What would you do? Wait till you become an emergency, or be pro-active?

Posted , 7 users are following.

I have reached the point where urinating becomes very difficult.  I'm now called 'semi-urgent' for an appointment with my gyno.  A small dilation helps to bridge me over for now.  Plus urine test on the way, anti-biotics picked up from the pharmacy.  Would you do the pro-active thing, whatever that may be?  Would you wait till matters get worse and take the risk to enter the hospital at the emergency department?  And what would you choose to have done: have a cut to open things up?  Learn how to use a catheter?  Or other?

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19 Replies

  • Posted

    Here in Canada, the emergency doc seems to contact the family doc, or the specialist you're in line to see. So that alerts them in a good way. It could get you moved up in line, maybe from semi-urgent to urgent.

    I've just done some reading and I see that dilators are the first thing they do in cases like yours. As to the catheter, do you know that's an option?

     

    • Posted

      I'm not sure, Morrell what I would rather be - semi-urgent or urgent.  What I'm trying to do is getting my mind around "the possibilities".  I would like to be a bit ahead of the game.  Pro-active - have things lined up before there's a panic. 

      So you know that the first thing that will be tried is dilators.  We talked about the catheter as well.  (absolutely not looking forward to that, but might not have a choice)  There are moments that I would like to rip the whole thing open and 'be done with it forever'.  I know that's nonsense.  It took me all morning to organize my mind.  Drank lots of water and other sensible fluids, and spent a lot of time in the bathroom.  I call it my second living room at the moment.    

    • Posted

      I see, all this has been discussed. The things I read still seem to be saying surgery doesn't last, so maybe Dr. Goldstein is overly optimistic about proper use of clob staving off any re-scarring. To me it's clear that LS comes in levels and surgery isn't a final solution. Any cutting can set up the Koebner phenomenon – trauma that triggers a flare. To me the dilators and/or a soft hose seem a gentle enough way to go, at least until surgery is all that's left.

      I read abot 5ml/minute being a 'pathological' stricture of the urethra. I could get a lot of reading done at that rate! Or I'd move my computer into the bathroom. I never liked those padded toilet seats, but if I were you I might treat myself to one. What else can you do for mow?

    • Posted

      I have to read up on the Koebner phenomenon.  

      For my feeling too - dilator seems the least upsetting.  For as long as that lasts then.  

      I have a fairly good toilet seat to 'hang in there' for a while.  (Not the soft padded one, that turns into a discomfort after a while.)  I take reading material or my laptop if I have writing to do yet.  So I think I spend my time 'wisely'.  

      But what can one do to be what you call pro-active?  

       

  • Posted

    Its natural to panic.  After you calm down and before going to the 'specialists', educate yourself as much as possible about your condition so that you can discuss and make decisions based on information and less on fear and reaction.

    Know and be comforted that it is not 'terminal'. 

    Good luck and trust that all will be well at some point.

  • Posted

    i was wondering hanny whether you could explore with the woman on here who had surgery....also for cosmetic reasons. she may have left her email ad with others if not active at the mo.

    have you ever had psoriasis or have you noticed that if you've had any vulval tears whether you tend to get inflammation along the line of the former tear -  reforming....eg along an episiotomy line, birthing tear or suture points?

    the above surgical reconstruction strategy might be a longer term plan...but do you think the dilation proceedure sounds realistic....can you have a look into it and get your head around what's involved?  a catheter is a low key emergency proceedure but you'd want access through the labial folds to be possible without a cut. if i was doing a catheterisation and access was not possible then surgical intervention would be required then and there and your consent for a minor op would be sought if you were unable to urinate.

    at the moment i see you are preparing your self for such an eventuality and its being realistic.

    addressing the inflammation is your first recourse however.

    what strategies do you have in place... if the steroids aren't working what natural things can you indentify which might reverse these adhesions and fusing? can you report back on this with your findings? why antibiotics? i can't see that they are indicated? ....... hanny i hear your incredibly ferocious anger....why have you got this....why is it happening? actually can you find a safe space to let out a complete tantrum? can you ask someone for their permission to sit with you and to allow you to let rip? can you go somewhere where you can throw things around?

    i mean seriously ...bloody well smash a few things up? in a safe space  and where you can dispose of unwanted stuff cause no injury and generally make ammends later?

    out of doors if you can find a spot where you won't hurt any wild life but can chuck rocks against each other is another strategy... 

    then you can return to being nice, calm, composed,  hanny. but mentally you will have a few more resouces with which to think.

    bioenergetic practioners are trained to aid with his sort of release....

    love marey x

    • Posted

      I start to think that, with Dr. Goldstein, that there is more than one variety of LS.  It is not the one connected with psoriasis.  It's the one connnected with Thyroid and Adrenal gland problems.  Reading the descriptions here made me realize that indeed there might be these varieties.  

      Contrary to your thinking of me being angry - I'm fearfull of what is coming.  At the same time realistic, calm and to my own amazement clear in my mind.

      I was hoping that the people who have been through the experience of no longer being able to pass urine and who may have had specific treatment, would react. At the same time I can understand that people who know what is coming don't want to talk about it. I've had that reaction myself too.

      In all of this we were preparing for another trip into the wonderful nature of BC Canada,  but are hesitant to be too far away from a hospital in case it's needed.  This may tell you that I'm fairly fit physically, when going for hikes.  Even managed to get on my bicyle again, with the help of a special saddle.  All is/was ready to go.  Bummer.

        

    • Posted

      Are you in BC, Hanny? My son lives out there, regularly runs up the Chief in Squamish. You sound very much on top of things to me.

      I like your theory of those two types of LS.

    • Posted

      Your son lives at the coast, Squamish.  We live 9 hours more to the east from that area, Okanagan.  Have you been for a visit perhaps?   We love it here.  A beautiful sunny long weekend coming up.  Travel Trailer (withe spacious bathroom, ha, ha)  is ready to go.  Bicycles and all.  Still might go, perhaps not as far out as originally planned.  All depends on how things will evolve.  Hard to tell at this moment.  Doctor is alert, gyno is informed.  What else can one do?  It feels a bit like being in the starting blocks, only I do not know where to. 
    • Posted

      thats great hanny! i'm glad to be wrong!!

      have a wonderful trip 

    • Posted

      Great idea to just live life as you wish as much as possible. Squamish is spectacular. I love Shannon Falls. I've been twice. Might go in the spring, around April.
    • Posted

      There are so many beautiful places around here.  It will take a lifetime to see and experience it all.  Glad you saw some of it.  We do all the time a small bite.  Our planned trip still on hold.  It's clear sky and lots of sunshine during the day, but cool at night now.  And with me having to sit in the bathroom several times at night now, we're not sure.  Still contemplating.  We'll decide tonight. 
    • Posted

      How are you minded about your trip? Do go hanny.

      Especially for you i have been trialling a paste which sky had been thinking about. Its ok and has reduced some swelling I had.

      Here is the recipe ....very simple....put some raw coconut oil in a jar.. allow to melt (or even whilst semi solid)  mix with some turmeric powder using the handle of a wooden spoon. Put the lid on and store in fridge.

      That's it. Apply initially to a not so tender spot ..just to acclimatise. slightly whincey but in a nice way...as its being effective. After a while all calms down but you can feel the soothing effect. When you feel ready rub into the entire vulva and around the urethra ...(wear an old pair of knickers). I believe this will reduce your swelling enough to allow you to pass urine more comfortably. Give it a go? If it helps take with you on your trip ..and have a lovely time !

    • Posted

      Very kind of you Marey.  I am on the coconut oil already, adding the turmeric will be a slice.  

      And we have decided to go.  Perhaps not as far as we originally had planned.  Thank you so much for your support.

    • Posted

      welcome! so glad you're going to take the holiday....that is wonderful!!

      we shall want to hear all about it. did you mean add turmeric would be a cinch? ie....easy? was that it?

    • Posted

      Tumeric is suppose to be fantastic for inflammation when applied topically and also can be taken internally for inflammation too google tumeric milk.

       

    • Posted

      hi kellie

      yes its brill...i think it was you me and sky who had this discussion. thanks so much. thinking it through...although hanny may already have gone off on her holiday...and i know we all wish her and her husband a lovely time...instead of coconut oil which can have a slightly drawing effect, rather like a poultice, if there is infection in the area....perhaps a mix with olive oil in a short wide mouthed jar kept in the fridge might be more suitable? anyway she's got it sussed!

      the milk is very soothing and popular in india...have you been there?  usually has delicious spices added too. yum!

    • Posted

      kellie...how is your planus? do you put turmeric on and onto the area of LS? How do you find it? 

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