ISC .... Feeling a bit shocked
Hey - wondered what people’s experiences were of using intermittent catheters?
I would have described myself as maybe having a background bladder issue which was easily ignored until about a week ago where I oddly lost all ability to pee. An emergency department visit, some tubes, and multiple bladder scans later - I was sent home and advised to contact the ms nurses. After more bladder scans I was that I had significant retention and needed to start using an ISC sooner rather than later.
I’m quite shocked ... I’m only 30 and only really have what I deem as mild ms symptoms... I can’t see how I’m going to manage this with a full time job? My work toilets are hardly disability friendly... And how do you explain this to partners who are oblivious to these sorts of issues?
Think I need to be told it is going to be ok?
Hi @littlebopeep It’s going to be OK 🙂 I couldn’t pee which was part of raft of symptoms I had to cope with when first diagnosed. I was sent to the continence service with a very large retention. The nurse helped me catherterise for the first time and I thought this is going to be awful. However I soon got used to it and especially with the discoverers it’s easier standing up. You just get used to it really quickly. Get the catheters with water included for toilets that aren’t friendly. But really as a reasonable adjustment you need a cabinet in a clean loo preferably “disabled” so you can store your supplies. I’ve always insisted. I am fairly unembarrassed by it. Sometimes I feel a way about it
Ok, this sounds sort of like you have lived to tell the tale. Good news - do you get lots of infections - I’m freaking out about this bit a little! In disclosure - I wish I could be as confident / open. I might have to take it as part of a cycle of personal growth to discuss it with my boss... I work in a hospital and clean loos are just not a thing - they’re all full of nasties, but I suppose there is no harm in asking occupational health...