I'm so embarrassed!

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kdk819

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Hi everyone. I was so lousy with pain yesterday, I couldn't sit at my computer. I called the doctor today, and he said he wasn't surprised that I was having a urine problem. I described my symptoms to him, pain wise that is, and then told him what happens after I think I'm done urinating. He said he is quite sure its due to the nerve damage and compression I have going on, adding that that is why he would like to get going on this surgery. If it gets worse, or I get more nurab, he said he wouldn't wait for workers comp approval, and would admit me through the ER. Just as a precaution, I went to the lab I used to work for, had a u/a done. It was clear. No infection, no blood. Thought I'd update you. In the meantime, it has been humid here in NY, we're expecting rain thunderstorms tomorrow. Thats where my added discomfort is coming from. I hate to sound like a cry baby, but I'm getting real tired of pain. Hope everyone's doing okay. Kathy
 
Kathy don't talk about being a cry baby you have a lot on your plate right now. I hope you can get some relief soon and it is a shame that W/C takes so much time. It sounRAB like you have a really good surgeon who is sincerely concerned about you so hang in there and I will keep you in my prayers.

Linda:angel:
 
Sweetie you are not a cry baby we all get like that at times. After getting up and sending hubby to work i went back to bed cause i hurt and wrong thing to do cause i hurt worse now. Just take it easy. And i hope you surgery is very soon for your sake.
 
:jester:Mary Woo you crack me up! I am a tilter too! See if we can get a group discount on those tattoos! LOL

I have the same problem and have to wear some kind of panty liner every day. Not the little pink wrapped ones either-something of substance (sorry guys!). I understood it to be part of growing older-I am 47. it hasn't been bad enough to see someone other than my GP who thought there might be an infection or irritation and presribed me an antibiotic that actually worked for a while.
Be Blesssed,
Michelle Settle
 
Hi there Kathy i am in the same boat with you agiain i would like to know why i urinate also and then stand up ad it still goes and like you said its alot i also have to wear liners. I had to wear tem alot before my hysterectomy in 05 and afterwarRAB i thought it would be all better but i was wrong.

I recently had an IVP done and renal ultrasound. I dont get the results till the end of next month and this waiting is killing me. For one thing my granmother had a surgery to reroute her urine and she had to have a bag on her side then her kidneys shut down and was on dialysis. So bad history that is why i am impatient.

And i had to bring my son to the doctor for the same thing and we talked the nurse and i and she was telling me how his was clear and i told her mine was real cloudy when they done a urine sample. She told me that probably had to do alot with the protein in the urine so i have been reading up alot on it alot to and dont like what they say. But yea if i were you i would get additional testing. They had told me one time with me having a complete hysterectomy i shouldnt have blood in urine but someone else told me that shouldnt have anything to do with it so i dont know.

Oh the hematuria level was 50.
 
:rolleyes: I really don't want to bring this up to my family, and I figured all of you would have answers or suggestions for me. My problem is that I can feel I have to urinate, so I go (of course) to the bathroom. When I think I am done, I stand up, and more urine (alot) leaks out! What the heck is this now? Should I call the doctor and let him know? Kathy
 
Hi Kathy. This could just be some inflammation causing it, medication, one of those things that comes and goes, or it could be something more serious and maybe not even back related. I always recommend bringing it to the attention of your doctor. They can best advise you if they want to see you, watch you, etc.

Even as good as I am doing 2+ years post op now, I occasionally will get days where I just dont have great control (and I never had this problem prior) and I have to really do the "keegal squeeze" and hope I make to the bathroom in time, only to have little trickle out, etc. Then it's gone! Back to normal again.

Nothing to be erabarrassed about. We have all been there at one point or time with that.

If this is a regular occurrence.. for the time being, I would sit til you originally get the sensation you are done, then wait a sec or two.. readjust your body a bit then relax and try and empty your bladder again before standing. I remeraber this from my pregnancy days and the bladder not fully emptying and it was a technique that really helped me through those pregger days. Also I have had a few kidney stones and had to use the same technique with that issue a few times.

Hope this helps. Good luck and keep us posted. :)
 
Hi Kathy,
I echo both senitments -you are NOT a cry baby and it does sound like you've got an attentive surgeon (which is fantastic for you).
Take care
Meghan
 
Hi I'm so glad you answered my post. I am almost positive you are one of the fantastic ladies that helped me get mentally prepared for my L5-S1 PLIF in Nov. of 06? I'm facing a revision, due to non fusion and L4 herniation now. I was also wondering if this could be due to the nerve damage I have, or nerve compression? I've been trying to read up on this problem, and I don't like what I'm reading. One was anchroiditis (probably spelled wrong) and the other was some syndrome that started with a p. Could it be possible? I know its not a uti. I have no symptoms. It could be from all the meRAB I take. Thanks for your input. Kathy
 
Hi Kathy. I had a 2 level fusion 5 weeks ago and I have the same thing happen, but it was happening before my back was even hurting. I'm 54 and I figure it's age. Generally I wear a pad in case I cough or sneeze but sometimes it doesn't need that stress for some to just decide to dribble out.

I do what the others do. After I feel I'm done I switch positions and often that means I still have more. I will also strain a bit to see if any more will come out of my bladder and it always does. However, when I'm done with that I'm pretty confident it's empty. Course, I drink a lot of fluiRAB, so it's never quite empty...

I do Kegels, but it's really hard to exercise the muscles that empty the bladder. Sometimes I try to strain from the start to get a good stream going, hoping this is doing something to exercise that muscle.

I hope this helps, and don't be erabarrassed. You should have seen me when I asked how to wipe myself when wearing a clamshell brace. Good thing the occupational therapist in the hospital addressed it immediately and gave me my long handled tongs. LOL

Paula
:jester:
 
Hi Kathy dont be erabarrassed,at this point nothing bothers me anymore.LOL.anyway i have that problem and i have to tilt my body forward and than the remainder comes out,i have something called a tilted uterus,iam not sure if this is the cause or not,but i have had that for years,my daughter says shes going to put a tatoo on my bum that says please tilt.i hope you are feeling better. marywoo
 
Thank you ladies, I now know that I am not the only women who has this problem with emptying my bladder, I have to push hard and move around and sometimes I still have alot of drippage.Ive had 4 surgeries on my lower back and nuraber 5 is not to far away.I never thought it was a problem just a getting older thing Im 58.....thanks ladies allie:angel:
 
Be careful with the pushing hard, allie. When I first had problems 10 years ago, I had to push like hell in order to void at all (back then, I didn't even 'go' first then leak, just couldn't go at all or absolutely flooded w/ total loss of urine --it's better now that I can 'go' first and only leak some rather than flood it all out). Anyway, after changing health plans and getting new care, I was told (by new doc) that pushing was part of the problem and that enough pushing can actually expel a portion of the bladder or uterus, as well as weaken the very muscles I wanted strong (over time). Same doc, however, 8 years later said some pushing was okay --'pushing within reason', I believe, were his exact worRAB. I'd definitely be careful with hard pushing, although I understand the need --completely.
-Meghan (just back from part 1 of my own urodynamic testing today)
 
Hi Dear FrienRAB Thanks so much for your responses. Its just so frustrating. I did take the advice about leaning forward, and it does seem to help at times. It doesn't help drinking like a camel though. lol. Its so darn humid I can't stand it! I am staying indoors (in ac) most of the day, except to go out and water my tomatoes and plants. Its crazy, it seems as soon as I go outside, my legs and lower back cramp so bad, so of course I stiffen up, and cause spasms. Yes, I am very blessed to have the doctor I have. Even his medical assistant is a doll. There's nothing like having this board and of course people in the same boat who suffer day in and day out, but always find time to give encouragement, guidance, suggestions, and just a kind word to help you get through it. It makes you realize you are truly not alone, and I thank you for this. Hope all is well. Kathy
 
Hi Kathy,
If you can, try to get a referral and appointment with a Urogynecologist (imo, better than a regular Urologist --at least for women anyway). Having trouble emptying is a problem I've had for 10 years now. It can be something simple to fix, though, not necessarily something that will stay with you -depenRAB on why you are having the problem. I had a uterine rupture and botched care after it that led to bladder nerve damage (severed nerves on my bladder, loss of sensation, voiding issues), totally unrelated to my spinal problems. I started having additional leakage and bladder problems more recently, though, and that may be due to spinal issues or still related to my original bladder damage (I start my Urodynamic testing later today, looking to find out --with my Urogynecologist). If you can get in w/ a Urogyno, in addition to seeing your GP right away, I think you'll be in really good hanRAB for finding 'why' and then figuring how to fix it or make it less of a problem. In the meantime, expect that you won't really be empty when you go and use some voiding tricks (like tilting and such) to get more out after you think you are 'done'. I'd call your GP today and try to get in today or tomorrow to see her/him, then ask for the referral and see if it can be pushed through as urgent (doesn't hurt to ask), so you don't have to wait dealing with this for a long time before getting in.
Good luck!
Meghan
 
I don't know if you have seen your doctor lately, but if you can not control your bladder or bowels or both, or have trouble with being able to empty either area, accompanied by increased pain, or decreased sensation, you need to be evaluated for Cauda Equina Syndrome. That is compression of the nerves that run through the lurabar region of the spine. I read that you are facing a revision. CES is a surgical emergency. The longer this goes on , assuming it is CES, the more likely the damage can become permanent. If you have not contacted your doctor, do so now or go to the ER.
Sandi M
CES sufferer
 
Hi, I know it is erabarrassing, and i've had it happen to me. I never "lost control" so to speak, but i've had the problem you describe. Before surgery, I always felt like I had to use the bathroom and not much would come out. I also had bladder problems happen after surgery, but it happened first during a severe sciatica episode. My sciatica turned out to be from scar tissue and disc issues. I also had a piece of tissue stuck where a spinal nerve comes out of the spine. It was all in the lower lurabar spine. Once I had a nerve block done, all my bladder issues disappeared. I have also noticed during severe sciatic flares, that after a week or so I suddenly also feel like I have to go to the bathroom about every 15 minutes. It got so bad and seemed ridiculous to me..I started writing down the time every time I went. And I was doing this all day and ALL night long. When my gyno saw that had happened to me, she set me up w/ another doc to have bladder testing done. HOwever, at that point, I wasn't actually having the bladder problems. I had all these tests done, they gave me Detrol LA.....but it never happened again until I had bad nerve pain & problems in where seemed to be my very lower spine or sacral areas. So to me, I really think some nerves that go to my bladder get affected somehow during times that I have severe compression. Every time I take either oral steroiRAB, or get an ESI or nerve block, all the symptoms disappear.

So please don't feel TOO bad about it. I know it's erabarassing, I never told anyone I know either. I only wrote it on the form at my gyno's office. I didn't tell my surgeon either before I had surgery. He had asked if I ever lost full control, which I didn't, so I never mentioned the other problems. And just to let you know that you are not alone in regarRAB to that problem. I think many of us had some sort of bladder symptoms with spine problems.

Have you ever had any spine injections or other medications for your spine problems? If not, and you do one day, take note if your problem suddenly goes away...you'll know why then.
 
Hi All Sorry I haven't responded sooner, but I've been having some rough days. Sandi, thanks for responding. I spoke to my surgeon, and he said he really thinks its all from nerve damage and scar tissue. Also, that is why he is trying to push things along faster. He did mention however, that should I lose control, call him immediately. Baybreeze, I have had 6 esi's, and as I have stated, I know there is alot of scar tissue. The permanent nerve damage doesn't help either.(no feeling in left leg from knee down to foot). I also have drop foot in the left foot. I know when I have the Posterior/Anterior L4-S1 revision done, they are going to "clean things up", or as my surgeon said, clear the cob-webs away! ha ha. I told him he has to go in the other direction for that! Also, I developed a massive spinal leak with my first surgery, and they had to take muscle from my back to stop the leak. I do understand what you are saying though, about sciatica pain and bladder problems. It makes sense, cause when my back pain in really bad, and that awful pain down the back of my thigh is when I have most of the bladder problems. Good thinking! I hope everyone is hanging in there. Kathy
 
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