Leaking around catheter. Oxybutynin? Update.

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juniper - 12 Mar 2006 02:50 GMT

Hi, all. I just have a minute. Public computer with people waiting.
Yesterday Steve began leaking around the catheter. It comes out the
outside of the rubber tube (still going in the tube also.) Called the
Dr. on call who prescribed oxybutynin which in 1 1/2 hours hasn't done
anything. Do you think this could be a catheter problem? Like, it
needs to be adjusted? By a pro? He was trying to adjust it in and
out, with no effect. Last night he showered without any bag on, just
had the hose hanging there (instead of tied to his leg). So I wonder
if that could have screwed up the bag that is holding the catheter in?
(But, now that I think of it, it was leaking before. The night before
last was the first time with this problem.)

He's thinking that what is happening could be that the
inflammation/swelling around his urethra has gone down (surgery was
Monday) and that's why it began leaking now. This makes sense, about
the swelling, but to me it doesn't explain why its leaking. Or how
oxybutynin is a cure for it (supposed to be, anyway). I don't think
there *should* be leaking down the outside of the tube.

We are heading up the hill tomorrow, but I will try to check for
answers before then, because that is the reason we stayed in town--to
be near treatment if needed. Do you think it is needed? As things are
now, he can't go anywhere. Might as well not have a catheter.

Plus he felt so dehumanized, so embarrased in the hospital, wearing
hose and hospital gowns, etc., that he is *happy* to wear a leg bag,
even if it only holds a dab. Because he can be normal. I suggested he
put a pad there for now, to catch the drips till we get this figured
out, and he is not okay with that. Just more demeaning, to him. So he
basically stands over the toilet, or sits there with tissue... Guys
just don't have that years of bleeding, various abnormal bodily
functions being normal, that women have that makes them more practical
about things, I think.

Best wishes to all, I miss you, sorry I'm just dropping in for help.
Don't have a computer to read everything. (I did search this group for
that drug but didn't see anything helpful. Just found the regular MSDS
on the web.)

laurel

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judamd@aol.com - 12 Mar 2006 04:27 GMT

Leaking as you describe is normal. As the swelling goes down, the
leaks start. Nothing wrong with the tube or catheter. The bulb fits
nicely over the urethra in the bladder but it is not a water-tight seal
obviously. As for the pads being demeaning, most likely he will have
to get used to them whether he likes it or not for a few days/weeks at
least. Some of us (myself included) are still in need of the things
well over two years out. With any luck he'll be pad-free soon.
Dave Perry

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I.P. Freely - 12 Mar 2006 05:02 GMT

> Yesterday Steve began leaking around the catheter. It comes out the
> outside of the rubber tube (still going in the tube also.)

We all leak a bit around the catheter. Major bypassing can be a major
problem, though, if the catheter is plugged. My various catheters for
various surgeries have all plugged completely, and that got OBVIOUS once
my bladder got really full. Steve will KNOW it if his bladder is full;
the problem is that no one will believe him. I've had to get downright
angry to get nurses and doctors to do anything about it when I KNEW I
had to pee a quart or so.

> Last night he showered without any bag on, just had the hose hanging
> there (instead of tied to his leg). So I wonder
> if that could have screwed up the bag that is holding the catheter in?

Showering without the bag didn't mess up the catheter retention bulb,
but it IS expressly forbidden. The Foley catheter is a closed, sterile
system; venting it to the atmosphere can allow contamination that could
migrate to the bladder and cause an infection.

> Plus he felt so dehumanized, so embarrased in the hospital, wearing
> hose and hospital gowns, etc., that he is *happy* to wear a leg bag,
> even if it only holds a dab.

Steve needs to be proud, not dehumanized, for being a cancer survivor.
Not one soul made one glance or comment at the big external bag of
golden, obvious urine I carried in my hand at my first visit to a
downtown drugstore on my way home from the hospital. (I didn't have the
leg bag set up yet.) And in the hospital who the hell cares -- they're
all in the same boat. 15-20 strangers have lifted his sheets and skirts
and gawked at his bloody crotch and he's worried about other people in
hospital gowns catching a glimpse of a wayward butt-cheek? If it helps,
remember that many of his fellow patients have some SERIOUS stuff going
on, not just the removal of a few ounces of onerous meat.

The sooner he can get a sense of humor about all this nonsense, the
sooner he'll get over its inconveniences. Hell, he'll be walking across
the gym locker room carrying a wet diaper to the trash can before he
knows it. Tell him to put it all in perspective and save his concerns
for the IMPORTANT things, such as (after the catheter comes out) making
sure he chooses the right purple toad to try to aim, hitting the john,
picking some good (but not too funny) movies out of Hollywood's spew
before he has to go back to work, and keeping the German shepherd off
his lap for a few weeks.

I.P.

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Heather - 12 Mar 2006 06:50 GMT

Hi Laurel..

I use Oxybutynin for bladder spasms, so copied this over from a
pharmaceutical site....

>>Oxybutynin is used for the relief of symptoms associated with painful
>>urination and urinary urgency, frequency, leakage, or urge
>>incontinence. It works by relaxing the bladder. It helps to reduce
>>bladder spasms, the urge to pass urine, and the frequency of
>>urination.<<

HTH....Heather

> Hi, all. I just have a minute. Public computer with people waiting.
> Yesterday Steve began leaking around the catheter. It comes out the
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>
> laurel

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Heather - 12 Mar 2006 06:52 GMT

Oops....common name is "Ditropan"....this is a generic name.

HF

> Hi Laurel..
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> "juniper" <dittany@gmail.com> wrote in message

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juniper - 13 Mar 2006 03:49 GMT

Thanks, you all. It is working out with a several-prong approach. The
anti-spasm med, practice on how to move (or not move), figuring out
angles, etc. I talked to him about the frustration. Yeah, its a drag,
but man, he did all right. No post-surgical problems, not even blood
in his urine. Everything's working like a dream, his kidneys are
happy, the doctor was happy. He looks better than most, as far as
bruising/swelling. (He took a lot of Arnica.) He has a 50% chance this
was a cure. What's going on now is temporary, and seriously, if it has
even a 50% chance to cure cancer, is it worth it? Well, goes without
saying. I think now he's looking at it like an engineering problem,
not a personal affront. He just likes to plan things, but there are
some things you can't figure out till you have the need.

Anyway, all is well, and we are relieved to be home and healthy. The
doc will take the staples out on Tuesday, then the following week we
will get the path results.

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