Thread: 8 months of chronic urinary retention and still no treatment....

Hi, WildChild.

Thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately I think that it is not for my particular condition. Urinary retention from what I've read is only treatable via catheterisation or neurostimulator implant.

I have to say, I had this retention problem start after a bout of intense physiotherapy on my abdomial walls/pelvic region as it was for my spine problem but unfortunately only makes things worse so I decided to drop it.

I would not want to do any sort of excercise now due to this occurring as it seems that my bladder is injured from it and I've heard that it has to recover or it may not if they have permanently damaged it. It has to heal via leaving a catheter in from what I've read.

My consultant seems to not have much of an idea of what it is that is causing it or why my bladder is like this, but I do have an idea myself and think it could be either injury from physio session or even that this excercising has trapped/compressed one of my nerves down there as it wasn't like it before, only 24-48 after phyiso did I get this bladder problem. Seems to me a bit of a coincidence not to be related...

I know there are drugs available for incontinence and generally a more broad array of treatments but not for retention unfortunately.

I've now arranged to have a catheter fitted myself anyway due to chronic tiredness from the constant lack of sleep every night from frequent bathroom trips. I just had to do something to help my head to recover as lack of sleep is damaging for the health too and the mind. It's certainly making me feel poorly and general lack of concentration.

I expect my consultant won't be too happy about it as he wanted to treat it with drug therapy but I'm skeptical and don't like the list of side effects that comes with them.

Many thanks and kind regards

Drahn

Hi,

I went to the urologist last week to check for PVR. I voided 300ml and there was 300ml left! 15 mins later I voided about 250ml and there was still 300ml left! I had drank quite a bit beforehand to ensure that my bladder was full for the test. The worrying thing is that I don't get any urges at all, just a feeling of a bloated belly.

I have to go back in 3 weeks time for a Urodynamics test and a cystoscopy. I was given further no advice other than to drink a lot and void a lot.

I decided to keep a bladder diary. A friend of mine suggested that I double void. ie, void, stand up and wait a minute ot two and try again. Amazingly I was able to void sometimes 300% more than my first void by doing this (I just keep doing it till not much more comes out). My belly is feeling much less bloated now.

You do have urges which is a different situation. But have you thought about bladder training? I read someting on the internet about it. Start off voiding at short regular intervals (and try to empty your bladder each time by multiple voiding) then gradually try to increase the time in between.

Hope you get it sorted, let us know your progress and I will let you know mine.

I have had urine retention for years now. I have had tons of tests and seen many doctors. I have been told that I have a very large bladder (perhaps from not emptying) and have had more than 600 ml left after voiding. I am currently on Flowmax which I guess helps with flow. The pharmacist always gives me a funny look when I fill the script as I guess very few women take it. I was previously on bethanachol with it. I think this one increases the muscle's ability to contract. I was taking it 4 times a day and the Flowmax 2 times a day. I stopped taking the bethanachol when I felt really crampy before voiding. Perhaps taking it enabled the muscle to strengthen enough that I did not need it anymore. I am also down to one Flowmax before bed. Most days I am fine, but something in my diet must trigger it to be worse on other days, like today, when no matter what I do I can't empty. For the most part, the flowmax works great and I have not had any side effects. The bethanachol worked great too and the only side effect I had was that I felt my eye sight was better. Perhaps it tighened up my eye muscles too. I wanted to post this for the girl who is afraid of the medications. They are certainly worth trying.

Hi
Can sympathise completely.
I have had to catheterise for 4 years due to nerve damage in labour.
I have only been given drugs to try once, apparently used for men with prostrate problems, hence they did not work!

I have not heard of any other drugs used to treat retention but would be interested to know if there is any other treatment out there!
In my case I was told i needed to be taught to self catheterise as it was important to empty my bladder completely there fore giving it time to heal.
Also the urine infections due to not being able to empty completely do not help.
Would be worth going to your GP and explaining how difficult it is - maybe you could be put in touch with another urologist.

Hope this helps!

I would be interested to know if anyone knows anyone who has had the sacral neurostimulator implanted for retention.

Good Luck