Urinary Incontinence Support Group
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary excretion of urine from one's body. It is often temporary, and it almost always results from an underlying medical condition. Stress, functional, and urge incontinence are the most common forms. Share with other support group members and learn from their stories and experiences.
So I have been diagnosed with an overactive neurogenic bladder with retention. Apparently I can plan on wearing adult diapers the rest of my life. This all started a few years ago during a parachuting accident. I went through spinal shock for 6 months and the everything normaled out. I would only have an accident at night and a couple time a week. I figured that it was normal. Well then I went to Afganistan and right before I retired I was injured again loading a vehicle. So then things started to get worse, I started having to run to the restroom almost every hour. When I say run, I made it 9 out of ten times. And here was the leakage. Needless to say I didn't want to get fired so I kind of dealt with it. It then got a little worse and I mentioned the problems to my doctor who told me there is no way and I am making it up. That was hard to deal with. After several months I changed doctors because I started to pass out more often. Turns out I have Vaso vagel too. This is all probably do to damaged ganglia in my spine according to my neurologist.
Anyways, I have urodynamics testing next week and I am scared as hell. Needles and pain make me pass out :(
Has anyone been through urodynamics? What do they test what do they look for? How do I make sure the doctors get a good test, and properly diagnose? I ask because military docs don't really care and they are very careless. When I first broke my back they said nothing was wrong, luckily I asked for a second civilian opinion and I had fractured 3 vertebrae.
Anyways, I have urodynamics testing next week and I am scared as hell. Needles and pain make me pass out :(
Has anyone been through urodynamics? What do they test what do they look for? How do I make sure the doctors get a good test, and properly diagnose? I ask because military docs don't really care and they are very careless. When I first broke my back they said nothing was wrong, luckily I asked for a second civilian opinion and I had fractured 3 vertebrae.
I had the urodynamic test last year for much the same complaints as yours.
the test should not need an injection and is more about flow and capacity than anything else.
I also have an over active and small bladder and have cuadia equina syndrome after 2 back ops there is nerve damage which give me wetting issues.
After consultation with my Urologist I agreed to try botox treatment,as an alternative to a bladder op which is the next option.
The botox procedure was pretty tough to be honest but 5 moths later I am not having to wear pads or diapers,this change I know as the botox wears off a bit after 9 months or so.
I too have the same thing as you. I have gone through all the possible treatments and pills they dare to try/give and nothing has helped me. Therefore I do wear diapers 24/7 because my bladder doesn't tell me when it is going to go, it goes.
As for the urodynamic test, there are no needles used. For many though it can be embarrassing though. I have had 3 or 4 done since 2008. Like RORG said, this is a study to test your capacity and how active your bladder is. For this test, they will put a catheter in your bladder, one in you rear too. They will slowly fill your bladder to measure how much it holds, they will ask you to let them know when you feel the need to go, and during this, they will be monitoring the bladder and sometimes they may take xrays while doing it. You may be sitting or standing and there will be a funnel under you for when your bladder does release so they can measure your flow and then they may also ultrasound your bladder. Once you finish emptying your bladder, they will measure how much is left in there. The only pain/discomfort is if/when the bladder gets to full, but normally once the bladder had enough, it will let it flow.
The catheters they use are really small so there isn't really much issue when they insert them either. For the most part, most men are more embarrassed when doing this test than having any pain.
Also I have had bowel issues too. What happens if you accidentally mess while this is happening?
I am so not looking forward to this :(
the catheter they put in your rectum helps measure pressure so if your bowels were to start acting up, they will be able to tell and if there is an accident, it happens. Yes it will be embarrassing but at least you will be in a controlled environment with medical professionals that are trained for this type of stuff.
I understand not wanting to be in diaper. I didn't want it either but for me it's the lesser of all other options that all me to live the quality of life I live. Being in the military does make it that much harder. I was in the military and I know how they use to be when it came to someone dealing with medical issues/problems, they would rather just kick you to the curb and let you deal with it in the civilian world.
Keep your head held high and be as bold and strong as possible, there are lots of other medical test out there that are worse than this and far more embarrassing too. Make all your choices on how you want/need to live. Your quality of life is what is important, not what doctors feel or think is best because sometimes its not.