Medications and Treatments Latest Topics

Home health care

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:20:27 +0000

As some may know, I had a recent knee replacement surgery. Yesterday I saw a home health aid, and went through a bunch of intake questions. Among them was how I was dealing with being in bed so much, while also managing being diapered. At first I wasn't able to follow her concern, and said I was just fine. It turns out the aid thought I would be having all kinds of rash and leak problems, and didn't believe I really was fine.

After some failed explaining I ended up having to show her I really don't have rash problems, which included showing her the diapers I use. (Betterdry/Crinklz). Which then led to my having to fully explain the benefits of using capable diapers. Needless to say she was impressed and ended up taking a few notes and pointers from me.

Apparently, a LOT of her incontinent patients deal with all of the classic and cliché problems we all dread of having to experience. So hopefully now a bunch more people in my area will start getting better care.

Has anyone else had similar experiences? What happened, and what came of it?

Just had Urethral Sphinter and Bladder neck Botox and other treatment options I am going to discuss with Urologist

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 21:05:27 +0000

Hi all

Just had Bladder neck and Urethral Spincter Botox on Monday stayed overnight in hospital with an indwelling cath and leg bag but when being discharged I was having straining issues, as well as burning and was told by the recovery ward to go to treating GP the urology dept reception told me the same thing as I left with no IDC or AntiBiotics.

Wednesday went to treating GP which told me to go to local ED (So I went to local hospital not the one that did OP) well they inserted IDC as well as a flip flow and gave me an antibiotic and referral letter to go straight to treating urology Dept the next day.

Thursday Went to the Urology Dept well the receptionist was just going to let the nurse talk to me and make a follow up appointment with no action that day. Thankfully the nurse rang my treating urologist and wanted the flip flow replaced with a leg bag and will be called this coming Tuesday or Wednesday to see how things are going but I don't see the Urologist til the 22 May.

Apparently I might get the IDC taken out on the 8th but I am going to request to keep it in until I see the urologist as I am going to discuss other treatment options as Botox if works only works for about 6ish months and then will have to take it easy no exercise or stuff for 6 weeks after everytime botox is done.

Well I feel I am completely tolerating the complete urinary incontinence quite well (caused by IDC) except its bulky, doesn't fit under clothes well as well as I am slowly becoming more and more wheelchair dependent and have multiple falls which I am concerned will dislodge the IDC in future if I chose the as the perminate option as well as no sexual activity, exercise etc

Today has been emotional hell as been over analyzing my future with my bladder to the point I ended up contacting both my Psychologist and Psychiatrist to make sure I am not made about wanting to be made completely Urinary incontinent without any external devices. As had Bladder neck and Urethral Sphincter Botox done

Blader treatment options pros and cons

1. Botox to Urethral sphincter and bladder neck might not work.
- Every 6ish months
- Reduced workload 6 weeks afterward every time post-OP
- Reduces efficiency over time.

2. Indwelling Catheter (cant Intemedite self cath due to essential tremors etc)
- Falls risk I should be using a wheelchair a lot more often due to my spine and feet but it is not OH&S-friendly for support workers who require mobility scooters.
- Will take time to adjust to wheelchair/ mobility scooter as will be more reliant over time due to spine and feet according to Neurosurgeon, Podiatrist, EP, Physio
- Multiple falls to the bathroom.
- Bulky does not fit under clothes well
- Fear of dislodgement if fall
- Has to be changed approximately every 3 months government is already paying for briefs and it is unlikely for nursing to change IDC.
- Possible won't be able to masturbate/sexual encounters or exercise much except swimming with a flip flow.
*POSITIVE- Am completely urinary incontinent for short periods no Frequency, controlled leakage, no retention NO NUMERMOUS FALLS TO BATHROOM AT NIGHT.

3. If able to make the Bladder itself incontinent (My wish)
- Once off
- Already have briefs that are more discrete than IDC.
- Already previously advised by OTs, StateHealth clinical staff to use Briefs in bed due to fall risk. (Bladder is uncooperative regarding this as well as urinal bottle etc.
- Possibly fewer infections than IDC and cath,
- Briefs help with bowel marks (which I think is blood about to have a gastroscopy and colonoscopy done (the Gastrologist thinks I have IBS Constipation after initial appointment) as well as excessive sweating.

Are there any pros or cons I am missing

Thanks

Botox for under active bladder

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 07:43:20 +0000

Been diagnosed with under active bladder and urologist next month is giving me Botox at the prostate and urethral sphincter.

Has anyone had this done

as it is I tend to store 800 -1200mls before I feel it if I don’t have overactive symptoms that day.

my private continence nurse and public health urologist has divided me on different treatment plans as urologist refuses to communicate with continence nurse

Interstim

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:40:35 +0000

Here's a surgical procedure I underwent to try and eliminate my urge incontinence and neurogenic dyssynergia blockage.

First I had a short surgery to implant some wire leads on my sacral nerve. It was a tiny cut on my lower back, and it had to be done while I was awake. This is because you need to able to tell them when they activate test the leads, and if you can feel it or not. Once that was over I opted to be knocked out so they could finish up the surgery.

After that when you're in recovery they connect the leads to a test device. About the size of a deck of cards with a 9 volt battery. You turn it on and start fiddling with the settings and intensity. Over the next 2 weeks they have you dial in those settings for what works best to help control any urges or misfiring from the sacral nerve. The idea is it will act as a sort of pacemaker for your bladder signals.

If all goes well, they have you return for a finish up surgery to have a custom programmed interstim device implanted (again from your back, and a out the same small size as a pacemaker). It's battery is supposed to last 10+ years, and is supposed to eliminate any bladder problems, thereby allowing you to live diaper free.

I have only see one partially successful implant on someone, and for them it only helped reduce their urges not eliminate them. They still had to wear a diaper, but considered it a success as it did reduce their intensity and pain.

For me, even that didn't happen. The 2 week test turned into 3 weeks of to what I akin to Chinese water torture. The electrical impulses started out very well tolerable, but even with the Interstim rep changing the settings and dialing it down, that thing got worse and worse over the days. It went from tolerable to slightly annoying, to uncomfortable, to slightly painful, to I couldn't tolerate the constant electrical shock.

I then had to insist they remove the implant, which of course took another surgery. And I'm sorry to say, but after that my neurological blockage got much, much worse. I started have to use indwelling catheters, long term, because of that device. And eventually had to have both my internal and external urinary sphincters removed. But that story I've already posted in another thread.

What meds actually work?

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:19:01 +0000

I'm wondering, what type of incontinence do you have, how severe would you rate it? And, have you ever taken a medication that significantly helped reduce it? Maybe enough you were able to stop needing diapers (even for a time)? And of course, what were your side effects, if any?

I've probably been on every type of medication that's even remotely associated for bladder problems. No joke. And nearly all of them had little to no desired effect on me. With most of them having side effects from mild to severely worse than what they were trying to eliminate. My biggest issue was neurological, so it's no wonder.

Myrbetriq did help alleviate my painful urges some, but it never came close to reducing them enough for me to make it to a restroom before using my diaper. Nor did it help with my neurogenic dyssynergia blockage. I had mild dry mouth from taking it, but never considered that a hindrance.