Managing Incontinence While Traveling.

[fadasof]

Has anyone had experience with Urethral Sphincter or Bladder Neck Botox and can share their outcomes and discuss other treatment options you've explored with your urologist?

[Slomo]

18 hours ago, fadasof said:

Has anyone had experience with Urethral Sphincter or Bladder Neck Botox and can share their outcomes and discuss other treatment options you've explored with your urologist?

I have, but your exact underlying condition will affect how well the botox will work (or not). What is your diagnosis, and what exactly is your urologist trying to treat for?

For me, I had severe urge incontinence and neurogenic sphincters (both internal and external). Basically, I'd get a sudden and painful need to pee but when I tried to relax to go my sphincters would clamp shut instead. Resulting in my having to push and strain against much pain, for even a weak stream. So my urologist first tried botox in my bladder wall to try and reduce my urges and give me time to pee. It did greatly reduce my urges, but deadened my bladder muscles so much I had an even harder time straining to go. I ended up catheterized for 3 months before it wore off. A second round of botox was then used on my external sphincter. Except that one made my sphincter even less responsive to my urges, so once again I was catheterized for another 3 months.

Ultimately, my solution was a series of sphincterotomy surgeries. Each surgery opened up one of my muscles just a little more. It took 3 to blow away my external muscle and permanently open it up. And at least 3 more for the same to my internal sphincter. Plus a bunch more for strictures that formed from all the sphincterotomies. Which also ended up including surgeries for removing my prostrate and an inch of my urethra to really remove the strictures. 15 surgeries in total, over a year and a half! But hey, I now constantly drip pee without any urges, straining or pain.

Don't let me dissuade you from botox though. I've heard plenty of success stories with it. It normally does fairly good to reduce urges, and/or to make it easier to pee. Though do take note, it often will not be a complete fix and only helps to reduce symptoms. It only works for about 3 months, so repeat treatments will be needed. And the body adapts to botox, so each treatment will be less effective than the last. Try it, but consider it a short term solution. And even if it does work, keep searching for a long term solution.