Posted by Keith on 21/9/2012, 11:11 am

To all sufferers, please read this and can you help? I was first drawn to the attention of this problem on the TV programme 'Embarrasing Bodies' and didn't realise the condition exsisted and thought it was just me. From there I found your site which shows how extensive the problem is. Compared to some my problem is very minor, it started on a plane journey, I was in the queue for the loo and as my turn arrived the pilot asked everyone to return to their seats as there was turbulance ahead so I didn't use the loo and returned to my seat. Since then only on planes do I have a problem and just can't urinate. On reading your site I came across an item posted by Tonto about a new catheter which you can carry around and if you get into trouble its easy to use, he ordered a pack and 5 arrived within a week and he found them absolutley excellent, so I thought brilliant this is the answer to my problem. I rang the complany Coloplast.co.uk for my free sample only to be told I needed a letter or authorisation from my doctor. I wasn't even sure my doctor knew about the condition he seemed unable to make a decision and referred me to 'the bowel and bladder specialist' she gave me a booklet on this catheter but she was reluctant to contact the company on my behalf to say ok, which I thought was ridiculous as the whole procedure is not rocket science and that was the whole idea of the catheter. She then agreed to ring her senior and he thought I needed counselling, by this time I got the feeling that nobody wants to make a decision. Seeing that I was getting frustrated she decided to refer me to a Urologist at the hospital where I had to do a flow test and have a full rectal examination, by this time I wish I had never bothered. He now has reported back to the Bowel & Bladder specialist who have given the results to my doctor and suggest I need to be taught self catheterisation and for this want to refer me back to a urologist, which I find unbelieveable. The whole purpose of the catheter is that it is easy to use, the video shows people saying how easy and wonderful it is. Every referral has taken weeks and now months down the line I am no nearer getting the catheter. It is an embarrasing problem as we all know and the stress it has caused is unbelieveable, it appears the NHS is unable to make a decision and no one wants to take responsibility. My last correspondance was on the 31st August and I have heard nothing since. I would like to know has anyone else been able to obtain the catheters and if so how they have managed to do it. KEITH

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