Bladder Control

[Brielle]

I am a 24 year old female who recently had a baby via c-section on January 2nd, 2008. During the labor process I was having a hard time urinating, but thought nothing of it. When they removed my catheter the next day, I was unable to void. They put the catheter back in...and still was not able to completely empty the day before I was discharged (during my 5 day stay I was probably catheterized 4 times).

I was sent home with a foley catheter and returned 3 days later for a voiding trial...I was still unable to void on my own. I then went to a urologist who said that the baby probably bruised my bladder and it just needed time to heal...so I was sent home for another week with a foley catheter. I had another void trial (one week later) and voided 100cc with a residual of 300cc. I was taught to self-catheterize and was told to do so and keep a record of the residual. I saw no improvement in two weeks and was then scheduled for uro-dynamics. The tests showed that my bladder was functioning normally and the pelvic muscle was normal.

The urologist told me that he thinks it is the neck of the bladder that is not contracting with the bladder causing the urine flow to cut off. He said that "they" don't know why this happens. I was instructed to continue self-catheterizing for 2 months and to call if there is no improvement. If there is no improvement we can consider a drug that is generally used for men (I think flomax).

My questions are:
Is there anything that could have happened during my labor and delivery (malpractice by a nurse or doctor) that could have caused this?

Does my doctor's diagnosis sound right...or should I seek a second opinion?

Is there anything I should be concerned about with self-catheterizing long term (if I have to)?

[windyshore+]

I have been self cathetering for over ten years without problems. Because of ulcers and perferations,I cannot empty my bladder and sometimes it is very painful. Keeps me up all night.

[dustysmom]

I have a few questions for you --how have you been able to handle doing the self catherziation for 10 years. I'm going to be getting some bladder surgery done and I've been told that i may end up having retension of my urine and that i may have to self catherzation my self for the rest of my life or maybe for just a few months ---I donot mind a few months but i donot think i could handle it for the rest of my life --I'm 42 years old and very active with my children activities, and then my husband and i have a excellant sex life. And I'm always on the go. And i donot think i could handle the self catherzation and i donot want to have to be attached to one on a permant bases. Plus with my work i can be called any time of the day or night to go to work --I work in the emergency services field and i could be gone for days and days, and be in the field for hours and hours and sometimes with being in the field there are no bathrooms.

[Brielle]

dustysmom--I know you question was intended for the women who has been self-cathing for 10 years, but I wanted to respond to you. I have been self-cathing for almost 4 months and don't know how long (maybe forever) I will have to continue to do so and like I said in my original post I am only 24 years old. I have to say that self-cathing is not that bad...you learn to get into a routine just like brushing your teeth or having to use tampon/femine pad when you are on your menstrual cycle. You just have to learn to accept it and think about how many other worse situations you could be in (wheel chair/disabled). Hopefully your surgery will not result in you have retention, but if it does and you need support feel free to contact me via this post! Good Luck!

[dustysmom]

Hi thanks so much for you post.
I will let you know how it goes when i have the surgery done. I'm waiting until the end of the school year only 8 more weeks.

I also hope that things work out for you as well.