Always needing!!

[happynan]

My husband, 71 years old, had a stroke two years ago.  Discharged from hospital with a catheter on continuous drainage. After a few months,failure to renew the catheter because of strictures in the urethra, he managed fairly well to keep dry through the day, though incontinent at night. About five months ago, the strictures began causing problems of retention and a catheter has been reinserted using a flexi-scope to help.  Now he is having problems with constantly feeling that he needs to pass urine.  I feel that he is misinterpreting the presence of the catheter in his bladder as urine.  Is there anything I can do to help him?   He doesn't remember anything I say and is so uncomfortable!

[happynan]

Many thanks for your post.  We live in UK, but will ask our family doctor for his advice.  Thanks again, and take care.

[el_em_en_oh]

I've had more than a few catheters in my time, and I can relate to what your husband is feeling. Overactive-Bladder or Urinary Urgency is quite a common feeling when a catheter is present, in my experience at least.

Ask his Urologist for a Urinary/Bladder antispasmodic. I take Ditropan (Oxybutynin), but as I don't know what medication(s) your husband is currently taking, it's best to ask his Urologist who I feel sure will know what other medication(s) he's on and can watch for drug interactions when he prescribes you one of the many others that are available.

Hope that helps!