Bowel/bladder..........

[Mary.Mary]

Hey,

I think I might have already asked this question BUT I don't remember the answer or what it means....

What do they mean when they are asking about bowel & bladder function? The reason I am asking is;

Bowels are ok, other than a little constipation which I am sure is caused by the meds I am on. BUT, my bladder is the strange thing, I am CONSTANTLY feeling like I have to go, when I get to the bathroom it takes FORVER if at all for me to be able to go (trying the warm water, running water etc etc etc). If I am NOT able to go at that point & once I feel like my bladder is about to explode, it feels like I 'start to leak' (OMG I am EMBARASSED..LOL!!) Then I go to the bathroom and it NEVER feels like I empty completely.....I DO NOT have any burning, pain or fever etc.

I am not sure if any of this makes sense but where is a better place to ask this question than HERE??

Thanks!! Mary

[KBear]

This sounds like a commercial I have heard for some bladder issue, overactive bladder (I think). Maybe google your symptoms and see what comes up. Also, having children really messes up your bladder. I can laugh or sneeze and end up peeing on myself. So, to a certain extent, it could be normal; but your symptoms do sound extreme. Last, when you go, be sure to lean forward to make sure you completely empty your bladder.

[Katie]

Mary, don't be embarrassed. Yes, I have the same thing, and yes, this is what they are meaning with 'function'.

I have literally fallen on the at 2 am...waiting and waiting.....

Dr. Bitan put this in my letter to the insurance as one of the signs of needing an urgent surgery. He said that he could stop things from getting worse, but probably not reverse the symptoms that I have already. I hope this isn't one of them...that this can be fixed.

There is a symptom called Cauda Equina, which starts out with this, and progresses to full out loss of control. I really not trying to scare you, but mention to your spine doctor that you are starting to lose control...with your 'leaking', and that may speed things up.

Of course, this only got Dr. Bitan excited, not any of the Ontario doctors, I'm afraid to say.

I tried calling you a while ago, but just got your machine. If you want to chat more about this, I can try again.

Don't panic...this can a symptom of things going wrong with the spine, but is not an emergency yet.

By the way...do you have any reason to have adhesions? Prior surgeries, accidents, etc? Because I had similar symptoms after my hysterectomy when the scar tissue wrapped around my small bowel. The surgeon did a laparocopy and cut away some of the worst, and it relieved the feeling I had of a bladder infection...again I was always feeling like I had to go, and some other stuff. That was years ago, but it came back again when my back got bad...and I suspect it is still a combination of my spine and the remaining adhesions.

[Justin]

What do they mean when they are asking about bowel & bladder function? The reason I am asking is;

Hi Mary,

The bowel and bladder function question is in regard to cauda equina syndrome. If a patient is newly presenting to a surgeon for the first time, this is a common question to help the surgeon determine the severity of a patient's case.

You should make an appointment with your primary care physician regarding your bladder symptoms, as the SPS forum cannot give medical advice. Since you have already seen a spine specialist and they have reviewed your medical history and your films, the symptoms you are experiencing are most likely not related to your spine. However, it behooves you to follow-up with a medical professional regarding your symptoms.

Good luck.

[Justin]

This sounds like a commercial I have heard for some bladder issue, overactive bladder (I think). Maybe google your symptoms and see what comes up. Also, having children really messes up your bladder. I can laugh or sneeze and end up peeing on myself. So, to a certain extent, it could be normal; but your symptoms do sound extreme. Last, when you go, be sure to lean forward to make sure you completely empty your bladder.

Hey Kathy,

Here's some information about Stress vs. Urge incontinence.

• Urge Incontinence Versus Stress Incontinence: What's the Difference and Why is it Important?
  
• What I need to know about Bladder Control for Women

I hope this helps.

[Katie]

Sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was giving medical advice...just going on what I've been told and experienced.

This is something that should be discussed with your doctor. My only thought is that other doctors have dismissed what Dr. Bitan thought was important. I'm a great believer in second and third opinions.

[rose]

I had a similar problem with my bladder. I knew something was not right after my surgery. My abdomen felt like I had a huge pressure and always having this awful feeling like "I have to push" as if I carry a baby!!!!
After so many tests nothing was found, once again I was "depressed" by the diagnosis of my doctors and this was "all" in my head.

I spoke to a lady who 1 day asked me: "Did you have ANY abdominal surgery ever??? Of course my spine!!!
She said any other "abdominal cavity" surgery??? Yap, when very young, I have had "appendicitis" removed!! She gave me the name of a German surgeon to contact a.s.a.p!
I "literally rushed" to Germany with my husband as I was suffering SEVERE BOWEL ADHESIONS!!!!! I could have not lasted another month. When I arrived to the clinic, I had felt my "stomach is going to blow"

Please do look into this and PM me if you can for more details.
There is help but unfortunately NOT in North America......

[Mary.Mary]

Well, since I had the episode with the epidural shot, 2 blood patches etc, is when I noticed that my bladder habits had changed, it has been difficult to go, the last couple days I have noticed the "leaking".

I am NOT in anyway asking for medical advise, I am just more or less asking if anyone has ever experienced what I am at this point.

Thanks for the help!!!
Mary

[KBear]

I am actually seeing a gastrointerologist on Monday, to check into bowel adhesions. I have all of the symptoms of a bowel adhesion and am not going to wait until it is an emergency to find out. I would rather go through testing and be wrong, than do nothing and be right. I would definitely see a dr Mary, as it could be a number of things. It might be as simple as something caused by childbearing and birth, or could be something severe and dangerous. It would be better to err on the side of caution and have it be nothing, than not do anything and it be something.

I suggested googling it, just to give you an idea of what could be wrong. This way, you can have an idea and possibly help your doc in a diagnosis. When I called to make my gastro appt., I told them about my previous dr appt and the wait and see approach and then told them that I had been researching adhesions on the internet and came across signs of a bowel adhesion and feel that I might have one (I told her, I know you drs hate it when patients self diagnose on the internet; but I feel this is serious. She agreed that it sounded that way and got in me scheduled for the first available appointment). It was this internet information, that led me to even know about this and thus what kind of dr to see. Obviously, the internet (not internet forums) are not the final source of authority, there is a ton of false information out there; but can be a help (it's a double edged sword, lots of useful information; but you have to dig through the junk to find the good stuff).

[rose]

Not trying to get you discouraged but I had seen "Gastrointerologist" as well without any luck. Countless ultra sound done, CT's, all specialists appts etc....no luck. Doctors did not see anything wrong. But I knew it was NOT in my head!!!!

I am now feeling 50% better!!!! Thinking this was all b/c of my spine problems??? Can stretch my body without any problems when I wake up in the morning. My family says that I have got taller!!! I had no idea my body was pulling/pushing fwd b/c of these adhesions!!!!!

PM me and I can give you a lot of info.