used?
Are they successful?
I understand there are Saline ones and Acetic Acid ones, some in flat little ‘bags’ with a tube on and some in little ‘concertina like’ bottles. I’ve also seen and Out of Hours GP just use a big syringe filled with saline water.
I’m very apprehensive, as I always am when Mother is sent home. I just hope things are better this time.
Sorry to waffle.
Thankyou for reading.