You really have to laugh!!!

Hi Everyone!!!

I just had to share my day with someone who understands and can hopefully appreciate the humour and the silliness of the situation I found myself in today!!!!

I woke up thinking "I shouldnt get out of bed", but did and got into work, all was fine, was drinking heaps (as your Urologist tells you to!) - therefore I was empty my LOVELY leg bag probably every 2 hours!!!!!!

Anyway, all was fine, however I had noticed that I was getting a little lazy in shaking the excess fluid from the drip nozel thing at the end of the bag .... thought "Must be more vigilant!"

Anyway, at about 1pm this afternoon - I had 2 meetings I had to attend to (one of which I had requested with 3 dr's - and I am not one of them!). I thought I had better empty my friend, the leg bag in case it got too full within the next 2 hours.............

Imagine my delight when, as I started emptying the bag into the toilet - I realised that it had torn! My catheter bag was now USELESS!!! Rather like a balloon with a hole in it - completely USELESS and definately embarrasing the rate I was filling it!!!!!

I had to run through the office, to my desk, grab my mobile and some sticktape (???? for repairs!!!!) and run back to the toilet!!!!!!!

I then spent 45 minutes in the toilet cubicle, cath bag hanging over the side of the toilet, leaking, while my partner (who also works as a manager) drove back home (15 mins), got a new cath bag (last one!) and bought it back to me!!!!! ITs the first time he has SEEN one, let alone handled it!!!

All I could do is laugh!!!! SOOOOOO embarrasing!!! But could have been worse!!!

Anyway - thought I would share this lovely story with you! certainly made me appreciate a lot of things!!! Particularly the red wine I had when I finally got home from work dry and safe!!!

GOod luck to everyone - hope you are all keeping happy and healthy!!!
KOKO

Your story is exactly why I have my old leg bag in my linen closet- just in case something happens to my foley after surgery next week. (I have been dealing with a paralyzed bladder sphincter for 2 months now,and after 3 weeks I graduated from a foley to self-cathing) You never know when you'll need it, and for some reason, they are stingy with these bags. I don't think I'll go out and start selling them, so an extra would be nice!

My Gyn tells me that I will be going home after my LAVH with A&P repairs self-cathing - I told her that for my peace of mind I will be going home with a foley - wonder who will win?

Alicia

Hey koko!

It could only happen to a fistula sister! So glad to hear you could laugh about it, but the truth is, if we didn't laugh we would cry, so well done for being a brave and happy fistula sister!

Blossom

Hi, Koko!

Tomorrow is my first day at work with the catheter; I never thought about it breaking. Thanks for the info! I only have an extra because I had both a foley and sp; just have the sp now. Boy am I glad I didn't throw out that thing. Can you buy extra bags somewhere?

Dee

I called my urologists office and asked them to either post me spare bags or have ready some so that I could pick them up - I live about 10 mins from the specialist rooms.

They were more than happy to supply them to me - of course I will return the ones unopened.

The bags are supposed to last only 7 days max anyway!

And if you are naughty like me, I refuse to use the night one which is this big bag (HUGE!!!! ) that attachs to the day bag and get draped sexily over the side of the bed for the night draining! NO THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I felt old enough!!

Definately get a couple of spares just in case!!!

Whats a foley????? I hear about it but dont really know what it is?

I have 2 days, 3 nights more of the sp cath and am keeping my legs and fingers crossed that its fixed and I dont have to wear it anymore or don't need an op!!!

How long do you have yours in for?

Koko

Hi, Koko!

I had to think about answering your questions, because I don't want to discourage you.

First of all, a foley is a catheter that goes right into the urethra to collect the urine, as opposed to the suprapubic which comes out the abdomen.

After my hyst, I had the foley catheter for a little over 2 weeks. After the fistula repair, I had both a foley and sp...The foley came out the next week, and I still have the sp cath (since July 16). I went to the doctor on Wed, and my next appt is on Sept 8, so I will have it for 2 more weeks. By then it will be about 8 weeks with the cath

I sure hope your fistula closes on its own; there was a sister who posted earlier this summer whose closed by itself.

I wish you the best of luck!

Dee

I replied to Koko in private email, but I will here again, in case it went unread -

A foley catheter is a long tube that is inserted into the urethra and a small section is blown up with air to keep it inside the body. Doctors or nurses put it in. The urine comes out of the tube and collects in a rigid plastic pouch that you empty into the toilet as needed. There is a small pouch - leg bag - that is hooked on your leg with elastic bands and there is a large bag for night time - it holds 2000 mls so you don't have to get up and empty the small bag which only holds 500 mls.

After 3 weeks on a foley catheter, my urologist's nurse taught me how to do self-cathing - which means I insert a 6 inch long lubricated plastic tube into my urethra when I need to urinate. Which is all the time, it seems like! Insurance pays for 2 boxes of 30 catheters per month, which means that I have to reuse them a few times, since I pee about 8 times a day, which means getting UTIs is common, so I am on a maintanance dose of Macrobid daily. I have reusing them, and have purchase more of them on my own, but am running out of money really quickly!

Personally, I am glad I don't have to drag a bag around any more, but I also am requesting a foley for after my LAVH next week. I have a paralyzed bladder sphincter and will not be able to urinate on my own, so I want to be as comfortable as possible while recovering. I will be able to take it out when I am ready to start self-cathing again.

Any other questions, let me know!