Pluff Mud, My Urologist told me that one of the reasons you have more urine in the morning is because your kidneys process more while lying flat in bed. He said that during the day liquids pool down in your legs due to gravity. I definitely measure more urine in the mornings, but also go longer between caths.
Thomas
Our situations seem very similar. I've been cath'ing for over a month now and I'm comfortable with generally although I cancelled a family vacation when I started because I just didn't want to deal with it traveling. But my conclusion is this. I know my urethra is 95%+ clogged with prostate tissue. Like you, if I pee at all between cath's, its a very small amount. Then I'll cath out 500 to 600 ml at a minimum twice or 3 times a day. I just don't want to do this forever and I've decided to take my chances with a doctor with proven skills and very good references to do the Green Light Laser vaporization of the prostate tissue. From my research, it looks like the outcomes from this have been better than TURPS and the risks are less. I still have to go under a general antithesis but I've done that 4 or 5 times with no issues. I'm schedule for Thursday pending a good MRI tomorrow. My PSA jumped from 0.5 and 0.7 in my last two annual physicals to 5.25 two weeks after I started cath'ing. My Uro say its probably a false positive resulting from the cath'ing but we'll see tomorrow. Then I get my tube cleared and see if my peeing gets back to normal. If not and I still have to cath, at least I tried what I thought was the best procedure to correct the situation. I'll let you know how it goes.
Hi jimjames,
It’s now 6 weeks post hip replacement and almost 4 weeks self-cathing. Your previous comments were prophetic. So far, so good.
Started daily Cialis (5mg), acupuncture (along with some Chinese herbs with creative names - “Open the Gates” and”Restore Integrity”). Stopped Alfuzosin for now because it may be relaxing my bladder too much.
I am now starting to urinate a little on my own (usually 100ml) before I self cath another 150ml to empty. I see my Urologist in a week.
I have been trying to find a description / explanation of your “Dive Bomb” technique. Would you please provide a link?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.
I opted to have the GreenLight Laser procedures done by Ricardo Gonzalez MD at Houston Metro Urology on July 19. I was in the hospital for 3 days because I had to have a second procedure due to some continued bleeding after the initial procedure. Having the thick catheter with the bladder wash tube in me for a week was the most uncomfortable aspect of the whole procedure. Two weeks post op I am urinating on my own with a fairly strong stream on a regular basis. I am tracking my retainage by self cathing every other day. I seem to still be retaining about 500ml. I'm hoping that goes down but I'm thinking that may be what I normally have in my bladder. I don't know if that's harmful in any way. Have not had sex with my wife (or anyone else :-) ) So cannot report on dry jac or not. erection does not seem to be problem. Generally happy with my progress to date. Happy I have had the blockage removed. Would highly recommend Ricardo Gonzalez for the GreenLight procedure.
500ml is a lot of urine to be retaining. It will likely cause UTIs and/or kidney problems later. I would self cath more often, perhaps several times a day, until and if it goes down.
If it does not go down, either your bladder is badly stretched or you still have some obstructions that were not removed by the GL. Good luck. Hank
Like Hank says, 500ml may be too much to retain. How much of a natural void precedes that cath? You should strive for a total bladder volume of 400ml or less. That would include the volume you cath and the volume you naturally void preceding that. If the number is more than 400ml then increase your cath schedule. Sounds like you may have to cath several times a day for the time being in order for your bladder not to stretch out an potentially lose what you have gained by the green light.
Jim
Thanks for input guys. I will take that into consideration. Remember, I was holding 4000ml. So I feel pretty good getting to 500ml. But I hear you and appreciate your comments. I am thinking about my next move.
4000 ml Yikes! I was retaining somewhere around 1600 and the ultrasound tech told me my bladder was stretched up to my navel. The bladder should show on the ultrasound much lower down than that.
Tpinhou,
That's a good point and no doubt your bladder is undergoing a significant degree of decompression and healing even with the 500ml. That said, and again depending on how much you're voiding before that, you will not get the maximum benefit of bladder rehab unless you keep total bladder volumes to 400ml or less. And until you do that I would also have periodic ultrasounds of the kidneys to make sure you do not have hydronephrosis which is urine backing up into the kidneys.
Jim