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My Neobladder is not emptying, The Dr said everything looked good with little mucus,cathed me and got 20+ oz and gave me some Flomax and size 20 catheter and sent me on my way, I voided a little early am and didnt void anymore, I cathed around 5pm today and got 32oz or 950 cc again,one time last Wednesday. I cant understand why I've stopped voiding all of a sudden, any others with Neo has this problem and what did you do?Thanks
Exercise Cancer Surgery Arthritis Incontinence Flomax Pain Neobladder Acupuncture
Hi,
I haven't had this problem, but hope if someone on our site has they will soon respond. I do know that I was told if the neobladder becomes overdistended it becomes difficult to empty and that they recommended no more than 500-600 cc max. Best wishes,
JJ
I have not had this problem either, but there is a person within our BC survival group meetings that this has happened to; I could try to find out his information if no explanation seems to come about. However, I am not sure if he really knows what happened either; he excepted having to cath and has been doing so for over a year now.
Steve
Are you saying that you cannot empty your neaobladder with stomach pressure? This would seem to indicate you have some obstruction and potentially a serious situation.
Is this something that just started today? Obviously it is essential that you completely empty your bladder regularly, especially with your history of UTI!
Are you attempting to urinate at regular intervals?
Sitting makes evacuation easier for some guys and often releases minor obstructions.
I have never ,measured my volume, but I would think that 32 oz is indicative that you are not emptying your bladder often enough. I evacuate my bladder normall three times per day and once during the night in addition to using a fresh, new FR13 catheter before going to bed nightly, to completely evacuate the bladder.
If I go more than three or four hours, the abdominal pains tell me evacuating my bladder is overdue.
I have found that if I do not evacuate the bladder frequently enough, and do not take sufficient fluids, evacuating the bladder has at times been difficult. I simply go to a catheter on those occasions to make certain I am not retaining fluids.
I have found too, that exercise is extremely important in regularly evacuating my neobladder. At 85 years of age, I walk a mile on the treadmill when I wake up daily, then make sure I walk at least several more miles most days.
Obviously if this continues you need to get back with your Uro.
HighlandGuy
PS I am obviously groping for something to assist you.
I should note that I have heard of guys with neobladders that required stents and in one case a person who was treated at Mayo required repeateded treatments as I understand to sustain flow from kidneys into neobladder.
Yes, this just started within the last week, dr says all look good inside, I can sit for several minutes before I void, I can tell also when the bladder is full by the stomach pain. I have the urge but nothing comes out, today has been a little better. I am drinking cranberry juice daily and cathing at night before bed around 11pm and dont void tuntil around 6 the next morning since this started. I also go to the Y and swin at least 3 times per week and I'm very active.Hope the flomax will help.I will keep you posted of the outcome.
Hope thats not the case, I was getting up 3 times a night to empty the Alphadry product because it was so full. I try to void often now but not much success.
Can't really relate to your emptying problem because I have an Indiana Pouch and cath every time. Your pouch is similar to mine as it is made from the same tissue. The pouch itself can become too large (as JJ said) and because it does not have muscle to spasm, it is our job to empty it. Think of it as a balloon that collapses as it empties. A pouch that has repeatedly been stretched to hold too much will naturally fall with the weight or rest on whatever location it reaches. Perhaps in your case the bladder is laying in a position that makes it difficult for your abdominal muscles to put pressure on to empty. If you press on your lower pelvic region when trying to empty, do you get any added stream? If your doctor sees no reason for the problem, then I would suggest you talk to your surgeon to see what remedies he may have. Until you discover the reason, you should catherize each day as many times as needed to be sure you are emptying the bladder. You certainly don't want to stretch it any larger or cause it to burst. This is something you do have to determine the cause of and take action.
Good wishes for a good resolution. Karego
My uro was the surgeon. I just voided a little and cathed and got 24 oz 700cc. I was going too often a couple weeks back, have started some accupunture to see if it would help with night continence,I dont know if that could change things or not but after cathing at night dont void all night until I wake around 6am and thats not much. Should your bladder drain completely after each void?Maybe things will turn around soon.
Sitting for awhile before voiding comes is fairly common.
Karego makes sound, good points.
I am a little concerned with your Urologists comment that "everything looked good!" Did he make any tests? If so, did they disclose anything?
I am wondering if you shouldn't be considering going to Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center (phone number 919 684-5613), where they have the widespread experience treating uncommon conditions. They enjoy a national reputation. I really don't feel this should be taken lightly.
Getting second opinions is routine, accepted practice with people experiencing cancer. You should not feel any hesitation about seeking advanced medical assistance.
\
HighlandGuy
I went to Duke about another very rare disease back in the mid 90's I unfortunately got(Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis) caused severe arthritis in all my joints, they told me they had never seen the disease before and didnt want to experiment due to causing more problems and just to follow my Rhematologists orders, If things dont improve soon, I will have to do something,just not in a hurry to get cut on again, may cause more incontinence problems.
Birdman, I see you say you are in no hurry to get at the root of your problem, fearing more surgery.
Do you think the ER will know what to do with you if you delay until you have a dire emergency? It is much better for you to get yourself to a major cancer center that can evaluate your particular problem. It may be you need something minor. But, sitting at home with a non-voiding issue is asking for trouble.
I am fearful for you if you aren't.
Karego
I am scheduled for a CT scan this month. I was laying on my side as I woke this morning, I kept trickling out into the alphadry and got up three times within 45 miutes to empty and that was only 6 oz or so.. I am cathing twice a day to make sure it doesnt over extend. I will try to get the scan this week and talk to Urologist again and go from there. I am still getting a lot of mucus but have always had that so I dont know what is causing the problem
Hi Birdman,
I have been thinking a lot about your problem and possible solutions. Since the urologist did not see any anatomic cause I wouldn't think there is a physical obstruction. Have you tried to go back to a more frequent schedule of urination during your waking hours? Just a thought and I have no reason to think it might help, but I'm sure it couldn't hurt. I know that I produce a lot more urine at some times and 2.5 hours is too long based on amount of output. Other times I could probably wait 6 hours, just depends on fluid requirements at the time. Best wishes for resolution,
JJ
I have gone 3 to 4 times in the last hour, I consumes about 20 oz of water this morning. I have frequent urges and only void a little at a time,cant understand why I cant have a strong strem, can feel the mucus coming through and sometimes the stream gets a little stronger as the mucus clears.
Urine stream experience with mucous is strictly normal., what we all experience.
I am curious about your comment on "urges" to go. We normally have no sensation other than pain when bladder is overextended. Many of us also have spasms of leakage upon occasions, but "urges"???? I am not sure what you are saying.
Prior experience with Duke in non-cancer area is not cause for concern about going there for cancer.
Your reason for going to a second opion is to solve a problem. Your concern for cutting, incontenance is simply not a sound reason for not getting expert opinion!
Am I reading you that you are expelling urine today and not experiencing blockages or difficulty in emptying the neobladder?
HighlandGuy
Hi,
I had a problem voiding, I think somewhere around a year post-op. It took the uro a while to find the problem. A little scar tissue had built up where the bladder neck meets the urethra. During a cysto he scraped the area and inserted a balloon and inflated it to stretch the area. Haven't had a problem with that since.
Also have heard of some that have a little extra tissue in that area and it works like a flap. When the catheter is inserted it just pushes past it and drains the bladder. Can't help but wonder if this isn't the problem with a lot of neo owners that have to cath often. That is usually just scraped out during cysto. LiveStrong!!
Keith
Keith, I havent had a good stream in a long time,just sit and squirt for several minutes. My urologist did the cysto last week and mentioned if flomax didnt solve the problem he may need to stretch something or either clip something, I'm still only voiding a small amount and cathing mid day and bedtime, and getting 20 + oz every time.I'm calling tomorrow to set up ct scans so I will be seeing the doctor soon. Thanks for the info.
When I had the infection, it felt like a vacumn cleaner in my stomach sucking then the urge to go and nothing but a dribble comes out, I'm voiding a little but the problem still exists, Keith said he had the same problem with scar tissue and they scraped and inserted a balloon to stretch the area and he hasnt had problem since, my urologist did mention that. Will keep everyone updated.Thanks for all your input.
Keith, was your procedure done under sedation or normal office visit with just a valium.I'm about nine months post op and now need to cath 3 times per day because I'm getting 25 to 30 oz while cathing twice,mid day and 9 to 10pm.This all started with last UTI two weeks ago.
This was done under conscious sedation like the would do a TURB. Not much to it.
Keith
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