Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 Micelle, When you had your first surgery did your Dr. warn you that you would probably need to cath later on? My Dr. didn't mention this might happen to me. So does it seem that even though we have the surgery we will continue to deteriorate? I am also guessing that the second surgery did not help with your bladder problem. I just hate having this condition. Did your Dr. say what's in store for you after the second surgery? Sorry for all the question, but I feel that my Dr. has left me in the dark. Thanks, Ardie Weaver wrote: > > I have heard that people learn to cath by feel. I > don't do that easily. I have to look. I have used a > mirror, but it really isn't difficult to get in the > general area by giving a quick look. And when I > started cathing, I was overweight too. > > Nope, I didn't have to start cathing until about 9 > years after my first surgery, about 9 months before my > second surgery. > > > > > Re: bladder problems (Kathy) > > or > > > > anyone > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Kathy, > > > > > > > > > > > > I have the hardest time emptying my > > bladder. It > > > > is like I > > > > > sit > > > > > > there and strain to go and then only a few > > drops > > > > come out. I > > > > > > went to see my regular DR. and she said > > that it > > > > was just old > > > > > age > > > > > > (I am 56) and that when you get this old > > gravity > > > > pulls your > > > > > > bladder downward making your urine have to > > go up > > > > and over > > > > > > instead of straight down. I was so > > relieved that > > > > she had an > > > > > > explanation besides more problems with my > > > > tethered cord that > > > > > I > > > > > > believed her. Now I wonder. What do you or > > > > anyone else > > > > > think? Is > > > > > > this how one starts losing bladder > > control? I am > > > > worried. > > > > > Living > > > > > > with excruciating pain is enough I don't > > need > > > > anything else. > > > > > > > > > > > > Any replies would be appreciated. > > > > > > > > > > > > Ardie > > > > \ > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 I know this Question wasn't directed to me, but I thought I would just put out what my experience has been. Typically, I don't think they warn you that this could happen. Probably because they are not expecting it to happen. Now, I think they may warn you of this if you are just finding out what the ramifications of a Retethered Cord could eventually be without Surgery. I was never warned that Cathing could be needed(after Surgery)before either of my Detetherings. I didn't need to Cath after my first one, but after the second one I had to for about 4 Months, then things pretty much turned back to " normal " for me. Hope this helps. Me mymocha@... > When you had your first surgery did your Dr. warn you that you > would probably need to cath later on? My Dr. didn't mention > this might happen to me. So does it seem that even though we > have the surgery we will continue to deteriorate? I am also > guessing that the second surgery did not help with your bladder > problem. I just hate having this condition. Did your Dr. say > what's in store for you after the second surgery? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 Ardie, I had my first surgery at the age of 20, which was in 1988. I didn't even know what condition I had, let alone know that it could happen to me again - or that it could get worse. I was told there was a 20% chance of me " getting " it again, and that I might have to have surgery again at a future date. So no, the doctor never warned me about anything really - not for my first surgery. I never heard the words tethered cord. I had two very large children when I was 22 and 24. After my second son was born, I began to get bladder infections from not emptying my bladder all the way. So I think giving birth did the extra damage. Otherwise, I might have been able to go much longer without problems. I had bladder problems for 5 years before I went to a doctor who sent me for tests on it. 5 years is a long time to let that kind of damage occur. So no, I don't have my bladder function back. After my second surgery, 10 years after my first, I was told that I might need it one more time. I said no thank you. Unless I get into a really bad situation that I can't deal with, I will not subject myself to that again. My pain is managed, and my bladder will never come back anyway. If I became fecally incontinent, I might run for surgery, but until that day, I'm happy with not going through it. --- Ardie wrote: > Micelle, > > When you had your first surgery did your Dr. warn > you that you > would probably need to cath later on? My Dr. didn't > mention > this might happen to me. So does it seem that even > though we > have the surgery we will continue to deteriorate? I > am also > guessing that the second surgery did not help with > your bladder > problem. I just hate having this condition. Did your > Dr. say > what's in store for you after the second surgery? > > Sorry for all the question, but I feel that my Dr. > has left me > in the dark. > > Thanks, > > Ardie > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 My first and so far only surgery was at age of 39 and until NS got in my back did they know what the problem was and even then did not know and I was never told there was such a thing as tethered cord only that there was not room for my nerves to go through the spinal column and they had to clear out a larger hole and do a fusion. I know now I had the problem from birth and suspect my sister has a form of Chari but it has never been diagnosed. I have regained slowly a lot of the neurological losses but a few are appearing again. I do not have to cath but do have problems with bladder leakage and must be very careful bowel wise as when I get the urge there had better be a place to go as no time to wait and I have had accidents a few times. I have had hitchiker toes all my life and also walk on sides of both my feet. I have been experiencing weakness and pain when I walk short distances. Re: cathing () Ardie, I had my first surgery at the age of 20, which was in 1988. I didn't even know what condition I had, let alone know that it could happen to me again - or that it could get worse. I was told there was a 20% chance of me " getting " it again, and that I might have to have surgery again at a future date. So no, the doctor never warned me about anything really - not for my first surgery. I never heard the words tethered cord. I had two very large children when I was 22 and 24. After my second son was born, I began to get bladder infections from not emptying my bladder all the way. So I think giving birth did the extra damage. Otherwise, I might have been able to go much longer without problems. I had bladder problems for 5 years before I went to a doctor who sent me for tests on it. 5 years is a long time to let that kind of damage occur. So no, I don't have my bladder function back. After my second surgery, 10 years after my first, I was told that I might need it one more time. I said no thank you. Unless I get into a really bad situation that I can't deal with, I will not subject myself to that again. My pain is managed, and my bladder will never come back anyway. If I became fecally incontinent, I might run for surgery, but until that day, I'm happy with not going through it. --- Ardie wrote: > Micelle, > > When you had your first surgery did your Dr. warn > you that you > would probably need to cath later on? My Dr. didn't > mention > this might happen to me. So does it seem that even > though we > have the surgery we will continue to deteriorate? I > am also > guessing that the second surgery did not help with > your bladder > problem. I just hate having this condition. Did your > Dr. say > what's in store for you after the second surgery? > > Sorry for all the question, but I feel that my Dr. > has left me > in the dark. > > Thanks, > > Ardie > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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