So pleased you have managed. I self cathed for 10 years before having a supra pubic catheter fitted and it changed my life. Good Luck! Linda x
I am so glad I read this, I am going through exactly the same thing. Apparently my curent problems are all related to the bladder, up five/six times a night, not putting out as much as am putting in, lucky if it’s 100/150mls at a time, heavily impaired movement on the right hand side, signed off work and I just want some sort of life back. All your comments are very positive and helpful. Think I’ll need a mirror. I know this is the next step and am not looking forward to it but feel a little better I’m not alone! Good luck and let us know how you get on. Linda.H
I do it. It gets easier with practice (I’m a bloke, it’s easier for me anyway). Thing is, the difference it makes is worth it. Don’t be scared, if you can do it once you can do it a million times.
So pleased for you - well done. LindaH - I too used to get up several times at night. I was then prescribed Desmopressin which is recommended by NICE. Absolutely fantastic as I now no longer have to get up at night Hugs Min xx
I was using Solafenacin but this doesn’t seem to be working now. I am seeing the continence nurse on 3 December, can’t wait to get this sorted. Getting up so many times during the night is not helping the fatigue and I am absolutely sick of of the situation, it makes everything worse.
LindaH,
Do get your G~P to prescribe a different med - As Min says Desmopressin or as others have recently had success with is the new one called Betmiga. Then hopefully, you will get an uninterrupted sleep. This bladder/bowel issue - is the worst part of having MS. Time to get some control!!
Hi everyone. 0460robo how are you getting on now, did you try to self cathetirise and have you got the hang of it now? I saw my Urologist yesterday and am now waiting for the Continence Nurse to visit to teach me how to do it. A very daunting outlook but I now feel that anything that makes this whole situation easier and better has got to be worth a go. At least all the answers on the Forum concerning this seem to be positive. Let us know how you’ve got on. Linda x
Good afternoon fellow MS’ers. The contience nurse is coming to see me on Monday to teach me how to self catheterise. I am not relishing the idea but feel that this situation has got so serious now that it’s aggrivating all the other MS symptoms and in a strange way I am looking forward to her visit as this may settle everything else down. Once that is sorted out I can focus on getting the TN under control and hopefully (my MS nerophysio says) this will settle my wobblyness down and enable me to move a little better. I haven’t got a UTI but the bladder is not emptying properly. I am so looking forward to not getting up 6 times a night! Linda x
Hi Linda, well I can now do it without looking! It’s such a relief and I wish I had done it sooner. It has changed my life. Like you, I was not emptying my bladder fully and so kept needing to go, or worse - wetting myself. Now I can self catheterise I can go out without worrying. My only advice is to be patient and take things slowly. Good luck and congratulations on making the decision. Penny
Linda,
The best bit of advice l have heard is to insert a tampon - in the lady area - then you will at least have narrowed the choice down!!! Once you have mastered it - you will soon be like Penny - and doing it with your eyes shut.
Hope you soon get to sleep well - without the forever getting up for the loo.