Dear fellow sufferers,

I have this condition to a moderate extent following a long hospital stay last year (car accident) and many weeks on a catheter.

Since then I have been just about able to go in public places, but I sometimes lockdown even at home.

I have read on this forum and a reddit group that some people even have to go to the emergency department with this apparently benign phobia - is this true? Surely, this is very rare.

I guess I am just seeking some reassurance.

Many thanks,

Ward

Hi Ward
Rest assured, this is very rare. It is a last resort if lock-up stays locked up; however normally given time to relax nature takes its course.
Even if you do go to A&E, where it is treated as an emergency, the catheter would be used only as long as it takes to empty the bladder; unlike your experience which was probably an in-dwelling catheter.

Have you considered using ISA, Intermittent Self-Catheterisation? This uses disposable one-time use catheters; they were originally designed for spinal injury cases, but equally apply to locking up. Guys who have them say that knowing they can empty their bladder anywhere removes so much anxiety that they can often pee normally.

Let me know

Cheers

Andrew

Thanks for your reassuring message.

Yes, I have some free samples of catheters just in case.

You're right it was an indwelling fli flo catheter when I was on the trauma ward.