Hi Ron, The only 2 alternative solutions I can think of will likely be unappealing to you.
Since it appears your bladder sphincter is clamping down too hard, you could get a sphincterotomy which debilitates the bladder sphincter and allows for the free flow of urine, however, you would need to wear an external (condom) catheter from that point forward. Another possibly more appealing solution could be to get a suprapubic catheter placement. This is done through a simple surgical procedure which creates a pathway from your abdomen directly to your bladder and your bladder would empty through this pathway via a Foley catheter. The side benefit of this method of bladder management is it "frees Willie" and can make day to day management a bit easier. The procedure is also reversible as the passageway from the abdomen to your bladder will close on its own over a relatively short period of time (multiple hours or days) if you remove the Foley catheter. These may have already been discussed with your urologist. I definitely encourage getting 2nd opinions before opting for any surgical procedures, urology or otherwise. I hope you find an acceptable solution that works for you. Steve - C4, 30 years, auto accident On Tue, May 1, 2018 at 4:37 AM, RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> wrote: > Im a c7 quad, 20 years post that has been straight cathing for 20 years > with little issue. Three years ago I started leaking a bit but just dealt > with it until the tubes wouldn't go in( pass sphincter) without an hour of > pushing and sometimes 5 tries. 3 months ago things got so bad that my > bladder was full and I couldn't insert the tube at all and my body went > into severe autonomic dysreflexia. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital > and they inserted a foley for 3 weeks. After the foley was taken out they > gave me some antibiotics and the tube was slipping in like butter for the > next 8 days. Out of nowhere the tube started getting harder and harder to > get in until it was near impossible. I was put on that drug that stops or > decreases bladder spasms back at the urologist visit after the emergency > room deal. Went back to the urologist today and they had to give me the > nurse, she tried to run a cathe tube in me but it wouldn't go so she tried > a caude cathe tube with the bent tip. this got through and urine came out > but lots of blood came out as well which never has happened. Finally the > doc came in and tried to get a foley in and finally did after awhile. The > blood wasn't coming from the bladder, it must have knicked a wall. My last > urologist visit they ran a camera in and it looked great no false passage > or issues. The question is why is the tube not getting past the internal > spincter? I suggested trying Flomax and im already on oxybutynin. if there > is no blockage or false passage then the spincter has to be in spasm or not > opening right? What else should I do? I have this foley now for a month > that I didn't want but I got anyway. I guess if I take the Flomax and > oxybutynin and after the four weeks remove the foley and im sure the tube > will go in but within a week it might start giving me trouble again. I > don't really understand how the spincter could give me this much trouble > and if it is what else I can do. I fear that im going to get a permanent > bag soon because they are tired of me. maybe they can rescope me to be sure > next time as well........im at a loss. > > > Ron >
