How do you know if you're retaining??

[Shelka]

HI All,

I've read a lot about 'retention' on the boards and I'm beginning to wonder if this might be the problem I'm having. I've had IC for about 10+ years, but I've had a bad flare since the beginning of Feb. which has brought along with it a new symptom for me...

I feel that my bladder is constantly (I mean, 24/7) full. Although I can actually hold it for about 2 hours (on a good day), this isn't much of a relief because I still FEEL AS THOUGH my bladder is full (i.e., I can go to the washroom & will feel full again a second later). I'm wondering now if this might be retention that causes this feeling?

I know when I used to go for regular DMSO treatments my nurse would take a bit of urine out of the catheter to test for infection & there was always just a drop. Also, from what I can tell from looking at my copy of my urodynamics test it doesn't seem to indicate any retention (it reads: "Post void residual = o") -- though, I should mention that this was done about 6 months ago, during a very good period when I didn't have this symptom of constant fullness!

I'm keeping a voiding diary now & the last time I voided I measured 200cc...I don't know what or if that indicates anything but I thought I'd share that info. while on this lovely topic! Hehe. :)

So, if anyone has any info. I'd greatly appreciate it!
Many thanks,
Shelley

[Traysmum]

Hi Shelly

I used to have this problem too. Even though I can't give you any adivice I will tell you what my uro said. He said to tell if you are retaining or just having a bad flare is this. When you use the bathroom if the fullness feeling doesn't go away after 10 mins then you are retaining. If the feeling goes away then it is a bad flare and the bladder is irritated.

I find drinking more water helps me with retention. Sorry I can't be of any more help

[Sarojini]

Hi Shelley!
I retain periodically, and it is no fun.

I know I'm retaining, because I have a lot of pelvic fullness/pain, and I keep going to the bathroom because I feel like I've got to pee. But when I get in there, I sit and sit for a while and nothing comes out. Then maybe a trickle will come out, or maybe not. But I still feel the whole time like I have to go.

Once when I was feeling like this before a DMSO, I gave a urine sample the traditional way (by peeing in a cup) but could only get a tiny bit out. Then the nurse put the cath in and was able to drain out 200cc's of retained urine.

I don't always retain much, sometimes only 20-30 cc's, if any at all. But every now and then, when I'm flaring, my bladder gets "stuck." It is no fun.

I am just hoping I will not have to learn to self-cath because that sounds horrible!!!

Jen :)

[ICchell]

Jen,
You sound just like me.I am always retaining and when I try to void it out only a little trickle comes out.
I just found a new Uro and he did an ultasound over my stomach (after peeing) and said that I was still retaining 4 oz. of urine.He mentioned surgery and possibly self cathing.
Michelle

[Sarojini]

Hi Michelle

Yeah, that sounds exactly like me!

I talked to my uro today about the retention, as I went in for a DMSO. I couldn't give a urine sample, and the nurse cathed me and got about 100 cc's out (that's about 4 oz). So, afterwards I asked to talk to the uro himself ... we discussed my meds and the retaining. He told me to cut my Ditropans in half, or stop taking them completely... I am supposed to experiment and see what helps. He didn't mention any surgery, but he did say if it doesn't clear up in a few weeks we would discuss it again (which will probably be the self-cathing talk).

It's annoying... with me it is "all or nothing" lately... Either I am peeing every 15 minutes, or I can't pee at all. :mad:

Jen

[tigger2]

That all sounds familar. I know when I am retaining urine because i have to pee every ten minutes and i only drip urine out. The pain, blaoting, swelling and urgency feeling does not go away. Also my uro has been cathing me every week, for the DMSO and my bladder is retaining 350 ccs of urine so now we are self cathing and it trully sucks. That was my nightmare, well i am sure there is worse but I can not handle doing it.

[rachelm]

Unfortunately I too have started retaining again. On my urodynamics test I retained 500 cc. After a full month of self-cathing every hour I got a trial interstim. Immediately I was able to pee on my own and had no problems until this week. My dr. took out my temp. wires last Thurs. Today was my first day to be retaining so much that I hurt and had to self-cath. Ugh!! I think since I've had the stim out and am having to take morphine again for pain it is making the retention worse. My dr. said he doesn't think that its the morphine but rather the spasms that have returned that are causing both the pain and retention. If I don't get better within the next few weeks and if I continue to regress we will consider doing the permanent interstim since it worked so well for me during the trial. We had hoped that a temp. interstim would get me through the flare so I wouldn't need any further stimulators. For now I'll self-cath as I need to and get bladder washes to help the burning from spasms. I hate waking up with the urge to go but nothing will come out or if any does its just a few drops. At least this year I know how to use a self-cath. Last year I would end up in the dr. office every other day. :rolleyes:

Rachel

[ICNDonna]

Sometimes it can feel like I'm retaining, but I know I'm not. When I go for my monthly DMSO, they drain my bladder through the catheter within a few minutes of urination --- and I have a very tiny amount of urine retained.

I think when I feel like I'm retaining, it's actually from irritation.

Donna

[sparklebabyprincess]

How is everyone measuring there urine, like how do you know how many cc there are?



I used to feel like peeing constant but every now and then it leaves for like 20 minutes then comes back but those 20 minutes are bliss this is my 6 month on elmiron, so maybe the pills are kinda starting to work

[Katrina]

I am with Donna....I can feel like I am all the time......but only actually do sometimes.....weird.

[Katrina]

Shelka....I always feel like I have to go...even after being cathed....it can be just iritation of the bladder. Hope you got the answers you need.

[ICNDonna]

I use an old measuring cup, which I keep for just that purpose. Normal bladder capacity is about 2 cups --- mine is less than that.

Donna