> Also, I have a problem urinating. I have to push really hard no matter how
> bad I have to go.
Bridget, the bladder problem has an easy solution - a catheter, either
intermittent or indwelling (also called a Foley catheter.)
I had a spinal infarction on 1997 that, amongst other blessings, left me with
the same the same bladder symptom - the detrusor muscles insisted on voiding
while the bladder sphincter refused to allow it. I was caught in the middle of
the conflict. The solution was to use a catheter, a soft tube with a closed
end and a hole in the side just before the end. Inserted into the urethra
through the sphincter to the bladder, it drained the bladder. After a few
months of using this “straight cath.” I switched to a Foley, a cath with a
ballon on the end that could be inflated with water once it was in the bladder;
the ballon kept the cath from being expelled. I used a Foley from 1998 until
fifteen weeks ago when I had a suprapubic cath installed.
Pros and cons:
Intermittent:
pro: you can do it forever
con: the bother (compared to the alternatives) of finding a urinal
Indwelling:
pro: you need empty accumulated urine only twice a day
con: you wear a bag on your leg (day) and connect to a large bag at night
con: the cath must be changed at least once a month
con: years of use can damage the urethra if you are not careful
Suprapubic:
pro: you need empty accumulated urine only twice a day
con: you wear a bag on your leg (day) and connect to a large bag at night
con: the cath must be changed at least once a month
con: you now have a tube coming out your belly
Alton
----- Original Message -----
From: Bridget Skinner <[email protected]>
To: Janice Nichols <[email protected]>
Cc: john snodgrass <[email protected]>, Elizabeth Clark <[email protected]>,
Janet Dunn <[email protected]>, [email protected]
Sent: Sat, 08 Sep 2012 22:49:36 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Looking for input.
I wanted to let you know as promised that i FINALLY got insurance in place and
I saw my neurologist. I have something called myoclonus and am being treated
for the jerking. The twitching in my fingers is because of my brain knowing how
to type fast and my spine is keeping it to do so. I understand what he told me
but it is difficult to explain. But, the jerking and the twitching are
different. The inflammation from the TM did a number on my spine but at least
the jerking isn't as scary knowing it can, and is, being treated. I feel
relieved and hope the medication works. I have a referral to see someone about
my bladder retention issues also.Thank you for your support.
