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Bladder Spasms - Again

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Posted 12/7/2010 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
I had surgery on Nov 8th, catheter removed on Nov18th. I had bladder spasms on / of for a week and then constant on Nov 26th. Catheter was reintroduced on Nov 27th and is supposed to be removed on Dec 8th. On Saturday I started having spasms again - but only when I had a bowel movement. They were much less severe and lasted only a few minutes. Is the reduction in severity due to the catheter being in? I am really anxious about having the catheter removed while I am still having symptoms of spasms. I do not want to go through that hell again.

Anyone have similar issues?

Mark
Posted 12/7/2010 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Have you gotten any medications for bladder spasms ? There is some good medication that I found helped post surgery.

I would try that before I tried another catheter.

Good luck !
Posted 12/7/2010 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Mark,

Mark,

I also had spasms, not sure if they were in the bladder or not, it felt like my entire penis would cramp from tip all the way up to the bladder. The only time I was free from them was for the first 3-4 hours in the morning, most excruiating in the evening. They almost went away if I laid down. My uro said it was normal for some people but would not prescibe anything, he said take tylenol.

After 6 weeks they just stopped, I also started to feel well at the same time as all the pain I had associated with sitting on that tender area also went away. For me it was a matter of grinding through it however I know several friends with prostate PCa and none of them suffered from this.

Hope it helps knowing you're not the only one to suffer through this. For me it was the toughest part of the recovery. I'm now 6 months out from open surgery and feel as though nothing ever happened, other than I still use 1-2 pads a day.

Be strong, it will get better.

r

 

Posted 12/7/2010 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Mark:  My husband had severe ones while catheterized in the hospital.  He was sent home with a scrip for phenazopyridine 100mg tablets which he was to take 3xday if the spasms continued.  He used them a couple of days while home, but the pain subsided and finally completely disappeared after the catheter was removed 8 or 9 days later.  They turned his urine orange color, which was good to know ahead of time.  Good luck, and be comfortable knowing that they will disappear. 

Posted 12/7/2010 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I suffered with constant bladder spasms over the course of 1 1/2 years with 21 catheters, the only med that helped was Ditropan, a cheap generic script. I would take from 2-4x a day depending on the severity of the spams.
Posted 12/7/2010 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Ditropan and pain meds.

Sorry you are still going through this, Mark.
Posted 12/7/2010 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all - tomorrow is D day for the Catheter. Mixed emotions about getting it out. Great for being mobile / comfortable again, but if it is lessening the severity of the spasms, then not looking forward to what may come when it's gone.

I appreciate the encouragement. =)
Posted 12/7/2010 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi questionsaboutit -

I knew about caffiene, but didn't know about fruits and juices. Not that I have had a lot, but I did have an occasional apple or orange.

The catheter was put back in because the spasms were so bad (1st round) that I developed a tear or hole in my bladder. The spasms then pushed the "fluid" into my abdomen. The only way to lessen the spasms and allow the bladder to repair, they had to put the cath back in for 12 days. Not a fan of the cath by any means - but it was a huge relief from the spasms. I was doing good with the cath until Friday and suddenly I have having small spasms again. They are less severe and less frequent, but I am concerned that once the cath is out, they will increase in intensity and frequency. I am a nervous wreck about getting it out tomorrow. =)

Mark
Posted 12/7/2010 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Mark,

Your spasms situation is odd. I only had bladder spasms, because I was with catheters for so long. I never had one during the short periods that I wasn't on a catheter. I was on both foley (through the penis) and mostl on suprapubic (exited below my waist)

The spasms were much worse for me during the almost one year post salvage radiation period I went through before my latest op, as there was so much radiation damage to the bladder and bladder neck.

The ditropan helped, but didnt eliminate the spasms, but when I didnt use it at all, things got much worse.

Hope you get some relief soon.

David in SC
Posted 12/9/2010 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Catheter is out! 1 Ditropan and no spasms for the first 8 hours. Hopefully this is a good sign. =)
Posted 12/9/2010 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Great to hear of your recovery, Mark!!!

When I was emptying out my bladder and wanted to prevent the spasms, what seemed to help was taking my hands and pushing down against my bladder. Unorthodox, I know....but it worked long enough to allow the spasms to diminish.
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