2026/02/06: Inch by Inch, Row by Row

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Pee by Pee, lol.

**** if you have read this blog, you know that I share information re body functions, stop reading if you prefer to not read***

How do I know that my bladder is healing?

Clots are no longer present -- at its worst in December, bleeding & clotting were enough to take me to ER. It wasn't due to the pain, just that the size of the clotting and amount of blood was not what was expected. I was moved into a room when I shifted in the waiting room chair, and those surrounding me noticed a large pool of blood had formed on the floor under me. Oops. No treatment was required. Just monitored until settled.
It seems that due to blood thinners, the normal clotting and bleeding post TURBT were exasperated -- both in amount and duration.

The shiver is gone most days. post-micturition shiver -- the shudder you feel that tells you you likely have a UTI. The TURBT procedure works in an area that is full of nerves. As this shiver is an autonomic response, the work done on the bladder and irritating the urethra results in overly sensitive nerves.

Best news, I made it 5 hrs one night without waking to void. This is big. I was up every hour to go to the washroom. One night, it was every 45min. Now, 2-3 hrs is normal, and even making it through to 5hrs is delightful. Much better sleep pattern.

As this may become a regular occurrence, it is good to know that things can return to normal.

How does this impact my daily life?
Well, other than the sleep, i do a LOT more laundry. Good thing too that incontinence products are tax deductibe when caused by medical condition.

I also pack a change of clothes always. If away for a day, I take two spare pairs of pants -- just in case.
I pack undergarments in my bag at all times.

Some people have asked, aren't you worried about going places and having an accident? Usually the problem would occur in the washroom or close to it. (slow closing electronic doors are the bane of my existence). I know some folks stay home rather than risk embarassment. For me, it's just part of life, and I am learning to live with it.

I have been surprised by how many women accept that waking every hour to use the washroom is "normal" or more importantly "acceptable". Maybe it is, but, I wonder. Maybe we underreport or overaccept the challenges that women face.
 
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Having to pee every 45 minutes sounds like a nightmare. Most normal sleep cycles are 1.5 hours, so you'd be messing with your REM sleep. Yuck.

Glad it's settling down.
 
My pee frequency is relatively high but nothing like that. Fairly frequently during a day while awake but usually once overnight. I am on a drug that uses the kidneys to filter glucose from the blood and increased urination is, not surprisingly, a known side effect. My pharmacist suggested taking it in the morning, not evening, let's put it that way. Fortunately, my new office at work is kitty corner to a small bathroom in our area of the building.

As Bette said, it's nice to hear that things are improving.
 
@Mendalla I'm on the same med ( or one with the same impact). I used to take it at supper, but now take in morning. Changing it helped a bit but the primary impact has been time and healing.

@BetteTheRed lack of quality sleep definitely was a problem.

My Fitbit did a good job of tracking how bad it was, but also showed improvements
 
I'm on the same med ( or one with the same impact).
Not surprised. So was a regional manager at work who retired last year. It's pretty widely used now it seems but, damn, I'm glad I have good health plan at work because that is one expensive drug. Far from the worst but compared to the other diabetes and hypertension meds I've used, wow.
 
Are you two talking about Jardiance by any chance? It was offered to me but I declined due to potential side effects. Declined Ozempic for the same reason. Insulin is my poison LoL. It's free of side effects aside from hypoglycemia & possibly weight gain.

Metformin and I don't get along. Even in extended release format.
 
Are you two talking about Jardiance by any chance? It was offered to me but I declined due to potential side effects. Declined Ozempic for the same reason. Insulin is my poison LoL. It's free of side effects aside from hypoglycemia & possibly weight gain.

Metformin and I don't get along. Even in extended release format.
I take metformin and jardiance for my diabetes and it's been an unbeatable combo for me. Unfortunately, as drugs get more complex and targeted, it gets harder to find the right drug or combo for each person so I am not surprised it hasn't worked for you.
 
I take janumet and jardiance. Janumet is metformin combined with another drug. It seems easier on my gut than metformin

Like many things, drugs for other purposes impacts healing.
Blood thinners were stopped for surgery but had to start back up. (Can't wait until my probable release from them in 2 months)
Metformin impacts GI, so hard to tell what was causing GI issues during treatments
Jardiance increases frequency of urination as does bladder treatment. Shifting timing helped to isolate.

My goal is to lose enough weight to get off of meds. Reason: easier treatment and healing when something goes awry.

So far, I have reduced one med 50% and am on track for more reduction next year.
 
Glad to hear you're improving Jayne. Has anybody mentioned pelvic physio to you? I'm doing that now as part of recovery from the fractures. I'm learning lots and it's helpng quite a lot with frequency. It's an interesting subspecialty.
 
I went to a pelvic physiotherapist a few years ago. It did help.

It is an interesting specialty.

I received lots of good exercises

It may be time to try again
 
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Glad to hear you're improving Jayne. Has anybody mentioned pelvic physio to you? I'm doing that now as part of recovery from the fractures. I'm learning lots and it's helpng quite a lot with frequency. It's an interesting subspecialty.
Fractures @Carolla? Were you in an accident?
 
Fractures @Carolla? Were you in an accident?
Yes - last May, I turned my ankle on an uneven city sidewalk while walking quickly with a friend & slammed down hard. Sustained multiple fractures in my pelvis & spent about a month in hospital. It's been a very long slow recovery, but I'm getting there!
 
I went to a pelvic physiotherapist a few years ago. It did help.

It is an interesting specialty.

I received lots of good exercises

It may be time to try again
Glad to hear things are improving with your health Jayne. Frequent bathroom trips can get aggravating. Pelvic exercises sounds interesting - never heard of it until now. Carry on healing.
 
Yes - last May, I turned my ankle on an uneven city sidewalk while walking quickly with a friend & slammed down hard. Sustained multiple fractures in my pelvis & spent about a month in hospital. It's been a very long slow recovery, but I'm getting there!
Good to hear you are continuing to recover. Multiple fractures must have been a big challenge. I've only broken single bones- twice..
 
Glad to hear things are improving with your health Jayne. Frequent bathroom trips can get aggravating. Pelvic exercises sounds interesting - never heard of it until now. Carry on healing.
Google pelvic floor therapy. it is interesting.

I had been introduced to keigal's during pregnancy, of course, but, this is so much more.

Also, it includes direct massage.
The pelvic muscle is like a hammock that stretches from the tail bone to the pubic bone. You might have some sections that are overly tight, and others that are lax. (well, at least that is what i understood).
They actually test your muscles and then do focussed massage and exercises.
 
Yes - last May, I turned my ankle on an uneven city sidewalk while walking quickly with a friend & slammed down hard. Sustained multiple fractures in my pelvis & spent about a month in hospital. It's been a very long slow recovery, but I'm getting there!
Wow, what a misadventure! I am sorry to hear about it.
 
So many innovative therapies available in heavily populated areas. Usually not available in the more rural parts of the country. My guy enjoys telling people that he is waiting for a physio appt ordered by a doctor in 1995..
 
So many innovative therapies available in heavily populated areas. Usually not available in the more rural parts of the country. My guy enjoys telling people that he is waiting for a physio appt ordered by a doctor in 1995..
You can kind of understand it though. To make a living, you have to have a certain amount of the population that will take the service.

Might be an interesting item to discuss elsewhere... medical service in remote areas of our country --
 
So many innovative therapies available in heavily populated areas. Usually not available in the more rural parts of the country. My guy enjoys telling people that he is waiting for a physio appt ordered by a doctor in 1995..
Absolutely true. I often think about this when chatting with friends in other parts of the country - rural and urban access to health services (and even just transportation) is very different. It's something to consider as retired folk think about 'moving to the country' .... just as health concerns may be set to increase over time.
And yes - access to yarn stores is also often limited in rural areas! Back to knitting? The day I fell I had purchased a lot of red yarn to start a baby blanket my dtr requested for a friend of hers! I did get it well under way in the later parts of hospitalization - but had lots remaining!
 
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