what other supplies

[tangerine3]

I'm going to be instructed at my Drs. office next week on how to do an instill and have the Heparin to bring with me. I'm assuming the Drs. will supply the catheters and whatever else I need to do this at home for a couple of instills but then i'm probably on my own.

What other supplies do you need to do instills? I will be self paying.

Can you let me know a good website to get the catheters and whatever else, thanks:confused:

[kadi]

We did the first instillation in my doctor's office to see if they would work or not. Then the doctor gave me a prescription & a letter of medical necessity (my insurance company insisted they needed a letter because "we had someone order ski equipment & say it was for medical purposes" - uh, catheters? Right, because they're so much fun everyone will want one....) so I could order the supplies.

I use:
12Fr latex free self catheters (some patients prefer thinner catheters like size 8Fr)
60cc catheter tip syringe
30cc luer lok tip syringe with 18G size needle
urine specimen cup to mix the meds in
KY jelly to lubricate the catheters
plain white paper towels to lay out supplies on & to dry syringes after rinsing with hot water after use
Sterile water, Marcaine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Heparin = liquid meds for the instillation
alcohol wipes to clean the tops of the bottles
A makeup mirror on a stand, makes it easy to find the urethra when inserting the catheter

If you have insurance, it's important to use a "contract provider for pharmacy & durable medical supplies". Get the name & number of one from your insurance company. That will really reduce your costs out of pocket. Also try to get a 90 day supply of meds & equipment, that will reduce your costs as well if you buy that larger quantity.


Good luck! Home instillations have been a major blessing for me. Hope you have equally good results,

[JennaS]

Kadi,

that was great advice about using contracted providers. People dont realize how much it will bring the costs down. I actually am a sales rep for a catheter company and i see all day long where people dont understand their rights and whole "in network" vs. "out of network" connection. Thats very important to know so that you can pay the lowest price possible.

Jennifer

[bunnykinb]

I called a manufacturer which the order department gave me the number and was given 8 samples free. 4 were self cath 12fr 16 inch long and the other 4 were hydrophilic which already were lubricated. PM me if you want the phone number. I also called another manufacturer weeks ago, but haven't received anything yet. I'll call them tomorrow. That should help you decide which catheter is right for you.

[L. Thomas]

8fr pediatric feeding tube
18 gauge needle
30cc luer loc syringe
10,000 units heparin
8cc lidocaine

I do not premix in a separate cup. My instill is a total of 9cc so it is easy to use negative pressure to fill the 30cc syringe with all the cocktail. The feeding tube attaches easily to the filled syringe.

I used a make up mirror on a stand until I learned how to cath without a mirror. The link in my signature may give you some suggetions. I have been doing home instills for a few years and I would be happy to answer questions about how I do instills.

My urogynecologist writes one prescription for meds that I take to the pharmacy and another for supplies that I take to an in-network provider of durable supplies. He writes it for the 8fr ped. feeding tubes and 30cc syringe. He writes it for one a day and he will let you use each catheter 4 times. My insurance doesn't cover needles but my provider sells them to me at cost.

Louann

[tangerine3]

Thanks,

i think the supplies you use (L. Thomas) will probably be similar to mine. i will find out tomorrow. What do you have the lidocaine for? Do I have to have a presc for Lidocaine if I choose to use it? Do you lubricate the feeding tube with anything before inserting it?

[L. Thomas]

The lidocaine is an injectable that is part of the cocktail I instill. You need a prescription for it.

You need a prescription for lidocaine gel to lubricate the catheter. I don't lubricate the catheter but a lot do. Some use the gel on the urethra too.

Be sure to check your insurance policy. If I take the prescription for catheter and syringe to the pharmacy they will fill it but my insurance will not cover it. I have to take the prescription to a durable goods supplier or the insurance will not cover the cost.

Louann

[tangerine3]

Well I was showed how to do an instill today and it went ok. I think i'll get the hang of it. Here are the supplies I will need and instructions that were given to me.

Needle - 18 or 22 gauge 1 ½” disp.
10 or 12 cc syringe
12 or 14 Fr non-latex catheter
Sterile water (1cc)
Personal wipes or ?
Alcohol wipes
Personal lubricant (KY)
Heparin (10,000 units) 1 ml vial
Small container to mix meds 1
Gloves (if want to)

Instructions


Pour a small amount of sterile water into the container
Draw up 10cc of sterile water in syringe and toss any remaining sterile water out of the container
Empty the 10cc of sterile water into container.
Take cap off heparin vial and wipe top of vial with alcohol prep pad
Attach needle to syringe and draw up 1cc of Heparin into syringe, empty into small container with sterile water; throw needle away.
Draw up a little air into syringe and then the mixture into the syringe.
Apply lubricant to the end of the catheter.
Wash the urinary meatus with personal wipe.
Insert catheter into urethra until urine comes out.
Attach the syringe containing the mixture to the end of the catheter.
Slowly inject solution.
While pinching the catheter down near your body to prevent the liquid from coming out, remove syringe from catheter; draw up some air into the syringe. Re-attach syringe to catheter and inject air into the catheter.
(not sure about the above step yet)
Gently remove catheter and throw away or wash it in warm, soapy water, and rinse it thoroughly. Store the catheter in a dry container until you need it again.

I am irritated just a little at the urethra opening and a little back pain but I think it will be gone tomorrow with a good nights sleep. I was stressed today also.

[tangerine3]

The nurse gave me some extra stuff to take home for a couple of instills before I can get my own sups. She didn't give me any alcohol wipes though.

When explaining things she did say it was not a sterile procedure so I think I can get by with being careful if i need to substitute some supplies and/or way of doing things.

Supplies she told me I need:

- Needles – 18 or 22 gauge 1 ½” disp.
- 10 or 12 cc syringe
- 12 or 14 Fr non-latex catheter
- Sterile water
- Personal wipes or ?
- Alcohol wipes
- Personal lubricant (KY)
- Heparin (10,000 units) 1 ml vial
- Small container to mix meds
- Gloves

I don't have any insurance so I have to pay out of pocket. The things I think I'll have trouble with are:

getting the needles
sterile water
alcohol wipes

Everything else I have or can get pretty easy. I have some questions:

Where do I buy the needles? Or I heard someone say they just pulled of the tops of the vials with plyers; Is it ok to draw up the heparin without the needle; any other way?

Where do I buy the sterile water? What can I use instead of the sterile water to mix with the Heparin (I have saline, will that work?)

Where can i get alcohol wipes

What do you use to clean your area down there before inserting the catheter

She also gave me the red rubber catheters until i get my own. They are latex. I don't know if latex will bother me but I know it can really bother ppl sometimes. does anyone have a problem with these? I will get latex-free when I am done using the ones she gave me.

[tangerine3]

just in case anyone else would like to know I found out today that walmart was able to get pretty much everything I needed and inexpensive also:

30 22-gage needles were $9.00
1 liter of sterile water is $4.55
30 10cc syringes are $5.36
1 box of 100 alcohol prep wipes are $1.14

this will last me 2 mos. (the water and wipes longer) so about $10 for each month. Now the heparin is going to be another story. Price is still way high and hope it comes down my the end of Dec.

Walgreens and another local pharmacy also had all of this just a little more expensive.