Bladder clinic... Getting my head around the mention of a catheter
Today I had my first appointment with a bowel and bladder nurse as my bladder has been really dysfunctional for well over a year now. Increased urgency, getting up multiple times a night, inability to pee especially if I've been holding it in too long, not emptying properly and also leaking after I've been... So all over the place really.
The best possible scenerio is possibility the pregabalin is causing it or exacerbating the problem as bladder dysfunction is one of the side effects. The pregabalin does nothing positive for me anyway and I've wanted to reduce my dose for a while. None of my healthcare team supported it, but the bladder nurse has advised reducing it.
The part that was a lot to take in was the mention of a catheter... The nurse was concerned about how much was in my bladder and the fact that I couldn't pass it and how often this has been happening. It's just another thing I didn't expect to be talking about so soon on my MS journey. My bladder has been a nightmare, so if that's what the solution is then it's not a bad thing. It's just one of those things that seems/sounds serious and urinary related stuff is one of those things that people aren't comfortable talking about. Today my friend asked what clinic I'd been to, I said something stupid like one that does appointments because I panicked, and she asked again and I just said a bladder clinic. I'm not that uncomfortable, but I worry it makes other people uncomfortable. I doubt she was expecting that answer 😅
Hey Jacob, no one does and will understand the struggle. I also have bladder issues and I m on betmiga 25mg. I m wondering if the symptoms can even get better and better over time. They already have got better since I started using betmiga in February '23. I m on copaxone and my clinical situation is very good despite the dozens of brain, cervix and thorax lesions. I also have a precancerous genital situation and I m afraid to switch to other meds such as tysabri, which would be the most appropriate for me for the fear of developing cancer for good. I cannot discuss freely the issues due to misunderstanding at the best and stigmatisation at the worst. The thing is that I m trying all by myself to make the necessary arrangements so as to obtain a disability certificate because there is also a possibility of losing my job. Wishing you all the luck!
Been there twice and waiting to start a med to reduce urgency and nocturia (nighttime peeing but I’m 52).There’s meds and Botox you can try before catheters or nappies