Question for Tara

[Nature Lover]

Congratulations on youthe progress of your recovery! I have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind. About a month ago, you mentioned that you were experiencing phantom urgency. Has that gone away? If so, how long did it last? Was it unbearable or just uncomfortable?

Thanks for your detailed information during your recovery. I have been following your progress since I am exploring bladder removal. I'm sure there are many others following along too. It definitely sounds like you are happy that you went ahead with the procedure.

I hope all continues to go well.

[Kara]

Dawn,

I don't even know I have a bladder anymore. I feel nothing down there where the old bladder used to be. There have been no phantom attacks of any kind over the past 3 weeks. That was the one and only phantom attack so far. There could be more, but it's all part of the recovery and not to be scared about as my doctor says. I feel like a child in at an amusement park, that just won the BIGGEST stuffed toy that exists and one hand holding some nice pink cotton candy! Now, I tread very slowly as we speak because as you all know, anything can happen and anything is possible, so I am being very cautious about telling everyone that I am IC free becuase there's a part of me that fears it will come back and there's a part of me that thinks it still exists, and yes I am seeing a therapist for these feelings and my Husband sees her too.
But as far as the past 3 weeks, I have no urgency, no frequency, no pain, and no retention pain.........sometimes I forget to chatheterize myself because I have no feeling down there. My Husband keeps reminding me to do it. As far as cathing myself, I feel nothing. He promised me that he would cut the nerves to my urethra so I would never feel any pain down there again, and he was right. I don't feel the catheter going in and I don't feel it inside of my new bladder. In fact, I know I am in the right spot when I can't feel it going in.

Feel free to email me at: klreese@attbi.com with anymore concerns or questions I am available though email and phone.


Kara