Journal 01/09/09 – Very Humiliating Dr. Appointment

Good morning all.  Today I am feeling somewhat better, so far anyway. 

The problem will be, since I feel good this morning, I will get up and start doing things like laundry, sweeping and vacuuming, then I will pay for it the rest of the day.  It is a viscous cycle.

I am writing today about my day yesterday.  It sucked to be quite honest!!!!!  I went to the hospital, which is an hour drive for me, for the Neurodynamic study I was telling you about.  This study was to see how my bladder was functioning.  Well, I already knew it wasn’t doing what it was suppose to be doing, but they needed proof, I guess.

By the time I got there, I was in pain from the drive, as usual, and had a full bladder like they requested.  First thing I had to do, of course, was tons of paper work.  Still on a full bladder mind you.  Finally, they told me to strip from the waist down and put the hospital gown on, back side open.  Nothing unusual.  Told me not to pee yet.  

Then, they sat me on this toilet looking device, that was attached to a mechanical bed and had boot like stirrups for my feet, which were spread apart.  Oh my gosh, embarrassing!  Next, they told me to go ahead and relieve my bladder.  Well, of course, like usual, I could only go a tiny bit.  My bladder had not been emptying for quite a while. 

That was fine, because they were gonna cath me anyway.  That was next…they laid me back, while still on this potty thing, attached wires to me and cathed not only my bladder, but put a tube in the rectum as well, to measure the pressure the bladder was putting on it.  The CRAZIEST thing I have ever heard of, not to mention VERY physically uncomfortable and EXTREMELY humiliating!!!!

Once they emptied my bladder, they filled it back up.  While it was filling, I was to tell them when I felt the first the urge, when I felt comfortable full and when I couldn’t hold it any longer.  I got to the can’t hold it stage, and they told me to turn my head and cough, to see if I was leaking.  Oh my Gosh, I was so embarrassed.  Then, they told me to release it.  Well……I sat there, sat there and sat there.  They turned the water on, gave me a warm wash cloth and left the room, and I still couldn’t go. 

Finally, the nurse said, let’s put somemore in and see if you can go.  This happened several times, before they hit the limit of what they could put in.  In other words, my bladder was full to the top.  I still couldn’t go.  After about an hour, they finally unhooked me and told me to get dressed and try to go in the “real” potty.  My bladder was so full, to the hurting stage, and it still took me about 10 minutes to finally release.

Anyway, the whole point is, it was the worst thing I have been through.  I had 3 babies, and have other tests done that were uncomfortable and embarrassing, but this one beats them all.  I am so glad it is over.

I have a follow up appointment next week to get the results, so I will update you then. The nurse did tell me that there is a possibility that I may have to catheterize myself at home 2-3 times a day for a while until things get better, depending on what the diagnosis is.  Yea!!! I’m looking forward to that!

Hope you are all having a pain free day.

Lots of Love,

Kim