How many catheters do you use a week?

Hi,

I'm having a really big fight with my community nursing team at the moment about the number of catheters we are using. Over Christmas and during January we were using about 200 catheters a week. However she seems to have had a series of colds (and started to teeth) since then and as a result we've had to increase suctioning and the last two weeks have been going through about 300 catheters a week.

The Community Nursing team have decided that we are using too many and have started to ration the boxes of catheters and also threatened to admit her to observe why she is needing to be suctioned so much.

At the moment they're giving us 2 boxes at a time (and expecting us to go to hospital to pick them up) and I am getting sooo stressed out about it all.

Would love to know how many catheters everyone went through 4 months after trach was inserted, and how many you go through when your children are sick.

I really do feel that we are leaving it as long as possible. She only has a size 3 neo-natal tube so I can't run the risk of the tube blocking off! They've also told me not to leave secretions rattling as this makes her work harder to breathe and then prevents her from putting on weight.

I just can't win!

S x

Travel insurance

We have booked a family trip to France in August. Just a short hop across the channel - don't want to be too far from the ports in case of emergency. It is the first time we have taken Sam abroad since he had his trachy. Can anyone advise on travel insurance companies that will insure Sam for the trip. I've been looking through my old ACT mags and I know there was an article on this a couple of years ago, but haven't managed to find it. Any advice would be most welcome, thanks.

Julie

ps Incidentally, if anyone is travelling to France via Eurotunnel and their child requires oxygen, I have confirmed with eurotunnel that they are happy for oxygen for the journey to be transported as long as it is declared at check in. Just for info :)