I am curious about how many have problems with urine retention....

[fireflicker285]

I have gotten to the point in my IC where my urine rarely comes out properly . There is always some left in there. The discomfort is incredible. I am at the point of asking my urologist to learn how to self cath. Atleast that way I can drain myself and get relief from that!Is this what you have to do normally.......resort to self cathing??? What all have you done if you have this problem. :idea:

[Sarojini]

I take the drug Flomax to relax my bladder neck, and I keep catheters on hand in case I really start to retain. The Flomax, at least for me, has helped the retention issue so I don't have to self-cath nearly as often! Also, if you're taking drugs like Ditropan/Detrol/etc, you may want to discuss this problem with your doctor -- these drugs increase urine retention and you may benefit from lowering your dose or taking a break from them altogether. This is an issue you should definitely discuss with your urologist! Good luck :grouphug:

[tigger_gal]

I retain quit a bit at times.. ggggrrrrr also the rx's Sarojini said will enhance it... best wishes and call your uro
Brat

[Babs RN]

I retain constantly and found out I have a now Grade III cystocele and we are convinced that is part of the problem. Hoping to get it fixed soon. Hubby due to ship out to Iraq soon.

Hugs,
Barb

[Melanie]

I experience retention occasionally with flares.

I highly recommend learning to self-cath. I prefer inserting the cath myself, rather than a nurse or Dr. It's much less painful when I do it myself. Anyway, I rarely self cath cuz of retention. But it's still a very good skill to have in the IC toolkit.

Talk to your Dr about med options. I've actually found that physical therapy and Pilates helps my retention.

[fireflicker285]

[B]Thanks so much guys for your replies. I will ask my uro about learning to self cath. I kind of knew that may be the next step. Well worth it if it helps empty my bladder on "bad days".
I looked up the drug "flomax" and it says it is for use only by men......
I am already so pickled up with the many drugs I already take I don't know about another.......(lol.)

[ICNDonna]

Flomax is primarily for men, but many ICers take it to help relax the muscles to make it easier to urinate. There are other meds that will do the same thing --- hytrin and cardura are two that come to my mind.

I think it's wise to learn to catheterize yourself, but there is always a possibility of a UTI from cathing --- so you might want to think about trying an oral medication before you go to regularly cathing.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[nippersmomma]

HI, definitely as your doctor about self-cathing. Years ago a wonderful doctor had a home health nurse come out to my house to teach me to cath. I have retention, used to have to go to the hospital all the time. Now I can self-cath if I need, then I take a low dose cipro. soemtimes I have to self-cath one or two times a day for several days. this definately will empower you to reduce your own pain. I carry catheters and a small K-Y jelly with me all the time. The worst part of this disease is the helpless feeling. Learning to self-cath and getting your doctor to prescribe meds prn, so you can use them when you need them, helps immensely. Best Wishes!

[Imustpee]

I pee slowly..then it stops...and I have to concentrate, then I pee slowly, then it stops..repeat x 10, 20 - 25 times a day

[Imustpee]

My dr's nurse talked me out of self cathing..she said for women it was nearly impossible to do correctly..was she pulling my chain??

[nippersmomma]

Unfortunatly that is typical. No many people self-cath, a lot of them have some level of paralysis. I have done it sitting on the toilet, I have done it laying on the bathroom floor, I have done it in a public restroom. I certainly recommend doing it laying down at first but after you really get to know your body it really helps. Inside the urethra there is a sphincter, this is the one that spasms shut and makes us retain urine, this is also what hurts when we are catherized by others. As you get used to it you can help by attempting to pee while you are catherizing and this opens the sphincter. Sorry to be so graphic. But I have found that most doctors and nurses have no idea how awful our quality of life can be. I had IC for 12 years before I was diagnosed. several years later they taught me to self-cath. That doctor is long gone but I no longer have to contemplate suicide because I can't pee for days at a time!

[dancemomof2]

Retension is my life, I never have a day or hour without it, I tried FLomax, no help. I am scared to deathto self cath myself, in fear of sterization issue. I have come to terms to suffer with it and deal with it. I am also sick of all this meds however, I have to deal with my IC and retension in my own way. I sure hope you are able to find some help, I truely understand your problem. On a good my I am in the bathroom 40-50 times.

[nippersmomma]

Leslie, please don't settle for that! I was like that. There is a sterile technique to self-cath. The other thing is that it's just you, you are not in a doctor's office where hundreds of others come and leave their germs. Many people do this regularly without getting infections or problems, just relief. You can use disposable catheters or you can boil your catheters for 20 minutes after use.Please get more information. Have you tried Hytrin, that helped me better than Flomax. At one time I was on Hytrin and Flomax together. Also Have you been checked for uretheral strictures? This disease is all about fear. I wish you the absolutel best.Jody

[Sarojini]

Leslie,

I learned to cath myself about 6 months ago, and have done it numerous times, even once in the back seat of a car into a Travel John when I was desperate. I have NOT ONCE given myself an infection by cathing myself. It really is not that hard to keep things sterile -- you just take your time, relax, and make sure not to brush the cath against anything "germy" including your own skin, and you are usually fine. Nippersmomma (Jody) is correct in that you can use disposable catheters or you can sterilize them yourself after use by boiling. Do get more info on self-cathing... it really helps me feel better when I have that incomplete emptying problem (I take Flomax, but sometimes it still happens).

And Imustpee: That nurse must have been pulling your chain because self-cathing in the female is REALLY easy, and it's nearly impossible to hurt yourself. Your urethra is short and straight (unlike the male's) and it's easy to get into your bladder -- in fact, cathing yourself is often less painful than having someone else do it because you know your own body and you can go as fast or as slow as you need!

[fireflicker285]

I know that should I go ahead and do it (asking the doc about it tomorrow) that I would likely use only disposable caths and be very careful to hopefully not introduce germs into the urethra. I know I am in sooooo much discomfort many days from retention and I am not scared to learn how to relieve it if it means a greater comfort level for me and maybe the ability to go for more short walks??? I am learning that managing this disease well is all about the quality of life. I measure the sucess of each day not by how much pain I am in necessarily but what I have done about it, and how good of a day I have had in spite of it. Good luck in peeing eveyone!

[Myli]

I take Flomax and the only problem is that I have to be really careful how much I drink before bedtime. I have several times not awakened quickly enough and was quite wet by the time I hit the bathroom. /blush However, being really careful not to drink close to bedtime seems to have improved things.

/hugs
Myli