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Posted by Kerry on 11/10/2014, 12:33 am Edited by board administrator 11/10/2014, 8:11 am
Hi everyone, just thought I'd share my experience as a lesson to know for future! You see for the first time in many years I'd gone for a night out with a group of friends, my AP improved to the stage where I can usually go If I shut myself in a cubicle for a while & if not I have a catheter to fall back on. So we ended at this bar, I'd had a few drinks followed by the inevitable need to pee. Off I go nervously to the gents, to find a queue, then to find there was only 2 urinals & no cubicle! So I did the faking it routine & left. At 2 am it was too late to get in any other bars. Turning this scenario into a positive, the evening gave me a few de-sense trips to a busy urinal & I also learnt to go do a recce of the toilets before things get urgent!
Re: Lesson learnt?
Posted by Roy on 17/10/2014, 7:06 pm, in reply to "Lesson learnt?"
Hi Kerry I like your positive attitude of turning what would be a totally negative experience to us sufferers into a learning curve.For myself I am getting on in years now and do not get into those situations so often now and I suppose I don't have to pretend to be perfectly normal and can play the (it's an age thing) card.
Re: Lesson learnt?
Posted by Colin on 8/12/2014, 12:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Lesson learnt?"
Really it is rule one whenever going into any public building, pub, bar, club, restaurant - check out the toilets first. Even if you have been in before, they can have changed and you don't need surprises Pick your preferred cubicle or urinal, and work out a strategy. Then you can relax and enjoy your social time because you have a plan, and there won't be surprises. Also, you can use cubicles. Lots of men do.
Re: Lesson learnt?
Posted by Andy L on 13/12/2014, 1:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Lesson learnt?"
Well, I had a similar experience the other day. I suffer with shy bladder big time, but since talking about it, (on Embarrassing Bodies and to family) I found out that I needed a trip to the Doctors. Long story short, and over a year down the line, I'm on medication as not only do I have shy Bladder, I have a slightly enlarged prostate that slightly squeezes the pee pipe. The meds worked almost instantly, and now my flow is so much better. My point here is, that is was the weak flow that was making me shy most of the time. I now pee in public a lot easier. Then came the other day..... Driving along the M1 I needed a wee and knew I wouldn't make it home, so found a service station and went to the toilet. Nightmare, a queue leading out of the gents? oh yes, when I finally got in there, only a few (5 I think) urinals were open, the cubicles were full so I just had to do something I feared the most. I ended up using the 4th one in the line with somebody either side of me. I stood there a while, but there was only one change of person either side of me while I went. I hailed that a success, but would never have happened without the tablets. Tamsulosin is what I take. Good luck Kerry. Andy
Hi Andy, I asked my GP about Tamsulosin Hydrochloride. She will not prescribe to me as she considers me too young at 54 to develop prostrate problems and it is "just AP". This is the sort of response we get. I feel like I have been given a life sentence with AP and no one will help me. I hope you continue to improve and good luck.
Ray
Re: Lesson learnt?
Posted by Kerry C on 16/12/2014, 4:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Lesson learnt?"
Hi Andy, Grab yourself a cuppa this is gonna be a long one!
The whole GP scenario is simply a lottery, the response you have had unfortunately is a common one. Over the years I've had those who just try to pass you on to somewhere else, if it's not something that can be cured with a pill etc. they don't really want to know! I've had CBT, been to a psychologist who put me on Paroxetine (Seroxat) which is an antidepressant, which apparently works well with phobic disorders. I've those who say it's not a physical problem so nothing can be prescribed to help, a urologist who was certain it was a physical problem & convinced that the physical need to go would eventually lead to involuntary urination, hence I had bladder neck surgery, all with little or no long term effect.
I do have to say that my own regular GP has been very supportive, who had me try Tamsulosin (from his own research), which did seem to help a little, flow was much better & it was easier to go when I could if that makes sense. Now I don't know if that was a direct benefit of the drug or perhaps a placebo effect. Also I understand that as Tamulosin has not been officially tested for the treatment of AP in this way, so some GPs will be reluctant to prescribe it for you.
The Paroxetine, eventually helped in as much as it took away some of the anxiety linked to the condition, but does nothing to get you over the problem, I was fortunate that it was linked with some CBT, which again didn't get me over the problem but gave me coping techniques.
The only treatment that ever helped (I've had this since my early teens some 35 years or so) was the beginners course run by UKPT, I have a million miles to go but I've made more progress in the last months following the course than I have ever done in the proceeding 30 odd years, so if you haven't been on one, get on one!!!
Best of luck, keep going, there is hope.
Cheers
Kerry.
Re: Lesson learnt?
Posted by Roy on 20/12/2014, 11:25 am, in reply to "Lesson learnt?"
The tablets sound interesting ,obviously for enlarged prostrate as you get older.The only problem is that generally doctors do not like you self diagnosing and will kick against it,it's rather like a catch 22 situation,can't see it changing in the future
