Re: Re: Delicate Question/urine retention

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I also can hold up to or more than a Liter. I've definitely stretched out

my bladder and now I'm afraid I'm retaining urine. I was checked around 2 yrs

ago for this by a Gyno-urologist, and was told I was fine. Lately I've

noticed the force of my urine stream is not as strong, even when I need to void

badly. Some of my nurses have contributed this to dehydration b/c like many

of you I have not drank nearly as much as I should for my entire life (GI

issues now also affect the amount of liquid I can consume at 1 time adding to

my

dehydration) and it's now summer time. I also have noticed that sometimes I

will urinate and feel finished but if I wait a minute I'll urinate a small

amount again. Does anyone know if these are signs and symptoms of urine

retention? Does anyone know them?

Thanks,

Kimi

In a message dated 6/26/2006 6:14:52 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

charmedcripchic@... writes:

I can hold onto a liter if I have

to [not comfy mind y ou but doable].

I think most SMA ladies have had to 'hold it' for so long that we've

conditioned our stretched out bladders to be able to hold huge

amounts and get by with way too little hydration.

[Guest guest]

I held my urine for hours all during school, trips etc. I'm 49 now. I've

gone up to 18 hrs. I drank very little so I didn't have to go. Unfortunately

this can and does do some damage. As years went on I found I couldn't void

as easily and as much. I began getting urinary tract infections (UTI) to the

point the infection went to my bloodstream. As time went on I lost the

ability to go at all. I tried the IC (self cath every so many hrs) but still

wasn't getting enough out. I now have a catherator that stays in all the time.

I had to " train " myself to drink, drink. It's improved my health greatly

but if I don't drink I get the UTI back.

When you go if you're urine is dark your getting dehydrated and that is not

good. We strongly agree here it's not good to go two long without eating,

drinking is just as important.

Dehydration can be really damaging to vital organs, heart and kidneys

especially. I know i've got damage in both. I thought as long as I urined I

was

fine, I was wrong.

Your system does eventually start to retain fluid. It requires water to

function normally and if you give it less than what it needs it will retain it.

I hope this helps you. Please don't make the mistake I did.