Hi have been having problems with my waterworks. I eventually saw a consultant after seeing various other health professionals over the years about the same problems which were getting worse as time has passed by. It seems I have two problems, the first is I have an enlarged prostrate which is not unusual in men as they get older (I am 58 this year) and the second problem is that the valve or muscle that you relax when you want to go for a pee does not relax due to MS, that muscle or valve is in spasm and does not want to open when I want to go for a wee. The consultant gave me two different medications to take together. 1 tablet to relax prostrate so the tube from my bladder is not squeezed so much by my prostrate and another tablet to help me control and relax the muscle or valve that is in spasm (which is caused by MS). The tablets worked and I could hold onto my wee if required but could more easily go for a wee when I needed to. Unfortunately although the tablets worked they slowly made me feel progressively unwell, feeling bilious all the time and making me even more exhausted than normal. In the end I was feeling so unwell I had to stop taking them, but unfortunately and I suppose obviously my problem became much worse again in that when I have a full bladder and need to go for a wee I might have to stand or sit up to 10 minutes until I can pass anything and I pass only a small quantity it being a weak stream, I have to then try to go again, trying to relax and again another weak stream, I may have to go through the same thing many times before I have emptied most of my bladder. The situation is getting worse. I do not want to take the tablets again as they make me feel so unwell and do not want to use a catheter as I think I would have huge problems with a catheter, I only have one eye that works so I do not have the ability to see in 3D so I tend to miss the target when I am trying to do anything that needs very precise accuracy, threading a needle is just so difficult, getting a catheter in would be a nightmare and something I really want to avoid, I really do not want someone else doing this for me. I am so fed up with this. Any one out there have any ideas of what may help me. It is a long shot I know this is quite a common problem when one has MS but if I do not want to used a catheter and can not take the medication that works because it makes me so sick then what do I do? Any ideas from anyone. All the best JAMESKING.
Hi James, mmm, I also had problems with my waterworks and didnt want a catheter. I was on tablets to calm my over sensitive bladder.
But as accidents increased, I had to do something. I tried a urethral catheter, which I didnt get on with, so after 5 months, I had it removed and went back to wetting myself a lot. This continued and worsened for a few years.
Last July I made the big decision to go fo a suprapubic catheter…which I love and the difference it has made to my life, is enormous!
I am wondering if this type of catheter would be of interest to you. There is little need for good eyesight to use an spc.
A small cut is made in your tum and a tube is put through this into the bladder. A bag is worn to collect the urine.
I dont know anything else which may help. As you`re already seeing a neuro, he may be happy for you to go down this route.
luv Pollx
Thank you Pollx. Yes I used to have problems with urgency but this has reduced simply because it is now so hard to go. I have to wait an age trying to control a muscle I do not even feel anymore but if I keep on trying to make the connection it does start a little then I have to go through the same thing again and again until I feel the bladder is as empty as I can manage. Despite it being very unpleasant having to go through all of this it takes such a long time. I am worried that eventually I just will not be able to release the muscle or valve to pass water or to pass sufficient water to prevent me from getting endless urine infections which is what happens when you can not empty ones bladder sufficiently. if I get to this stage I would need to have a catheter or a bag. I think I might have problems with a bag. As I have two problems I.e the one being an enlarged prostrate which has the effect of severely narrowing ones internal tube just after the tube leaves the bladder which makes the stream (when it does come) very weak and so then the pressure after the prostrate gland is very low so working the valve which is compromised by the MS is made even more difficult. I am wondering if I ought to ask to have my prostrate gland removed as this is causing an extra difficulty. Ok most mens prostrates enlarge as they get older but for most men for quite a long period this growth of the prostrate although it causes problems in emptying one’s bladder normally stays benign although it slowly increases with time and often much later it becomes more actively cancerous but the process is normally very slow though there is a risk of it spreading to ones bones once and if the prostrate becomes more active and stars invading the system. My father got prostrate cancer although he failed to get it diagnosed on being tested but some years later his prostrate did become more invasively cancerous and it did spread to his bones and then went everywhere. By this stage it was to late to treat him. He was in his mid late 70’s and I am some 20 years younger than he was when he died but he did start his problems about the same age as me or may be a little bit later. He did not have MS. I am just wondering if I ought to request having my prostrate removed to prevent further risks and together with the distinct possibility that I could empty my bladder more easily? Just do not quite know what to do?