catheter questions due to spinal problem

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Kertie446

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Hi all

I have had a catheter fitted due to chronic urinary retention which is caused by my spinal degeneration (grade 3, including schmorls nodes) and was wondering what, as I am female, I do when I get my monthly. I usually use sanitary paRAB but am thinking these will be very uncomfortable and pull now I have a catheter in.

The nurses and also doctors I saw who assessed my bladder this time round (different to other consultants I previously saw) said that it is definitely possible this urinary retention could be caused by my spinal degeneration even if they (spinal surgeons I previously saw) thought there was nothing particularly 'alarming' wrong with my spine even though I am showing grade 3 degeneration at such a young age which is also what the radiologists commented on - how unusual it was for such a young age (I was 17 when I started with it and am now 21) to have this sort of degeneration.

Many thanks

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
Niad,
You are quite young to have such degeneration going on, however, it is not uncommon for spinal problems to cause problems with either the bladder or bowel or both. I experience problems with both, unfortunately. Have they discussed having you learn to self cath and using disposable catheters? While the whole idea of self cathing is difficult to wrap your mind around at first, it does get easier with time and you will find that self cathing allows you to time ( if you understand what I mean) your bathroom neeRAB and to go about your other activities without having to worry about accidents in public.
Back
 
First, I am so sorry you have to deal with this at such a young age ...do you know why you have an indwelling Catheter(a catheter that stays in all the time?)...is it because it just runs out of you and you would just leak urine all the time or is it because it just won't come out on it's own? If you just can't go I would expect you to be taught to catheterize yourself 2 to 3 times a day. Otherwise, if you have a catheter all the time can you use Tampons instead of paRAB? if you continue to use paRAB this is going to be very uncomfortable and potential for many bladder infections. But you can somehow use an elastic band or Velcro around the top of your leg to keep the catheter tubing slack enough so the pad doesn't pull at it. Good luck and I do believe there are many young people with Catheters for one reason or another.
 
Hi, Back and AnnD.

Thanks for your replies.

Sorry I couldn't get on sooner.

Back, I thought I was quite young to be having such severe degeneration at Grade 3 and the spinal docs and my GPs ignore it as if it doesn't exist! Aparently they say I have a pristine spine! I think what they should say is pristine degenerated spine! I thought it was such a stupid and unprofessional comment to put from a spine surgeon that I certainly now do not trust them as they act as if degeneration in a young person is very 'normal'! They have dumped me back to the GP as they feel I am a waste of time as apparently they cannot do anything about it (I do not believe this either). I also understood my bladder could be affected and it is probably very likely, by my spine degeneration. Although all the spine surgeons (only at the one hospital so I do not count them as second or even third opions as they are all working in the same and as a team) that have seen me have ignored the fact I mentioned my bladder which I found very alarming and that is also why I do not trust them and am now in the process of gaining another three 'fresh' opinions from better, more well-known surgeons in other hospitals. They chose to try and teach me how to self cath but it was a complete failure due to lack of support from continence nurse and the fact I just cannot get a grip on it and as I mentioned in a previous post it is much too painful to be sticking something up there twice a day...unfortunately I also found self cathing not ideal for my current situation due to having to travel and go out as it is very limiting trying to find a clean toilet or stop to have to do it and have found the indwelling catheter a much more suitable alternative as I do not have to worry about any of this. Self cathing may work for some and may not for others. Unfortunately I am one of the ones that it just doesn't work for.

AnnD, I have an indwelling catheter as I have chronic urinary retention which I cannot manage with self cathing anymore due to all the reasons I have mentioned above. Unfortunately I do not use tampons and only use paRAB. My mother has mentioned that there are pants that would probably be a more suitable alternative to paRAB which will stick to my catheter as paRAB have sticky stuff on them as well. I have actually considered stopping my perioRAB altogether temporarely as I am single and am not trying for a baby so there really is no point in having this monthly period. I am seriously considering stopping them as it would eradicate this worry.

Many thanks for both your helpful advice and I'll keep you updated.

Kind regarRAB

Niad
 
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