Last May I had one fitted hoping it would give me a better quality of life.
Well it has had the polar opposite effect. I feel completely unsupported. It scratches the inside of my bladder. It is painful if I walk, go up stairs, bend down or move my tummy.
I had a UTI for 6 months, and every time I called the doctor the receptionist would insist I needed to see a nurse the nurse could’t deal with it and I ended back with the receptionist doing exactly the same thing even when I did see the GP I was prescribed incorrect antibiotics this was established when Igor an appointment to see my own GP.
I have the catheter changed every 12 weeks (which is the absolute maximum) it is done at the hospital but actually it is longer than this because they can’t cope with the work load.When I do go in one nurse said there was nothing that can be done about the scratching, another nurse indicated there was something that could be done and she would talk to the consultant about it. I heard nothing more, I phone the consultants secretary she had nothing she could add, but would see if she could speak to the nurse but I have not had a phone call back. I take tablets that control the spasms that I can take 2 tablets a day this was on the consultants clinic letter but my gp surgery will only give me enough for one day, I have an appointment in 2 weeks time to see my GP about this which is good because the UTI is back. Sorry I just needed to of load and ask does anyone have a solution to the catheter scratching. the inside of my bladder?
Thanks all,
Twist
Sorry Twist no answer for the scratching, but I will say I’ve just recently had my catheter permanently removed because of bypassing, I’d only had it in since the beginning of December 2022. I also had issues with how it made me feel inside, mine was like my bladder was permanently full, heavy and uncomfortable, I also had the weirdest feeling around my uretha, almost like the catheter was coming out of there, I did ask my consultant about this and he said this was normal and could happen to some people, so maybe the scratching is the same. I’m now back to self catheter use and I also have Botox injections every 6mths, which was still having even though I had the supra pubic in place. Like you I hoped for a better life style, I had the flip flow for during the day and a bag for night, which was a god send, sadly now back to getting up in the night and if I’m up, my hubby is up. Anyway good luck, really hope you get to the bottom of this and things work out.
Jean
Yes I get spasm which causes the bypassing and also use a flip flow. I do feel like the end of the catheter get lodged in the top of the urethra and this makes me feel like I permanently need the loo. I think Botox is maybe what the nurse was thinking of but not heard anything back. I am sorry it didn’t work out for you. When you had it removed how long did it take to heal so you did not leak?
That’s exactly how I felt, constantly needing the loo. they took it out and within a day or two the whole had healed up, I had no leaking at all, I just went straight back to using the self catheter. Personally I swear by the Botox, I’ve been having it done now for about 6yrs, lasts 6mths, so might be worth a go for you.
Jean