Foley catheter

Hope street

Mom is still in the hospital and the last remaining impediment to me taking her home is her inability to void since the indwelling catheter was removed a few days ago. Even with a 50 ml IV drip she cannot void on her own. They have been straight cathing her when her bladder gets full. They say they can put back the catheter bag so she can go home with it in place. This means more care for me and more risk. Also she is prone to bouts of agitation. I am afraid if I can’t control that she could pull it out. 

Anyone have experience with this.

Marta

Can you provide more information such as what stage is your mother, why was she in the hospital. Is she a candidate for rehab after discharge?

DrinaJGB

Your mom could have some swelling from the catheter or a UTI or even neurogenic bladder from the brain damage. 

It would not be wise to bring her home ,but for the facility to explore what is causing this. Also, a foley has a bulb inside filled with water preventing the tube from being expelled, so unless she really yanked hard on the catheter she could not pull it out. That being said if she pulled hard enough to actually dislodge the catheter she could cause real damage to herself.

I would request a urinalysis with culture, a scan of the bladder, and if possible a urodynamics exam of the bladder--or the very least a urology consult.---but that depends on the facility she is in and how much they are willing to do to get to the cause of her problem.

Good luck.

Hope street

Thanks for your replies.  It’s been a long week and a half. She has started peeing on her own and we will be leaving the hospital in the morning. Hospice is coming on Sunday for an intake evaluation.  I have been caring for my mom for a few years now but at the beginning of the pandemic her dementia became apparent.

DrinaJGB

Oh that's great --it does sound as if she had swelling/inflammation in the urethra  and it has resolved. SO good to hear! One less thing to worry about on your very long list. Take care.