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.

Happened to me, required indwelling catheter.

Although, my memory is a little hazy. I don’t think I made it clear to the hospital staff that I suffered from paruresis. Anyhow, I was on medications and having a mental health episode, and told them as much, in addition to saying I couldn’t urinate. so maybe that contributed to their decision to fit indwelling catheter. I literally couldn’t urinate at all at that point so them using an intermittent catheter wouldn’t have solved my issue as I couldn’t even pee in my own house. Very confusing situation to be honest

Sorry to hear about that episode, hopefully you're better now.

An intermittent catheter goes straight into the bladder so it will work assuming there is urine in the bladder - so that is something you should look into if this is still a problem.

Martin.