www.incontinentsupport.org

Sandy, after reading some of your post and some of the post the others have posted, has taught me somethings.

I decided last Oct/Nov that chances are not worth it so I have been wearing protection all the time. For the most part I haven't let it slow me down or change to much of what I do.

Right now, I am just following doctor's orders and will only try a few samples just to please my wife. One thing I have learned through the years if mamma isn't happy nobody is happy.

Just wish doctors wouldn't say, well at your age or I don't really see why and then leave it at that.

Thank you and all the others for all the support you have given!!!

Just had a follow-up with my urologist. I feel like I wasted money again. The only thing he is says is that alot of my problems may be getting worse because of the spinal nerve blocks that I have been getting for pain. He just wants to send me to another urologist that specializes in male incontinence. I explained to him that where he wants me to go isn't covered by my insurance and I can't afford to pay 50% of the charges. So he just want me to keep dealing with it like I have but to self cath at least 4 or 5 times a day. I think the thing that upset me the most was when I asked him questions about how long I am to reuse a catheter, he couldn't give me a direct answer but instead went to his nurse and asked her to give me some information about washing and cleaning catheters. Trying to comfort me, he said your not the only one that has to use catheters, there are lots out there. That I know but doesn't really help.

I told him, I am at the point of using a foley to give myself some good sleep. Right now he wants to hold off on that. It really bothers me when doctors don't understand or care how a problem really affects all aspects of your life, all they want to do is treat the symptoms with drugs and move on. I was able to talk to my wife about all this which has helped some. She isn't to keen on me using a foley but her words were, if you have to self cath that much, you have a lot more chance for UTIs that way then using a foley.

Sorry for long post, I don't have a real avenue to vent other than here.

No matter what, I am still working on not letting this slow me down to much. I am learning that I have to plan a little more in advance for some things but I shouldn't let it stop me from living my life.

Thanks all
Kent

Whether you pay, or not, it makes no difference, it would seem...

Here, in the UK, with the blessings of a "free" National Health Service (NHS), the ministrations of Urologists makes no difference. I have paid to "go-private" and got the same response as I did from the NHS.

They want me to take tablets, or have surgery, both of which have huge implications, and both NHS and "Private" have advised that I might end-up with a worse situation if I have surgery. I won't take the tablets because of their well-known inefficiency, and side effects.

Catheterisation is out of the question, I won't even consider it until I'm in full retention, if that ever happens. Then it's a visit to A&E (ER), I suppose.

At the moment, and as for the last 17 years or so, I'll just wear nappies when I need to do so. No medical invasion, no side-effects..No big deal!

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Too Wet to Woo?

K.T.,

Did you say that you have retention? I have spinal never damage L4,L5, & S1, but I have Frequency urge incontinence. I have tried both the types of cathers (internal & external) and that is not for me as I did get some bad infections not to mention the discomfort of the catheter itself. If you have the option, I would not recommend the catheter unless you really need it because of retention.

Urge, little stress, retention, and no feeling is where my bladder is at. All my Dr. really wants me to do is go to Vanderbilt and see his instructor. My Dr. said that this guy is the only one he really trust doing some kind of nerve study/test. Since Vanderbilt isn't in my insurance network, I am at loss of what to do other than treat myself the best way I can and live with.

K.T.,

I understand your situation. Unless Vanderbilt can improve your lquality of life, I don't see how the investment would make a difference. Good luck

I deal with two doctors aside from my PCP, a urologist and a back doctor, and I could add another if I was inclined. I have the following issues:

1. Spondylolithesis (spinal slippage) due to an injury the L5 vertibra is slipped causing compression and bending of my spinal cord.
2. Hematuria - Blood in the urine, in my case microscopic.
3. Impotence - can't get it up.
4. Incontinence - can't hold it in.
5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder - can't calm down.

Back doctor says that my back issue should cause retention, not incontinence but the research I've done says incontinence rather than retention. If I overdue it, I get pain in back and down the leg and into the foot. At this point regular monitoring is the course he is taking, does not see need for surgery at this point - he says to be careful not to lift anything over 20 pounds, use motrin, ice packs, physical therapy again.

After Cystoscopy, Ultrasound of bladder and kidneys, and a few other tests, the Urologist has not come up with a cause for the blood in urine or incontinence. For Incon, I'm left with option of surgery or trying more medications. I don't know why he suggests surgery since he has not established the cause, and dismisses bent spinal cord. As far as Meds, they were helping when it was OAB, but as Urge Incon started, they were less and less effective. Sometimes it's like Urge, other times I'll pee without warning or feeling, so it's a mixed bag. For Hematuria, will monitor level of blood in urine to insure it does not get worse, ultrasounds, prostate checks, etc.

None of the doctors had anything much to say about Impotence, but Viagra does not help.

Have dealt with an Anxiety condition for most of my life, the others are more recently occuring (within the past 12 years or 57 years total). Antidepressents turn me into a zombie (horrible reaction), so can't take them. Anti Anxiety meds like Xanax knock me out. VALIUM is the one Med that helps, it does not really cure or treat anxiety, it makes you drowsy so your still anxious but too too drowsey to pay attention to it, plus it helps my back because of the effect of relaxing muscles.

So where am I now. I have one medication (valium) for two conditions, no meds that help for anything else, and doctors with conflicting views.
But what I have learned from almost a lifetime of dealing with anxiety is that there are many proposed courses of treatment - medications, biofeedback, exercise, etc., etc, etc, and I've found that I just have to accept living with this because the only way for me to avoid anxiety is to be free of stress, demands, or pressure - NO WAY in this life.

Some things can be cured, some managed, and some you just have to live with. Knowing when and where to draw the line is what's important. That does not mean don't try, but to realise when the effort is more of an intrusion on your life than accepting and adapting to a situation.

Chris,

There are several menbers in the forum that are incon due to spinal issues. When your incon is due to a spinal issue it really means you have some type of nerve problem. Its the nerves within the spine that control the bowel and bladder. Based upon the systoms you provided there MAYBE you have a pinched nerve. Having numbuness, severe leg pain, and issues with your foot are all signs that there is something going with one, or more of nerves in your spine.

I would recommend you ask your your back doc to give you an EMG test. If you have any form of nuropathy this test will ID the nerve(s) causing the problem which may also be the cause of some of your other health issues.

Don't take this the wrong way, but if you don't have any type of nerve issue causing the problem, maybe your incontinence is mental, or is being caused by a of med your taking. There are several possibilities,...but in some ways your symptoms sounds like you might have a pinched, or damaged nerve. You need to have some tests done to know the cause. Without the tests there is no way to know for sure. Its all guess work as to what the problem might be.

I'm no doc, but that's my two cents worth. I accept PayPal for payment. LOL

Chris, I agree with Johnstone - it must be something to do with the back injury and pressure on a nerve. It could even be the sciatic nerve if it causes you pain down the leg. That back problem needs to be investigated more to look for these problems.

Damage at L5 level is not the spinal cord but the corda equina and the syndrome showing similar problems to you can be view at http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Cauda-Equina-Syndrome.htm if you type corda equina into Google you will get lots of other sites and it would be worthwhile reading up before you see you doctor next.

Impotence, one of the symptoms, is a hard one to sort out as after nerve damage it is never going to work with viagra style drugs. I have MS and impotence and have now been given a solution - Cavajet. This is an injectable drug which comes with its own needle ready for use. yes, OOOOUUUU! I hear you say but the very fine needle passes into the centre of the penis and works really well producing an erection that lastsa good hour in my case. Look at http://www.drugs.com/mtm/caverject-injectable-and-transurethral.html My wife did some nurse training and actually does the injection for me (not the usual foreplay!).

God luck with getting things sorted.

Hello Johnstone,

Just because I have anxiety does not make the incon mental. The Incon has only been there about 3 years, while the anxiety for most of life. I agree with the back being a source, but there is also the issue of the urinary system itself... the presence of blood in urine is indicating something is going on there, or could be both. As far as Meds go, nothing I take is a possible cause.