urethral distention

[allyson]

I went for my third heparin install. yesterday and while I was there the nurse mentioned that I may need to have a urethral distention done after I am finished with my installs. Reason being that as soon as they insert the cath. there is always a lot urine present, and I have just gone to the bathroom. Has anyone ever had this done? If so what's it like?
Thanks
Allyson [img]smile.gif[/img]

[lisa35]

Hi Allyson,

Did they tell you that they wanted to do a urethral dilation or distention? I had a series of urethral dilations before I was diagnosed with IC. I was previously diagnosed with urethral syndrome(which was incorrect). The result of the many urethral dilations was scare tissue from the actual procedure. Now my urethra is even smaller from the scare tissue than it was before. If the dilation is done while you are under anethesia you won't have a problem. All mine were done in the Dr.'s office. They are quite painful and I consider it to be quite a barbaric procedure. They insert what equates to basically a steel rod into the urethra. They vary in size and they start with a smaller size and work up to the biggest size that you can handle. I personally would not have ever let them do the dilations if I knew back then what I know now. I have IC. My bladder does not comletely drain. I still retain urine after urinating or even being cathed. I self cath now and actually can empty my bladder much better than if someone else is doing the cathing. I think it is because I am much more relaxed cathing in my own bathroom in my own home. I believe that my muscles do not tighten up like they do in a medical setting.

I wish you the very best. Please let me know if this information helps or if you need anything else.

We are here to help one another.

Lisa

[Teri]

I have had many dilations while in the hospital and they always helped me. I also hold alot of urine in my bladder so it was a very useful tool for me. I would have them done about every 6-9 months. Since the IC has progressed and since the last one caused more problems than it was worth, I've stopped having them done. BUT, they did get me comfortable thru 10 years of IC.

hope this helps some~

[lisa35]

Gosh Teri, I can hardly believe how much this illness varies from person to person. Your dilations helped you and mine did not. Just one more confirmation that IC is all about trial and error.

I've truly enjoyed every one of your posts. You are always an inspiration.

Wishing you good days,

Lisa [img]smile.gif[/img]

[kimberlyJB]

Allyson.
So the scar tissue was from the distension? or the dilation?
I just recently started having major problems with retention.
I guess I had a distension in January but I started having some retention problems before which I attributed to medications.

I don't know. This last two weeks I had a remission starting the day I started my period. Then a couple days after I ended the symptoms begin again.

It's gotta be related to hormones. It's gotta be right?

[SisPain]

Girls,
I have also had too many dilations....gee...I was having about 2-3 a year. At one time I waited about a year...and when I went, I was in major problems. The nurse couldnt get the smallest dilator in! Then they tried a cath...nope...the smallest was too tight. So, I was in the hospital soon having it done surgically. I wore a cath for a week! He said my urethra was so tight.....and all the scraping, made it swell. When I had a cystocel several years ago, (or bladder tack) I wore a superpubic cathether for 3 1/2 months!!! Talk about fun! [img]mad.gif[/img] I have been having problems since! I had the bladder tack cause my bladder was falling out...wonderful, huh? [img]rolleyes.gif[/img] I had hysterctomy and rectocele at the same time! That doctor (a gyno) is no longer practising here....so I went to an URO. He was good...then he moved to another state. Now I'm with another new one and going to start seeing a new one my next time around. I want to feel comfortable and satisfied. I have had to self-cath too...and it isnt the best thing...but it's better than feeling like you're going to "pop"! haha! Several of my dilations were done in the hospital. Do you know if that problem is due to IC? I have learned to deal with about anything in that area down there! I think I have become immune. I sometimes wonder what a "normal bladder" is! [img]rolleyes.gif[/img] When I have bad days, I grin and go on....knowing that a better day is around the corner. I think I have seen my worse days, so I know I can handle today! [img]smile.gif[/img] Alot of times, I talk to myself and tell myself..."keep going"!! See, no one else knows how I feel or why I feel this way....ENCOURAGE YOURSELF!
KEEP YOUR HEADS UP GIRLS!!! We can do it!! Women are strong!! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[Teri]

When I replied to you allyson, I don't think I had all my marbles together (and I still don't but I'll give it another try anyways) After dropping the dr who did all of my dilations, I found a WONDERFUL female uro. We were doing the dmso treatments and the same thing happened to me....I had just peed and when she went to do the instillation, there was 250cc's of urine left, even tho my bladder felt completely empty....well, that very day she sent 2 nurses to my house to teach me to self-cath (something I SWORE that I would NEVER do) That was 6 years ago and it's been my BEST IC tool and I've only had 3 dilations done since. So, for me, knowing how to self cath and knowing when I am holding too much urine has saved me a whole lot of hospital procedures [img]wink.gif[/img] I loved that uro but had to leave her after 2 years because she was afraid to treat my pain with heavy duty narcotics but we are still friends so alot of good came from that relationship.

wishing you the very best~

[SisPain]

Teri, I also have had to self catheter....and I hated it...but agree...I think it did help some. It's not as bad as I thought it would be too! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Keep your chin up
[img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Bert

[lisa35]

I self cath as well and I think it is an important tool in this battle. I much rather do it myself than have someone else do it. It was easy to learn and is less painful when I am doing it in the comfort of my own bathroom - my muscles are less tense.

Again....everyone is different but I would take self cathing over urethral dilations any day of the week.

Wishing you good days,


Lisa [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Teri]

[img]biggrin.gif[/img] My daughter is in nursing school, gona have an RN in the family next February [img]biggrin.gif[/img] I told her that she could practice on me and she said no thanks.....she figures in my old age she will be stuck taking care of me and chooses to wait until then to see those body parts [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[lisa35]

Teri,

That cracks me up! [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

I know my daughter wouldn't want to look at ANY of my parts.

Thanks for a needed laugh!


Lisa

[bellbottom_blues]

I had my urethra stretched last year. It helped some but I still have trouble urinating at times. Is IC supposed to be progressive? I'm just curious. I have had to be catheterized several times. Lucky, I have not had to be catheterized since last May. I have tried to do it myself but I can't get it. My symptoms come and go.