My Life with "Cathy": 24 hours from HELL!!

A&P Repair Surgery

After 3 babies, 3 full marathons, numerous half marathons, etc... at age 41, I was diagnosed with vaginal prolapse and needed A&P Repair Surgery. This included a cystocele, or bladder lift with sling. My surgery was on October 7, 2014. Both my gynecologist and my urologist who performed the surgery reported the surgery went very well, very successful. However, after a night in the hospital when the catheter was removed and I tried going to the bathroom I couldn't pee! I went home with a foley catheter and told to follow up in a couple days with my urologist. Little did I now this would be just the beginning of my adventure with "Cathy"...

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

24 hours from HELL!!

So, I spend most of that night in the bathroom with rubber gloves on, half asleep, trying to find the right hole to relieve myself and feel normal. Self intermittent catheterization just down right didn't work for me. I ended up catheterizing myself about 8 times over the 24 hour period and really struggled every time. It was not only uncomfortable and somewhat painful, but my quality of life was really compromised as a result. I stopped drinking and eating because I didn't want to have to catheterize myself. I couldn't sleep comfortably, my mind racing about the next time I would have to get up and start the self catheterization procedure. The flimsy catheter tubes would bend with all the lube I had put on it and I struggled each time finding the evasive urine hole. Also, self cathing at work was just so uncomfortable. No privacy, germs, etc... So, within 24 hours of leaving the urologist office I found myself back in there begging for my BFF "Cathy"... the FOLEY! I went back literally begged for the foley to be put back in. I needed the knowledge that I could get the urine out of my bladder without having to spend 30 minutes trying to find the hole to relieve myself. Reluctantly, the urologist put the foley back in for a week. In a week I would return to have the foley taken out and have a dilation procedure done to see if I could urinate on my own. I was exhausted but happy that I could rely on my BFF "Cathy" for the next week.

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Anterior & Posterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse

Anterior vaginal wall prolapse (Cystocele or Urethrocele)
This type of prolapse occurs when the supportive tissue or fascia supporting the bladder stretches or detaches from his attachments on the pelvic bones. This loss of support allows the bladder to prolapse or fall down into the vagina.

Symptoms of anterior wall prolapsed are variable. Often as the anterior vaginal wall prolapsed worsens it progresses outside the opening of the vagina. Sometimes the bladder may not empty well which can lead to urinary frequency, nighttime voiding, loss of bladder control and recurrent bladder infections. Anterior vaginal prolapse also affects support to the urethra, which can lead to urinary incontinence with activity such as laughing, coughing, sneezing, or exercise. Anterior prolapse often occurs with prolapse of the uterus or top of the vagina where the uterus used to be in women who have had a hysterectomy.

Posterior wall prolapse (Rectocele or Enterocele)
This type of prolapse occurs when the support tissue or fascia between the vagina and rectum stretches or detaches from its attachment to the pelvic bones. This loss of support allows the rectum or intestines to prolapse or fall down into the vagina.

Symptoms of posterior vaginal wall prolapsed typically include a bulge sensation, but women often complain of problems having a bowel movement. Women may have to strain more with bowel movements of have problems with constipation. A common complaint is that women have to put their finger in or around the vagina or rectum to help empty their bowels.