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Urine retention- solutions?

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Posted 7/17/2013 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
I posted earlier about hubby's newest problem- urine retention.  That post was mostly to just vent.  Now I'm in cope and research mode.  I've read some about the problem, how they find out how bad it is and treatments.  It seems a significant number of men wind up dealing with this problem, though it is more common in older men.  If the stretching  or surgery don't work, it seems hubby could wind up with a urostomy.  I haven't broached this with him yet.  I had thought he might wind up having to catheterize himself several times a day, but apparently the scaring will prevent that if they can't repair it. I'm not sure how he'll take that- I doubt it will be positive at all. sad  

Has anyone else here had this problem?  How was it resolved?  rolleyes   

Thanks!!!!!

Posted 7/17/2013 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I am one that had severe stricture and retention problems, beginning post surgery, and made even worse with radiation damage.

I had a total of 6 stricture operations, all of them failed to prevent over scarring in the bladder neck. I had 2 emergency dialation procedures, these failed also.

In a very small percentage of men, strictures/retention become a chronic problem.

Due to the radiation damage to my bladder and bladder neck, I was never able to urinate naturally without severe pain and additional retention issues. This is why I had a Suprapubic catheter in place for 51 weeks, including the 2 months of radiation I underwent.

I was not a candidate for self-cathing, as my surgeon said there was too much internal damage, and that he was afraid that self-cathing was too risky in my case. So I stayed on various catheters for long periods of time.

As horrible as those experiences were, it beat the alternative. Nothing is more painful than a full and damaged bladder that can't be relieved.

It was a tough decision to consent to have the Urostomy surgery (Ileal conduit), knowing it was a disfiguration to my body, and a very permanent decision, but there really wasn't any alternative. After waiting nearly a year for any natural healing to take place (and it never did, it only got worse over time), I made the decision to undergo the surgery.

It was a long and difficult surgery because of the radiation damage, and a very long recovery time. Then there was a serious learning curve to learn the life of having an Ostomy.

I hope your husband doesn't have to go that route, but if he's going to have to continuously have to deal with retention and/or stricture issues, it does offer a long term solution. As an alternative, perhaps he could have a Suprapubic catheter instead. It involves a small operation, about 30 minutes or so, and some people live for years with one in place. Less invasive than what I went through, but you still have to change out the tube (catheter) every 4-6 weeks for sanitary reasons. Some people can even change out the tubes themselves if there are no other complications.

If he ends up with the more serious route, I am more than available to offer any help or advice, either before such an operation, or after - assuming he ended up with a stoma (Urostomy).

Hoping for the best for him,

David
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