John, Sorry you have to go through this and I know it's frustrating. I was looking up exercises to strengthen the bladder I'm sure you're aware there are a few online, but while searching for this information I came across a link that when you are able to deal with some research you may want to look at. I am not recommending anything I don't know if it's even worthwhile reading all I can do is point to it and you make the decision as to whether it's worthwhile. I wish you all the best, Tony https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938561/
Things went OK. The supra pubic catheter (SPC) procedure is scheduled for next Wednesday at noon, I'll be there for 2-3 hours. The doctor was surprised to see me so soon after the last appointment 2 weeks ago, but as I mentioned, this appointment had been scheduled 6 months out to test my retention, and I called & changed the itinerary. I got a bunch of questions answered, the best thing being that there would be no problem for me to go the normal way and then finish with the SPC...leakage should not be an issue. That will keep sediment flushed and will stop my pelvic floor muscles from atrophying, which are the 2 main downsides to being perpetually cathed. My PSA is only 0.45, down from 0.57, so my weight loss if from being cookie-free. Having a tube stick out of me is gonna be weird, but I'll be freed from the long-time retention burden and the more current catheter burden...and it's not as though I chose to have my bladder die. As I told the doctor, I just need to do something and to move forward. Self-cathing did not come up. I think that because he did not expect to see me, I got to drive the agenda and the conversation. That, and I get myself all spun up over nuthin'. I'll never learn.
Glad it went ok and hope this will help and improve your treatment and make this easier to deal with.
Well, I'm glad it went pretty well and sure you're learning, just the way it goes for us sometimes. Hard not to get worked when you're going through the things you are. Glad you had a lot of your questions answered too. Good luck next Wednesday.
Thanks, Jake. It was the most relaxed conversation we've had yet, primarily because I was on a going-forward mission versus a WTH is wrong with me?/WTH are you gonna do to me next? mode. I know that you and some of the other Do-It0Yourselfers here will appreciate this. I've been buying different sizes & styles of catheter bags (I've encountered 5 different drain valve types so far) and catheter accessories (pics of some of them here.) So today I'm looking at some of this stuff and imagining garage & household uses. For example, they make reusable straps to tie the cath tubes down with so they don't flop around or get tugged. These are nothing more than a strip of Velcro to wrap around your leg or your waist with differing retaining methods (another Velcro strip, the rubber strap shown below, etc) attached to the surface for restraining the tube. I can imagine lots of uses for these. Talk about a great Stereo/Computer Cable Management method. And the small (22" inch) ones start at only $2/each from these supply houses (of course, you gotta pay shipping at these non-Amazon sites.) I paid $6 each for a 5pak at Amazon. As an aside, Amazon is WAY overpriced on this entire line of products. I was shocked to buy the exact same brand bag for $2 each at a supply house that Amazon charges over $6 for. You can also get inline shut-off valves, meant for 5/16" tubing: . From Amazon, the same price at the leg straps ($6ea.) I've not shopped these around yet. I doubt that they're rated for fuel and solvents, but urine has a low ph of 4.5, which is moderately acidic. And these are supposed to be good for a week's use/exposure.
Well now that you talked with the doc maybe things will get better. Lots of gadgets there for different prices, huh? Hopefully, things will get better for you.
Glad things are starting to turn around a little my bug bites seem to be gone too and my other illnesses are kinda under control now too. Jake and still keeping you in thoughts and prayers.