Hi all, I know this is a much covered topic but I really am at the end of my tether. My bladder is driving me insane, I constantly feel like I need a wee and then when I go I get a little dribble if I am lucky. I saw my ms nurse the other week and she referred me to a continence nurse, I got my app through for the 10th October !!! After sitting on the loo half of the night I thought I just can’t go on like this anymore, so I rang the hospital to see if they could see me sooner. I managed to get a cancellation for next week and I did speak to a nurse on the phone who was very nice but … She said, ah I can see your ms nurse as suggested self catheterising, that’s fine but I don’t do that myself but will see you next week and then I will probably refer you to a urologist, how long will that take ?? I really can’t carry on like this it is making my life a misery. Any suggestions ? Thanks Karen x
hi karen
i sympathise. my bladder rules my life, and ruins my sleep!
when i was seeing a continence specialist she told me that being constipated can make it difficult to pee.
so make sure your bowels are regular.
i jiggle my stomach muscles and lean backwards and forwards - sometimes that makes it come.
i’ve been considering botox but havent asked for it yet.
good luck
carole x
Thanks Carole, I cope with most things this horrible MS throws at me but I am really not coping at the moment. Thanks for the advice muchly appreciated. Karen x
Hi Karen
I put a post on the other day as my bladder is the complete opposite, although i do feel like i need a wee all the time i just physically cannot go! A week ago my bladder just stopped working altogether, i was having to self catheterise and i was mortified by this, but after putting a note up i didnt feel so alone as loads of people do this. After thinking about it i did realise that i hadnt been to the other loo in 11 days! had no intention of wanting to go either. So been drinking this vile stuff to help along and after a day of things going the right ay i have finally managed to pee today on my own yay. So being constipated makes a hell of a lot of difference. I do feel our frustration but keep pestering them to do something to help you
Sian x
Hi Karen
I put a post on the other day as my bladder is the complete opposite, although i do feel like i need a wee all the time i just physically cannot go! A week ago my bladder just stopped working altogether, i was having to self catheterise and i was mortified by this, but after putting a note up i didnt feel so alone as loads of people do this. After thinking about it i did realise that i hadnt been to the other loo in 11 days! had no intention of wanting to go either. So been drinking this vile stuff to help along and after a day of things going the right ay i have finally managed to pee today on my own yay. So being constipated makes a hell of a lot of difference. I do feel our frustration but keep pestering them to do something to help you
Sian x
Thanks Sian, I just wish I could go properly, who started you off with the self catheterising did you have to see a urologist ? Thanks again. Karen x
You could try getting yourself ‘comfortable’ and trying to wee. Then on a low heat setting VERY GENTLY apply the warm air from a hair dryer around the involved bits. This works for me and has worked for at least one other member of these Boreds.It may be that the plumbing involved dilates slightly.
Fingers crossed,and I’ll leave it there, Wb
Hi Wb, thanks will give it a go, anything is worth a try. I just feel so uncomfortable all the time. Karen
karen,
take care with the hairdryer, i was told to use it to heal the stitches from childbirth.
i did as told but one day it got too hot and i was holding it too close - OUCH!!!
Hi Karen My bladder is ruling my life too. I am practically housebound because of it and need to self-catheterise to give me some life back. Unfortunately, I am waiting for an urgent referral which will probably take months and I really can’t live like this any longer. It takes me at least 20 mins to pee and I have to get into all sorts of positions to achieve this which is causing me terrible pain in my legs. I really sympathise with you and wish you luck. Teresa xx
I’m getting the impression that many people suffer with their bladder,but there is no help or support from the NHS. However,there is a vast pool of experience and information on here which should be used and added to whenever a sufferer has a good result.
I have a pretty drastic solution for constipation when all of the other tricks of the trade have failed and with ‘Handy Hindsight’ piddle was plentiful at the same time. -annabis -ookie. Obviously this raises ethical and logistical problems, but if things are really grim…
You have your own version of MS and will therefore have to find your own solutions. The MS Society cannot support or endorse anything which isn’t approved by NICE and there may be efforts to stop us trying to help each other on here,in which case any of the heretics who are willing to try and help themselves may have to shift to E-mail.
Wb x
hello
i have had major problems with my bladder. whenever i have an infection (which seems about once a month) i could get up about 8 times a night. there is always the constant feeling of needing a wee and everything hanging out below!! i had to explain to my kids that if i dash (hobble) off when out to just wait for me as i must get to a loo. many accidents in public later (no pride with MS) i started to isc and it was a godsend at first. could do isc when out so did it when was near a loo. doing 10 a day was too much so had botox, took me 2 years to pluck up the courage but now i am like ‘bring it on’ can’t wee at all so just isc before going to bed, going out and never get up in night. good to know when you go out that you are empty.only problem is still getting infections a lot.
don’t let your bladder rule you. there are things to help out there you just need to insist something is done to help you.
good luck
Lisa
Speaking from 30yrs experience -MS effects us all in different ways. But we do all seem to have bowel/bladder problems. l have never been constipated - quite the opposite - regularly go at least 6times a day!!.Have to take codiene phosphate and loperamide to help calm it down. l lost control of my bladder years ago and ended up having a SPC about 18yrs ago. This made a big difference to my quality of life.
A blocked bowel will constrict your bladder and make it very difficult to pass urine. Golden linseeds crushed and sprinkled onto your cereals/yoghurt/salad will help and they are full of goodness - especially for women as they contain a natural HRT. lt might be worth considering going somewhere for colonic irrigation treatment to give yourself a good and complete clear out - then start again adding linseed/flax seeds to your diet. Friends of mine who have had it done say they feel on top of the world afterwards - apart from the instant weight loss. The Peristeen lrrigation system works similarly.
Once your bowels are completely emptied you might find your bladder rejuvenated and the retention problem solved.
F.
Floating
Hi all, thanks for the support, another day living in the loo !!! But hey ho on I go . Karen x
Hi Karen, this is miserable for you. But I was interested to read how constipation can affect some folk`s abitlity to wee.
.This has never happened to me. The longest I`ve been bunged up is 8 days…but no problem passing urine.
I`ve had trouble keeping urine in, rather than the other way.
I hope you can find a solution soon. My constipation has spoiled my days out too often. I have missed 2 outings this week and I really look forward to going out.
luv Pollx
Hi Karen,
I taught myself Intermittent self catherisation and so don’t let the nurse put you off, ask her if you can do it yourself. If you go to ‘You tube’ and put in ‘intermittent self-catherisation female’ there’s a video of what to do and with a mirror and a few catheters (they are normally prelubricated or need water put on them) to practise with it might be worth a try? I was always on the loo and having dribbles but I had Botox 16 months ago and Wow! life is so different. ISC and Botox-go for it if you can.
Good luck, it becomes second nature and makes life more liveable.
BF x
P.S. I find Antibac are good to lessen infections and using babywipes and Lofric sense are great when you’re out and about, I don’t work for either of these companies by the way!! You can also go to the Lofric website and they will send you some to try or at least look at. I use CH10 (this is the diameter of the catheter, I’m small so the diameter is small but they come in all sizes).
Sorry to go on!! Good luck.
Hi Batfink, thank you for the information I really appreciate it. Will google and perhaps just get some and give it a go. Thanks again. Karen
Good luck Karen x