[Gaijin]

I just got out of the hospital, and my mood has been shredded. I found out that our medical system doesn't seem to take any account of bipolar illness (I'm bipolar II), or even listen to you much about anything, when treating you for physical illness.

I've been having mini-strokes (transient ischemic attacks), with tingling and numbness on one side of my body. MRIs and CT scans show that vertebral and carotid arteries are blocked 30-85 percent. So I had to get an operation to have a stent put into one vertebral artery, and stay overnight in the Critical Care Unit to make sure that blood clots didn't stroke me out.

Mood has been stable on my psych-meds. I was even cheerful when I started out, joking around with the nurses. It didn't bother me when they stuck half a dozen needles in me, put me under anesthesia, then woke me up with a hole in the artery in my groin, from where they conducted the artheiogram and installed the stent.

I even survived a sleepness night with tubes running out of both arms, a catheter stuck in my penis, and nurses coming in to check neuro functions every hour. But I hit the wall the next day when I couldn't pee.

To any ladies who have been catheterized: you have no idea how much worse this is for a man. Once they pulled it out, I could not pee at all due to my sphincter involuntarily tensing up when the first drops of urine touched the damaged lining of my urinary tract. I'm not at all sensitive to physical pain, but there's no way you can stop an involuntary muscle reaction to intense pain. Try touching a hot burner without pulling your hand back.

All right, but so far this is stuff I should just have to put up with to get my neurological condition addressed. I know that. So now we get to the real complaint:

When I couldn't pee in the hospital -- and they had no private bathroom available, they wanted me to pee in a jug with my door open -- do you know what those friggin' arseholes wanted to do? STICK A CATHETER BACK IN ME! Then start the whole pain-unable-to-pee cycle all over again.

I finally told them to stuff it, I was going home. And I did, over their objections. I told them they weren't going to cath me again unless they held me down and put a gun to my head. I went home, and in the privacy of my own bathroom, was able to pee again after an hour or so.

I got out of the hospital two days ago, and my mood is still in tatters. My poor wife is a saint to put up with me. I have another artery that needs a stent, but I won't go back to the hospital again!

sorry you are going through this

i have no idea what it's like (i've not had to go through it) but it sounds painful

why exactly do you not want to go back to the hospital?

i think you should so you could get it over and done with... but that is just me

[Clinte89]

I think you need to take care of your issue so going to the hospital is the only way. I know Caths suck I've had one and yeah it hurts and not being able to pee sucks. I hope you have better luck with your stints and be safes and take care of yourself.

[wildchild r]

DAng Clint, I hope you get better soon!

[BipolaRNurse]

Just a hint from a nurse who has literally inserted hundreds of catheters (and had a few myself over the years): You can ask for lidocaine gel to be used instead of the usual "lube". This makes the insertion virtually painless, although you'll still feel the pressure of the cath against the walls of your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). I've ALWAYS used lido in men because the catheter has such a long way to go to get into the bladder, whereas in women the urethra is much shorter. Please don't avoid getting a needed medical procedure done because you're fearful of the catheter---there is help for the discomfort.

[Gaijin]

Thank you for that, Bipolarnurse. I was under anesthesia when they inserted it, and it wasn't terribly painful while in. It was the withdrawal and after-effects that hurt like hell.

How long does that lidocaine gel last?

My mood is stable again, and I'm sure I'll go back in to get the other artery fixed. Would be nice to know what to have done different next time.

[Clinte89]

Oh wild I'm fine I just had one of those back when I had jaw surgery an just sayin I agree they suck at least I was knocked out when they put it in, but coming out that ***** hurts.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Thank you for that, Bipolarnurse. I was under anesthesia when they inserted it, and it wasn't terribly painful while in. It was the withdrawal and after-effects that hurt like hell.

How long does that lidocaine gel last?

My mood is stable again, and I'm sure I'll go back in to get the other artery fixed. Would be nice to know what to have done different next time.

You can tell the nurse about your experience with catheter withdrawal this last time, and ask if some lido gel can be inserted up in there before s/he pulls it. It's not the usual thing, but it's better than having your bladder spasm because that's what hurts when the cath is removed. Another thing you can do is take a deep, deep breath just before s/he pulls the tubing, and exhale forcefully as it comes out.

As for having difficulty urinating afterwards, the longer a catheter stays in the harder it is---the bladder gets lazy---so ask them to remove it as soon as you're allowed up after your procedure. Drink plenty of fluids, and turn on the water in the bathroom when you try to 'go' for the first time....seriously, this helps a lot. Listen to the water run, and think "water thoughts"---think of streams and rivers, or standing hip-deep in cold water (damn, now I need to pee!!). Relax your pelvic muscles and just let it flow.

This works probably 75% of the time, even for men with prostate problems that partially obstruct urine flow. It's worth a try, anyway.

[wotchermuggle]

I just wanted to let you know that when my brother was in the ICU when I was young, I know that they made him pee into like a pitcher too, just behind a curtain.

[MilitaryMech]

OMG!!!! Dude, that is so wrong! I'm a RN and yeah, there are certain inconveniences that happen when you're in the hospital (especially ICU/CCU), but there is no reason AT ALL that they couldn't have brought you a potty-chair (gotta love it!) and given you all the possible privacy!

I know some of the older hospitals there was just never a consideration for privacy..... but COME ON!!!!

I've never been cath'd, but I've put plenty in and taken plenty out! It LOOKS painful!

This is where you need to BE a nurse and not just be there for the paycheck.... You have to LISTEN to your patient!

[Gaijin]

They kept insisting that it had to be a "bladder spasm" and that I should be catheterized again. I don't know what a bladder spasm feels like, but I do know what it feels like to have your sphincter tighten-up so you can't pee. It was pain at the end of my penis that was causing the involuntary tightening.

I thought my conclusion that they had injured the lining of the urethra, with the uric acid causing the pain, made more sense than their bladder spasm theory.

Regardless, repeating the cycle by catheterizing me again made no sense. At some point you have to take control of your own medical care. My biggest gripe about our medical system is that doctors and their assistants don't really listen to you. Or they immediately assume that the information being conveyed by the patient is inaccurate or immaterial.

[MilitaryMech]

Where is "our medical system"? USA? Gb?

[MilitaryMech]

It very well could have been a bladder spasm. But re-catheterizing you would just cause more trauma making the problem worse.... There are plenty muscle relaxers that could have helped with the spasm. It takes A LOT of urine to distend the bladder.

Unfortunately, catheters are WAY over used because the staff is over worked and doesn't have the time to change linen...

JMHO

[Speed3]

Hi,
I am so sorry for your ordeal. My husband does Interventional Radiology, he puts in stents. Can I let him read your post ? He may have some suggestions.

I know just from listening to him two things. What you went through is not the standard and if you need to have another artery taken care of it is important to do that. But I can understand after what you went through you want to stay far away from any hospital.

[Gaijin]

"Where is "our medical system"? USA? Gb?"

US - Anchorage

Speed3: Yes, you may let him read this. I'd be interested in his comments.

Thanks to everyone else who's commented and provided support. I will get the other artery taken care of, I'm now at the point of trying to decide whether to use another hospital.

[BlackPup]

Lidocaine works for about 4 hours from memory... Im sure there are drugs to deal with bladder spasms but I do know of people who need catheters to urinate. How long are you under for? Do you even need a catheter?

[newtus]

i feel for you. i am female but used to have catheters in me all the time when i was a kid due to urinary and kidney infections.

i mean i REALLY REALLY REALLY feel for you. a few years ago they tried to put a catheter in me for the first time in YEARS and i went BALLISTIC. i kicked and screamed. it triggered something very strong.

[Speed3]

Hi Gajin,

My husband just read your post, like I said he does Interventional Radiology here in Philadelphia. He had some general comments. But he stresses they are only general he doesn't know the specifics of your case.

He said he hasn't heard of vertebral arteries being stented around here. For carotid arteries usually the blockage has to be 85 percent or greater. There are only a few doctors in this area doing carotid arteries. They usually don't stent them anymore they have gone back to actually open surgical procedures.
Depending on the level of anesthesia they do put in urinary catheters. He said unfortunately with guys what you went through is not uncommon.
Again these are only general comments.

Hope you are feeling better

[Gaijin]

Thank you, Speed3. I wasn't expecting to get medical advice over the internet. Only a fool would give advice on a patient he's never seen, and who wants to listen to a fool? :-)

The main thing that upset me was that they wanted to catheterize me again, when that procedure was responsible for the problem in the first place. Beat your head on the wall. . . Ow, it hurts! So let's try it again.

[Speed3]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Thank you, Speed3. I wasn't expecting to get medical advice over the internet. Only a fool would give advice on a patient he's never seen, and who wants to listen to a fool? :-)

The main thing that upset me was that they wanted to catheterize me again, when that procedure was responsible for the problem in the first place. Beat your head on the wall. . . Ow, it hurts! So let's try it again.

No not advice, just general comments. I was afraid because of your terrible experience you would not go back for something you really need.

I wanted to make a comment on what you said about areas of the hospital treating us for physical ailments. I have Bipolar 1 and not to long ago I was in the ICU. It was because of my own foolishness, taking too many meds.

The first nurse I had a male nurse, treated me like a real person he was great. His replacement, from the minute she introduced herself she had an attitude toward me. She treated me like a piece of sh....t and like I was stupid. I still remember her saying to me what to you want there are really sick people in here. I never remember a doctor seeing me only in the ER.