www.incontinentsupport.org

Hey all,
After having to delay my urologist appointment for a month due to work commitments, I finally am going to see my urologist again. During camp, and before i left for camp, i had concerns about whether i was retaining urine, and whether urine was backing up into the kidneys. I will address that concern, as well as pain i felt in the back flank after going to the bathroom or having an incontinent episode when i decided to wait a while to empty my bladder. Of course, as you know, sometimes i can't wait, and my bladder does its own thing. My urologist said at some point i might have to catheterize. Ill ask her if that is on the table yet. I sincerely hope not.. when they were cathing me for tests before, it was not an altogether pleasant experience. But, it may become necessary if I'm retaining too much urine. So, its likely a urodynamics test is in my near future.. oh fun... but eh, ive beeen through it before, i can do it again. Also, i think i might have a UTI, and my stones are back in my left kidney possibly, because yesterday and today ive felt dull aching pain whenever i bend over. Dealing with bladder and kidney issues is real fun, isn't it???? NOT! Oh, and I think i might have a pressure sore in my groin area.. gonna have that checked with my uro..that will be awkward, yes, but im sure she's seen it all before.

I just hope i don't have kidney damage, and that every thing is flowing smoothly. I can more or less live with the incontinence; i just pad up with a good diaper... but the kidney stuff and retaining concerns me. I might want to discuss alternate management options with her, because quite frankly, disposables are getting expensive especially now that Attends have ruined their good products that Medicaid pays for. Perhaps not though; the pocket diaper i ordered might prove to be just the solution im looking for. I might discuss the feasibility of doing biofeedback again. We shall see...

Peace out!

Rob

_________________
"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

geek,

Good luck with your urologist's appointment. Granted, it is embarrassing, but we've all been there. Keep us informed.

Well,

The good news is, I'm not retaining enough for them to worrya bout, I am retaining 91 ccs, and the threshold of them being concerned is 100 cc's...so no need to cath.. yet . The bad news is, when i explained past symtoms to my urologist, as well as the pain i have now, she thinks i have more kidney stones, and they might be in my ureter or bladder, which is why i have pain in my pelvic area as well as my back flank... I forgot to ask about checking for kidney damage, or to see if urine is backing up into the kidenys, but since they told me im not retaining enough to pose a problem, i don't think i have to worry about that.

I showed her some spots on my groin.. she thought it looked like folliculitis from my shaving down there.. so, ill get some neosporin.. I did ask her about alternate management options, and told her i didnt like the idea of the condom catheter..and asked for her input. She said that there is an option that she woudl trust me with.. and she said it was the Cunningham clamp. I did some research.. and it looks like in order to use the clamp.. id have to relase it every 1 to 2 hours... umm.. thats NOT going to work at school.. it might work at home, but what about blood flow to the penis?? Has anyone used a clamp? is it comfortable? does it come off easily? what if its bumped accidentally? I just don't know...


Peace out!

Rob

_________________
"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

Rob,

When the Cunningham clamp is properly (emphasis: "properly") applied, it applies enough pressure to the urethra to prevent accidental leakage but does not completely cut off blood flow to the penis. However, as you have read, it must be released at specified intervals. If you cannot absolutely guarantee that, or if you can become distracted and forget, it is not for you.

--John