i might have to take that route to . i find out tommorrow when i have my cystoscopy. im nervous. i have wat too many UTI'S for ms patientients to deal with. so ill let u know what i decide.

Hi Lisa,
Have you tried self catheters first? This is the preferred option here & along with botox injections in the bladder has shown to be effective & lasts about 12 months on average.
I have tried self catheters but couldnt do it for a few reasons
- bladder spasmed so catheter couldn't empty it
-right hand is now spasming too & going numb so hard to do the catheter as left hand is not possible.
-cant stand to put catheter in as legs get the jelly wobbles & if I do succeed cant control where the catheter empties - very messy:(
- also overweight so abdo is swollen, also bowel issues causing constipation so always bloated so difficult.
Hope this gives you some ideas too of options other than the permanent catheter too.

I would really like to hear from any that have the permanent catheter & how they handle it.
Thanks in advance

just got back from cystoscopy as usual it was normal so they r like ur muscles r just weak from the ms u needto strengthen then . they did however have somewhat difficulty performing the procedure cuz im so tight and unable to relax they had a infant speculum procedure kit and still didnt want to go in my bladder without major discomfort with wich i contested in pain so now we r goin for urodynamics next. fun, fun fun.

Sorry yours was painful to do. I had that issue previously too. They did the urodynamics testing first before they looked at cystoscopy. The urodynamics test was interesting, not painful at all.
Good luck with it all.

I went through the battery of tests and the bottom line was my urologist told me tha I have an "autonomous" (independent) bladder. I had to go home and look that one up! Basically, there is nothing else he can do to help me with my leaking problems. I have now gone to my PCP to see if she can offer some relief. I don't hink I would mind cathering if i gave me relief and helped conrol the urges. I'm awake all hours of the night peeing and the medications just don't seem to work.

Sorry you have been given such a crap dx od bladder. If the medications dont work & main one's they use here are ditropan & vis (something), then they try for the botox & catheters. See if you can get a continence nurse (usually through community or ms society) to assist, they can train you & get you some samples to try. I tried them & as I said just wouldnt work with me.
They usually want you to try self catheters first before permanent ones & from what I have heard some people have success with the botox, but only if you can self catheterise after.
I would definately ask your pcp to a referral to someone different if pcp cant assist.
Dont give up its quality of life after all.
I will keep you updated on how I go.