Well, first of all I am really amazed by your progress Jan, and so very happy for you. I've got some pretty funny stories about learning to cath that were NOT funny at the time. At the time, I thought boy you've really sunk to the lowest point now! Then it didn't take too long to realize that all of that stuff was old hat to these gals. They dealt with it every day. I actually told the learning to cath story to my mom and sisters - oh my gosh, we all laughed so hard we had to mop the tears off our faces.
Janice, you definitely have improved if you're down to cathing twice a day. That is really great to hear. Cathing had just become a "new" normal part of my life. And then in the last year something just changed - and this is after 7 years of not feeling anything. There is always room for hope. That goes for all of us, whatever our challenges are. Be sure to ask your urologist a lot of questions and let him know exactly what your bladder had been and how it is now. These urologists have a lot of info up their sleeves. I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say. Oh by the way, I can remember at night "dreaming" that I was wetting the bed. The next thing I knew I was sitting up in bed, startled - not realizing why until the very last second - if you get my drift. But that doesn't happen anymore, and that's what I'm hoping for you. That it just gets better over time. It's really quite amazing to think back to the beginning and see how far we've come. I know some days don't feel that way - I've had many and I'm sure most of us have. I know one thing for sure, I wouldn't want to go through the horrible shock of what happened in the beginning. For sure it's a day that none of us will ever forget..... Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: Janice Nichols<mailto:[email protected]> To: Jan Hargrove<mailto:[email protected]> ; L T CHERPESKI<mailto:[email protected]> ; Gary Thomas<mailto:[email protected]> ; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ; randy rankin<mailto:[email protected]> ; Barbara H.<mailto:[email protected]> Cc: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 8:24 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] sympom check question I need to join in on this conversation. Linda, I am where you are at with cathing twice a day, morning and night, and pretty well empting out during the day. You really give me hope that I will do even better. I started out cathing 4 times a day and then setting the alarm at nite to get up every few hours to go again. So I have graduated somewhat. I don't set the alarm anymore, but sometimes my bladder doesn't seem to need me to be awake to do it's thing. Always wear protection! I go in a couple of weeks for my 3-year urology checkup. I could tell you a few good stories to on learning to cath! Janice From: Jan Hargrove<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 10:58 AM To: L T CHERPESKI<mailto:[email protected]> ; Gary Thomas<mailto:[email protected]> ; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ; randy rankin<mailto:[email protected]> ; Barbara H.<mailto:[email protected]> ; Janice Nichols<mailto:[email protected]> Cc: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [TMIC] sympom check question Linda, Isn't it amazing that a matter as simple as emptying your bladder can go haywire......we are so unaware of the functions of our bodies that we do automatically, until we can't do them! What a learning curve tm has given us! Glad for you that you have some returning feeling/ability to go on your own. I remember how frustrated I was during the time I had to self cath, no feeling and no way to tell where the catheter should go.......... Looking back, I have so many stories to tell that today are really! funny .........but, definitely weren't then!!! I guess I should tell that I was a complete to the t8, paralyzed from breast level down.......with pt and no knowledge that I might not get back my ability to walk, etc, I was walking within 4 months with a walker. Today with residuals that others can't see, (except in this bitter cold,) I'm one of the walking wounded. Hugs, janh Stillwater, OK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A lot of us have bladder issues with TM. When TM hit me, it took me a full day and a half to realize that I hadn't gone. I just didn't have any feeling. So I put myself on a "potty" schedule. My doc sent me to a Urologist in Seattle who was very familiar with TM. I had the neurogenic bladder test (not that pleasant), but really glad I had it. I was told that my bladder was not emptying completely - in fact, hardly at all, but since I couldn't feel it, how would I know. So I was taught to self-cath. I have done this for almost 8 years now. However, by some miracle, in the last year I have gotten some feeling back and find I only have to cath maybe twice a day. The rest of the time I can just go on my own. I know it is said for the most part after 2 years whatever we're left with is what it is. But I really have not found that to be completely true. Many areas of my body have improved, a wonderful surprise, and then some things have pretty much been the same. It sounds like you may not have all your feeling back yet. And read any of the posts on the Message Forum - the bladder is usually the slowest to come back. But never give up. It sounds like your bladder may be doing a variety of things?? Did you have any tests when you saw the urologist? Are you on bladder meds? Ok - got some questions for you to answer This is great - it's how we can help each other. Linda
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