www.incontinentsupport.org

Hi there,
Im hoping to find someone that has been in the same boat I am in right now. I have a schedual for a cystoscopy day after tomarrow and I'm scared to death. Partly because I'm worried what they may find or more so what they won't find. I have been hiding from the fact there was an issue for so long and now admit there is a problem. I'll go nuts if I hear "Well I'm not sure whats going on. Here's another pill."
Dr. thinks it may be OAB that I have let get out of hand but he needs the test to know more. I have to run to the bathroom about 15 times a day and I have to get up at least twice a night to pee. I am on Detrol LA but have only seen some slight changes. It has got to the point for me where I'm wearing protection at work full time and at night at home. The protection I have been using is not so much because i Am always leaking but for just in case. The job I have, I have to be here for long periods of time and even sleep here. I am terrorfide someone will find out what I am wearing but more worried they will find out i am having wetting accidents.
Please let me know what to expect with this test and give me an idea how long it may be to see some results.
Thanks

I'm a little late in answering, it looks like you've already had the test. How did it go? I wouldn't fear the test itself, and I think a cystoscopy would show immediate results without a lot of waiting. Anyway, check back in and let us know what happened.

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Fred

Thanks Fred,

Well, I had the test and IT SUCKED. The test itself was not too bad and the doctor did his thing pretty quick. Everything checked out ok. Nothing abnormal at all. Which brings me to another question I want to ask. As the doctor put the water in with the scope, it triggered one of the strongest urges I had ever felt. It was so strong I pushed out some of the water they put in my bladder while the scope was still in. The doctor seemed a little suprised when it happened but said nothing. Is that normal?
The next part sucked equally bad. A transrectal ultrasound to messure my prostate. That found my prostate was a little bigger then it should be for my age (I'm 36) but he did not feel it was the problem. I had strong cramping for the next 2 hours and had some burning when I peed for about 24 hours. He changed me from Detrol LA to VESAcare. Only been on it for not even a week and I haven't seen a change yet. What I have seen it I'm not sweating much and it being the start of summer, I am begining to think this med is a mistake. I'll try to give it more time to see if its better.

Rope guy,
Glad to read your test is over. Every few medical test are confortable with regard to to male urine track. Best thing is not to stress about it. Your reaction is normal. However anything seems to worry you ask your doctor any and all questions not matter if you think it is stupid. It is your body and you know best about it.
The medical (all meds) come with side effects. Alway be careful and keep in touch with your doctor about any changes or discomfort. You must weight the benefits of the med to the side effects and do what you think is best. It is a process that takes times and each person tends to react differently. Again ask all your questions and research anything you are placing in your body short term or long term. Ever be affriad to swtich doctors. Incontinent issues especial at a young age can be a long term thing so you should find a doctor you are comfortable with it will be a long term relationship.
Limiting stress and worriment will help. I have found stress only makes matters worse. This forum and others have great information a lot to read and educate yourself with. Many have years of experience so ask whatever.
As for me the meds did not nothing to help only created more issues. I wish you the best of luck take care
Steve

My doctor finally gave me a diagnosis, saying I have OAB. He gave me Vesicare and I couldn't stand it. Half an hour after taking it I felt like I was speeding (admitting to a bit of drug experience in my college days 40 years ago). All day I felt like I was coming down from a speed or coke trip. I was constipated the next morning and when I took my bike ride (15+ miles) I was wiped out. I read that you have to be careful about heat stroke as it stops your normal perspiration, which is of course how your body cools itself. I won't take anything which affects my cycling. I'd rather be wet and riding than dry and sitting!

I'll say this about it though. I only got up once to pee during the night and my frequency was down, but I don't think it stopped my dripping. It's hard to tell because I've been dripping very lightly for a couple of weeks. I quit the Vesicare and it took me two days to feel normal again, but now I feel great. I was only able to stand it for three days.

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Fred

Shame about that, Fred. Have you thought about seeing if there may be other drugs that might help - often it is finding the right drug and the right does. however, all of them, I think, end up with a dry mouth increased drinking and wetness!

Personally, I have concluded a while ago that modern methods of drainage etc are not necessarily the best way to go so I am back to terry nappies (diapers in the USA) at night rather than the catheter I had and it makes sleeping a lot easier too!

I'd say you are probably doing the right thing, Fred, as long as you can contain the output. Incontinence ought to just be something that fixes, like glasses, and not something that slows down your life. Keep at the cycling I'd say!

I'll end up going back to the uro eventually, but I'm not looking forward to it. He told me it might take a couple of weeks for it to be effective, and for some people it took several weeks longer. I gave it three days, and assume he'll tell me I didn't try. The funny thing is, the most common side effect, dry mouth, didn't happen to me. Aren't all the antispasmodics essentially the same thing, just made by different companies? They all list the same side effects. The bottom line is, I felt terrible, and refuse to feel that way. How many weeks am I supposed to put up with that?

The vesicare definitely had an effect on my frequency, but I was unable to tell if it slowed the dripping any since I was in a period of very light dribbling when I started it. I did drip lightly while I was taking it. I think I'll just sit on it for a couple of months and see what happens.

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Fred

Hi Fred 1959---

My experience with trying all the anticholinergics available a few years ago was that they had different side-effects (some overlapped), but overall I could not tolerate the side effects and the benefits were not sufficient to continue anyway, for me. Whether it was stomach pain, nausea, memory problems or whatever, they caused enough misery that my doctor and I agreed that this wasn't a reasonable option. I also had a trial of Interstim implant that failed. The only thing left is Botox, but it's so expensive that it's prohibitive to even do a trial.

It's diapers or caths/bags for me at this point, and I'm only 55.....been dealing with this for 5 years or more. Frustrating at times....yes, and I keep looking for the best management possibilities still.

Gimwet

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Gimwet

I've also been through the list of drugs that are commonly prescribed for urge incontinence. They all produced unpleasant side effects, and none of them had very much of an effect on the incontinence. If any of them had alleviated the need to wear a diaper, I might have been willing to put up with the side effects. But the most benefit I obtained was an increase of the warning time I have before I wet from a minute or two without the medication to maybe five minutes with it. So I still had to wear a diaper anytime I was outside the house or doing anything at home where it wasn't convenient to run to the bathroom on short notice. I didn't think the small benefit was worth the cost of the drug or the unpleasantness of the side effects.

I'll second that. The dry mouth was my problem - solved only by drinking too much and increassing urinary output and the problems that go with it. These drugs must help some people and that's great but if they aren't any help we are better oof without them and getting on with life instead.