www.incontinentsupport.org

What a day - and it has hardly begun. I wet the bed and pooped my pants (diaper) all within three hours of each other. Normally I have few bowel accidents due to my use of enemas, but this was before my morning enema procedure.

It may be due in part to my case of jitters about Monday's surgery. I try to be macho in front of family and friends, but inside I must admit that I am not so stoic.

--John

JD,

Getting anxious because you're staring at oncoming back surgery is all too reasonable. Add to that your history of back injury, which has made this surgery necessary, makes things worse. I hope that advances in spinal surgery technology will make this surgery easier for you than previous back surgeries. My heart goes out to you; I hope that your surgery will be uneventful, your recovery speedy and comoplete, and I look forward to your return here.

Perhaps you might consider paying attention to everything the staff do to/for you, so that, when you are able, you can report back for the benefit of our members who have been told to anticipate back surgery.

Patrick

You always give good advice, Patrick. Thanks.

--John

Most back surgery techniques changed a lot from my first back surgery in 2005 until the second in 2009. The first surgery I had to stay in the hospital for 5 days post. The second surgery I was send home the next day. The second surgery was much easier and had fewer complications.

Good luck. I will keep you in my prayers.

Doug

_________________
When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

Damn - did it again. Wet the bed two days in a row. This is unusual for me. Thankfully my wife is understanding although it causes her extra work.

After the spine surgery I an going to wait a while to heal and see what the "new normal" is before I see a urologist. There is a chance that the bladder incontinence symptoms may be reduced post-surgery. The bladder incontinence is a relatively new thing with me but I could not handle dealing with both the spine problems and the seeing a urologist at the same time.

From what I have read on the forum, the urological testing sounds like great fun! - Almost as much as the bowel incontinence testing!!

I know a fair amount about bowel incontinence, but very little about urinary incontinence. I am not sure how to categorize my urinary problems. My urinary incontinence is intermittent and inconsistent. I still have control to pee in the toilet. However, most of the time my bladder just goes on autopilot by itself and I involuntarily pee in small amounts or dribbles, maybe 8 - 10 times an hour. That is not a scientific measurement. As I have no problem peeing I think that rules out neurogenic bladder? I am unsure about urinary retention. Does this sound like over-active bladder?

--John

Hi JD, sounds like OAB to me, I also have the "auto-pilot" issue at night, and serious urge problems daytime if I don't stay on top of it, some days, like yourself, are better then others for sure! Will be thinking of you as you deal with the back surgery, I am sure you are in good hands, and the techniques and methods are much better now then even 10 years ago, but any operation is not on any ones list of things they would choose to do in the immediate future if they had a choice. Hang in there, and feel free to vent of some steam here if need be, we got your back, bud! Puffy

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Puffy
BC, Canada
Fighting the "Bladder Battle" since 1995

JD,

Here's hoping that your surgical team really have your back.

JD,

You might want to get a bed pad to put on your side of the bed at might. You can get one that is washable from Walgreens for about $13 that will keep the bedding dry if you leak. Get 2 or 3 if they work for you. It is much easier to wash those than strip the bed any time you leak at night.

Best wishes getting thing sorted out.

Doug

_________________
When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

JD,

Incontinence testing, both bowel and bladder, is the pits. Unlike some other medical tests, it is not painful, but it gives a whole new meaning to embarrassment. The behavior of your bladder is similar to mine, post-sphincterotomy. As long as there is fluid in my bladder, I leak, just a dribble usually, but a steady stream after a meal. The problem with neurogenic bladder is that, if your sphincter seizes up, you may be unable to pee at all, with the consequent threat to your kidneys. Although I understand your relucance to engage a urologist while you're still recovering from spinal surgery, please give it some thought. If your nursing staff discover that your bladder is not emptying as it should, the referral to a urologist will be taken out of your hands.

Godspeed with your surgery tomorrow.

JD,

Best of luck to you on your surgery. I sincerely hope everything goes according to plan and you see the results you and your doctor are anticipating. As for the way the day began, stress is almost guaranteed to make any condition or situation worse. I know for me, when my stress levels are higher, my pain levels climb up, my sleeping gets worse and my incontinence gets entirely out of control. Hopefully when this surgery is in the rearview mirror and you can get some rest, your body will go back to its own "normal" (whatever the heck that word means ).

Take care of yourself,
CJ