Suicide ......

Hello kenneth_42676

We note from a recent post which you have made to our forum that you may be experiencing thoughts around self-harm. If we have misinterpreted your comments then we apologies for contacting you directly. But if you are having such thoughts then please note that you are not alone in this, and there are people out there that can help.

If you are having these suicidal thoughts then we strongly recommend you speak to someone who may be able to help. The Samaritans offer a safe space where you can talk openly about what you are going through. They can help you explore your options, understand your problems better, or just be there to listen.

Their contact details are on our patient information leaflet here: https://patient.info/health/dealing-with-suicidal-thoughts, which also offers lots of other advice on how you can access the help you may need.

If you are having such thoughts then please do reach out to the team at the Samaritans (or the other people detailed in our leaflet) who will understand what you're going through and will be able to help.

Kindest regards

Patient

Hi Ken, I don't always keep up with posts due to forum format is difficult to find new posts in moderately long threads. Anyway, are you doing CIC now? If so what happened? UTI or something. I recall you were doing pretty good. Anyway I see you got the automated response regarding thoughts of self harm. Just in case you're in that place please contact one of us cyber friends here or someone in your circle of friends and family to talk to them. Just remember we're all BPH buddies and we're here to support each other. That said, when I had Lyme disease my symptoms lasted a year after I was "cured" There were days I thought I didn't want to spend the rest of my life feeling like crap. Recently I had a stiff neck for a week. Really screwed up my ability to sleep and function. I'm just now getting over it. I don't know how people with chronic pain cope.

Hi Ken, CIC is not that bad. I am doing it. Are you having problems with CIC ? Let us know what the problems are. There will be solutions. I had minor bleeding problem throughout my 3 years of cathing and did look into some procedures. Luckily, I found out that the problem was the catheters that I was using. After changing catheters, to any catheters but the one I was using before, my bleeding problem was gone.

Even another procedure should be considered. Many people here are more than willing to help.

Hello Ken. All I can do is encourage you to see what outcomes you have available. For me, its been just under 4 months since a button plasma procedure. Generally things are doing fine, but I still experience pain. I'm just trying to be patient and see how things progress. This forum has helped me understand that the healing process for this, physically and mentally, takes time. Beyond that, my grandchildren are visiting today. I had to CIC when they visited before. Whatever the circumstance, I cannot imagine not seeing their smiling faces. Please contact someone close to you or a specialist and see if that helps. All the best,

Hi, Kenneth,

Yes, I've been in that dark place--after they drained 7 liters out of my bladder and told me I'd never pee on my own again. Had a Foley catheter in for 3 months because I didn't think I could handle CIC. My urologist put pressure on me to make a decision on surgery. I resisted but felt I was running out of time. I asked my primary care doctor to refer me to a counselor who had experience in quality of life issues. My counselor helped me through my fears. I learned how to CIC thanks to Jimjames and others on this forum, and now it's no big deal. As I researched treatment options, I also used my counselor as a neutral sounding board, which helped me chart my course of treatment. He helped a lot as I chose to go against my urologist's recommendations and have a PAE. That was 3 years ago. The PAE did not help but did leave other options on the table. I still CIC , and I'm good with that until I find another procedure I'm comfortable with.

Stebrunner

hi kenneth

im not doing cic myself but my hubbie was diagnosed with a neurongenic bladder at age 45 year after a routine surgery and has been told that he will have to do this for the rest of his life.

it was such a shock and adjustment that he went through some very dark moments and in face ended up in a&e with suicidial thoughts. he was put on some antidepressents and went to counselling .

its been a year now and hes off the medication and coping well- its been a huge adjustment and he still has some bad days esp if he gets a uti.

but with time has come acceptance - please do reach out and talk to someone . its a big thing to happen to you and you shouldnt underestimate the impact it has .

but you arent alone , the forum is amazing for support and there are plenty of organisations who can support you.

know that you arent on your own and there are lots of people who will help you practically and emotionally while you feel this way

If it is as bad as you say then TURP would be banned. There is no procedure that is perfect for everyone. Therefore many on this forum would rather do CIC than try something else. I was about to do CIC when my retention miraculously returned to normal. It could happen to anyone who has a little hope and faith.

I don't know if this is the typical outcome of TURP fail; is to tell the patient that since it didn't work... something you could judge yourself... then you'll have to do cic the rest of your life. I would think they'd offer a second or third option. Are you depressed due to lasting effects from the TURP, or just from the prospect of doing cic? There is definitely a learning curve to getting comfortable with cic, but for me it was a piece of cake. Still doing it after almost 2 years. Gives me control over this condition.

I haven't had surgery and don't plan to at this point in time. However, I have been performing CIC 4 times per day for the past year and a half, and I would have to say that it has had a positive impact on my quality of life. If you are feeling depressed, I encourage you to seek professional help immediately.

Hi Ken - I wish that doctors offered CIC as a first option to men with voiding problems - either due to BPH or bladder issues. I've been doing CIC now for almost 3 years and have nearly 4000 self-caths under my belt. At first it was difficult but the guys here got me up the learning curve fast. I can now CIC faster than I floss my teeth and with less discomfort! So please consider it and stick with it.

Now ..having said that I had what is called a varicocele embolization procedure 16 months ago in an effort to reduce my prostate size. I was told it was easy as could be. Well .. it has left me with severe chronic scrotal pain which has literally ruined my professional and private lives over the past year. I am now on opiods to try and get through the day. Currently I am scheduled for a Botox injection in a few weeks into my scrotum to try and stop the pain. If that doesn't work I am then scheduled for a painful microsurgical denervation. And if that doesn't work I will have to have my left testicle removed! All because I was trying to avoid CIC. Honestly - once you learn it the technology is so great that as long as you are careful and follow the rules there is nothing like it - no side effects!! Over all this time I have only had 2 UTIs.