Defeated

After a cystoscopy today the urologist has confirmed there is nothing he can do, I have to self-catheterise. I feel so defeated :frowning:

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Bless you Annah. I know many people who have to catheterise. It’s one of those things you need to get used to. Once you’ve overcome the actual physical process, it’s a real relief. It’s like when I bought my first wheelchair; It’s not a notch down but a notch up. It’s another step to some sort of freedom.

Best wishes, Steve

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Hang on in there Annah. As Steve says, once you get used to it, it could be a relief. No more worrying about accidents, you will be in control.

I know it’s hard when MS forces us into something else new and unwanted, but try not to feel defeated. It’s not your fault. It’s nothing you’ve done. It’s something that you will learn to do and after a while it will become routine.

Thinking of you and sending love,

Pat xx

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Hi Annah, I used to be incontinent and I now self catherterise and to be honest when you get used to it. It will hopefully give you a new lease to life. It has me and I never want to go back to how I was. I used to wet myself, didn’t want to go out. It was awful but now things are so much better. It also didn’t take me too long to get used to doing it. Now it is just second nature like cleaning your teeth.

let us know how you get on.

Take Care

Polly x

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Im sorry Annah, i feel for you pehaps like the others say it will get easier as you get used to doing it. My family get fed up with me constantly needing the toilet. I have a commode next to my bed. When I first got given the commode by the ot I felt sad and embarrassed and kept it covered with a throw. But now i just see it as an essential item to make my life easier. Michelle x

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Thanks everyone. As you say I guess I shall get used to it.

It seems better to submit to this illness thank constantly fight it? It is a pointless fight anyway because MS always wins!

I’ve had such a bad night’s sleep that I’ve just given up and am sitting on the sofa with my two toy poodles for company.

Have a decent Sunday everyone :slight_smile: x

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Hi Annah, try not to think of it as giving in. None of us are giving in, we just find new ways of doing things. Sure, we didnt choose to become disabled, wet ourselves, lose some of our abilities and have to rely on others.

It was really difficult for me to lose all mobility, but I am a half full glass person,rather than a half empty one.

Now, tell me about your toy poodles. I have one! She will be 2 in December.

Our Sophie is my joy, my cuddles, my extra special friend. And look at you with double the fun!

luv Poll and Sophie

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Hi Poll

Sophie sounds adorable, what colour is she?

Sitting on my lap right now is Devon who is brown and about 8 months old. Across the room sitting on a cushion in the reclining chair is Beanie who is 11 1/2, she was black but is now quite grey with age. They are good company.

Poll when you say you’ve lost all mobility what does that mean, can you even move yourself from your wheelchair to your bed to your toilet. Sorry if too personal.

anna x

Hi again.

Sophie is white. Before we got her, we had our adorable Lucy, who was also white. We had her for nearly 16 years! Bless her, she was so poorly and had a mass in her tummy, which we didn’t want to investigate and under the really good vet’s advice, we had to let her go. It broke our hearts.

Lucy and Sophie came from the same toy poodle breeder in Staffordshire.

We had Poochie before Lucy. He was a miniature white boy. He was more protective. He lived for going on 15 years!

In our back garden, we have a pretty grave for both Poochie and Lucy. We had slate name plaques made for them.

Devon and Beanie sound gorgeous. Double trouble and double love!

About my mobility. I can’t move my bottom half and am hoisted. I have a ceiling hoist in the lounge and one in my bedroom. I have a suprapubic catheter.

I cope as well as I can.

Pollx

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You’re definitely a poodle lover too Poll,

I had a white toy poodle when I was a child.

Then 18 years ago we got a black miniature, she lived over 15 years. Then we bought another black miniature but she got sick and only lived about 8 years.

My son phoned yesterday, he and his wife yesterday had to put down their pet rat! They were just as attached to a rat as to a dog. He says he now only get pets which have a long life span!

I think this puppy will be my last because already I find it difficult to keep letting her out and walking her. Hopefully she will live a long time.

MS is cruel isn’t it, but you do seem positive about coping with it.

Anna x

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Hi the oldest poodle on record lived to 21!!! But they reckon 14 years is a good average.

But isn’t it cruel when our pets go before us? It’s grateful really!!

But your little fella will be around for a good while yet, as will our Sophie!

Toy poodles don’t need massive amounts of walkies

There is a big gap between your two. How do they get on?

Pollx

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You’re right they don’t need a lot of exercise out of the house. The puppy just loves to have a ball thrown for her all day.

It took a few weeks for the old dog to get used to the puppy but now they sleep together and eat together and sit on the back of the sofa together looking out of the window when I leave the house!

Enjoy your day with Sophie x

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Hi Annah, on Tuesday we had a terrible fright, as Sophie collapsed.

We rushed her to the vets and she was quite floppy and couldnt immediately stand on his examining table.

She slowly came round. he examined her heart, reflexes, temperature and eyes.

He found nothing wrong!

He suggested she may have been stung by something.

She has been sick a few times, with a trace of blood in it and in her stools.

We rang the vet again and he said maybe she has a bug.

She is playful intermittently and not keen on eating.

Poor Sophie. What a scare. We thought we were losing her. Horrible!

pollx

Oh No!! You can’t lose Sophie! She has to live a very long and happy life with you. Hopefully it is just a bug and she will be back to her normal self very soon.

I walked mine this morning but instead of enjoying it I was so frustrated to be exhausted just walking a short distance. I’m going to keep trying though until I can’t.

Do keep us updated about Sophie.

love Anna x

(should we be moving this to private message? If anyone thinks so please do say)

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Hi Poll

sorry to butt in, but I am so sorry to hear about little Sophie, fingers crossed she makes a speedy recovery, some of these bugs do have an awful effect, especially on little dogs.

You undoubtedly seen a short while ago, Michelle’s Fraser was poorly, but he’s now back on his feet again, so perhaps there is something doing the rounds.

Apart from being worried about Sophie, I hope you and your family are ok.

Pam x

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Thank you. We are keeping a close eye on our little love.

We’ve stopped letting her go into the front garden by herself. We have bushes that bees love, so you never know.

Pollx

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I do hope Sophie stays well and recovers like the lovely Frazer, Poll.

Many years ago we had a Golden Retriever called Sophie, what a beautiful and loving girlie she was, she gave us so much joy, she even moved to Bermuda with us…flying her there was another story!

We have just had the horrible news that our much loved Labrador Lottie has got a tumor which is eating her rib bones, we are waiting for the histology report to know exactly what we are dealing with and wether or not it’s treatable, the good news is that at the moment she appears fine she is her usual happy self so we are making the most of that and keeping everything crossed that whatever type of cancer it is can be treated. They steal our hearts these furry four legged creatures don’t they?

take care Pol,

Nina x

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