Sorry to bother you. Have just had a Cystoscopy because I had bleeding. They have discovered something in my Bladder. Very worried it is Cancer. I have got to have Biopsies. I suffer from anxiety and depression. Very frightened.
Oh James how very miserable! I don't know where you got it that stricture can't be fixed, but I'm not sure that's actually true. My husband has strictures and they have worked on them to some extent when he has been under general anaesthetic for TURBT procedures.
So please keep on letting us all on here know how you go on, and don't give up on life just yet. Some medications including some antibiotics actually cause or worsen depressed feelings, so this may be a factor in how you feel today. But you won't always need antibiotics.
My husband has a lot of antibiotics for an unusually serious orthopaedic problem, his hospital have agreed for him to take optibac capsules between doses. Personally I feel it has improved his mental health as well as sorting the antibiotic bowel upsets. So why not check with your pharmacist, no need to bother any doctor unless the pharmacist were to say so, see if you would be Ok to take optibac or similar. They restore the proper healthy bacteria in your bowel.
I'd be very interested to know if you try this, and if so if you do feel a bit better after a week or two.
Hello James, try not to despair. Passing blood and feeling blocked are symptoms which, if ignored, can be serious. You have endured the A&E waiting game and been seen by medical professionals who were not as concerned as you about the symptoms. This is fairly common when a patient is experiencing alarming, painful and uncomfortable symptoms which he or she is not familiar with. Take your visit as a small positive and some reassurance that you are not in immediate danger. It is good that you are able to pass urine, albeit too frequently and with soreness and unwelcome bleeding. While it is true that strictures tend not to just go away, they can be relieved surgically. When you have your hospital appointment you should have the opportunity to raise the subject and get a better understanding of your condition. Considering that you have an understandable dislike of the medical drama that you are faced with, you can be proud of the fact that you've continued to face each step so far. None of us enjoy the path of the cancer or potential cancer diagnosis, investigations and treatments but it is surprising what you can get through with the help of Macmillan advisors and this forum. In my early stages in 2018 I actually gave up in hospital and refused treatment for a few days, hoping to just slip away. I found that dying was such a slow process that I had to look at the alternatives i.e. listen to the incredibly patient medical staff who gently persuaded me to give survival a chance. It was a grim period but I'm still here several years later. Things can change for the better. Worth a try? Very best wishes, Ray
Strictures are very treatable suffered many years with them anything from SPC to urethalplasti both not very comfy or dignified if this was case I couldn’t imagine the bladder would be empty from personal experience with strictures I went into renual failure due to strictures then be dignoised with T3 invasive bladder cancer all treatable if you want them to be
Thanks for your help and advice all. I had to wear a Tena Men pad on the short journey home.So embarrassing.Will not make it Oldham. I have never had to have a pad before, I will therefore not go through with this TURBT because they will not fix the stricture as they won't touch the Bladder Stone. Being permanently catheterized would not be an option for me. To painful and not normal to have a bag.
James, no one has told you you would need a long term catheter, have they, actually?
Also, some people have a catheter with a tap, which they use when they feel the need to go, and don't even have a bag. In other words the catheter is just providing a through-pass to the restricted urethra. You are really taking not just a bus to meet your troubles James but a fleet of buses. Please try talking to the Macmillan helpline, it's 0808 808 00 00 and open until 8pm every day.
Sorting the stricture and sorting the bladder stone are two different things, even if both concern your bladder. I feel you are mixing things up out of sheer anxiety.
No-one criticises you for being anxious, but please try to get some help with this for your own sake. Please re-read the last two posts from RayMK and Jas1978. One of the forum folk that is local to you has even offered to accompany you I believe.
Also, please believe me when I say that the only person being embarrassed by using Tena products is you, as they are completely undetectable under normal clothing. My husband sometimes has to use actual Tena pants, mostly 'just in case' for example on long car journeys with few roadside toilets. But he wears standard jeans and you really can't tell .
If you purchase products such as Tena from Age concern, they are delivered in plain boxes to your door at reasonable prices. If necessary the NHS will provide free supplies, also delivered incognito.
Please let us know if you get some reassurance from the helpline James.
Pain is getting worse and Co Codamol barely touches it. Am not able to spent time on my computer or watch TV. What is the point of being alive. I won't be able to get to M&S in the morning, so no food.Sorry if my above post is offensive to some. Jas1978. So if the stricture is fixed I will get renal failure?
No James, it is NOT getting the stricture fixed that might, might, damage your kidneys.
Get it fixed if the docs say so, then your kidneys are safer.
If the pain is unbearable you have good cause to call 999, please don't hesitate to do so. Doctors have to make a judgement call on who to keep in and who not, it's unlucky if they got it wrong in your case. But you need help.
James, I have not seen anything offensive in your posts. What I am seeing is someone who is trying to get relief from current nasty symptoms. It is physically and mentally draining, probably more so when living alone. You are reacting normally to life's hurdles. We all want you to get through this and believe you can. I hope the painkillers will give you an opportunity to venture out for food and don't worry about taking precautions to contain leakage if it occurs. Pads or proofed pants may feel weird but it is highly unlikely that anyone else will notice. I have a catheter, 1 metre of tubing and a 2 litre bag concealed about my person. All people actually notice is a silly 75 yearold man hobbling around with two sticks, so I think i'm getting away with the plumbing. I am not making light of your problems. I know they are very real. As Denby suggested, call for help if things get unbearable. Kind regards, Ray
It was Jas1978 who mentioned strictures and renal failure. Thanks RayMK for your thoughts on this and also to Denby. Calling 999 did no good yesterday. Fairfield is not a good hospital in A&E.
The thing is James, if you call 999 twice in quick succession, the doctors will probably realise that the trouble you have has got worse since they did not much first time. So hopefully they will do more at the second attempt.
I believe it may even be possible to ask the ambulance crew to take you to a different hospital -you have a fair reason to ask, if you feel a different one might be better.
I do feel James that you should consider calling Social Services in the morning. You are definitely 'vulnerable' if you can't get out to buy food and don't have eg neighbours who would help short term.
