Urine retention 9weeks pregnant with catheter, has anyone else had a similar experience?

[Faith4Joyexel]

Hi, New here sorry it's long and detailed but desperate to find if others have experience in this situation and what happened?.. Currently 9weeks+5days pregnant with 4th. All other 3 pregnancies were straight forward no issues at all.
I started to notice from around week 7 that it became harder to urinate, I could go but strangely had to push it out in short bursts.
At exactly 9 weeks I woke up in the night desperate to go but completely unable, tried not to panic, done some moves I found online but nothing was working, next morning I was in agony with full bladder, went to local UTC (which happens to speciaise in urology) they were quick to scan my bladder found 1 litre and put in a catheter to drain. They then asked me to stick around and drink plenty of water to see if I could urinate on my own, bladder filled up again and NOPE I couldn't go. They then put a tap catheter in and said they would discharge me with it in place and see me the following week for a TWOC (trial without catheter) appointment. It was uncomfortable but at least I could empty my bladder and I would find out next week what was happening and hopefully get the catheter removed. Next day I got an appointment through to say I've been booked in for 6 weeks time..... I was horrified and thought they'd made a mistake or were going to send me another appointment for next week aswell.... I called and they told me, Sorry this is the earliest we can do. 3 days after having the catheter fitted I was in so much discomfort, could barely move around and when I emptied my bowels urine leaked from the entry point and would sting so bad, blood stained weeping from the area, just basically awful... I made a few calls to midwife dept etc and just got directed back to a&e. I went back to a different bigger hospital hoping for someone to help, bloods were taken and they said all fine, urine sample had small amount of blood and white cells, I asked if they could take it out because of the discomfort but they said they can't, it's a foreign object in me so it's normal to feel this way, I also asked why this was happening and they said they wont know until they see me in 6 weeks.... I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through 6 weeks like this, look after family, go to work and just get on with life?.... The only time I feel ok is when I'm laying down flat. I guess I just feel like they've left me to it for 6 weeks just to get on with it, they don't even seem interested in the pregnancy. I feel like there's nothing I can do, even though it's sore. I really just hoped they'd see me in a week and see if I can urinate on my own but they've sent me away for what feels like an unbearable amount of time. I've been sitting in shallow salt bath to try and keep clean. Any advice?

Not quite the same, but I had one after a bladder operation for a few months. My bladder prolapsed following pregnancy (I have a bicornuate uterus). It was really difficult to leave the house with it, as it would slide down my leg. I did multiple all day trials without, sitting in the waiting room for 10 hours sometimes. It was many years ago but I do get infections a lot since. I’d stop all caffeine and if you do drink, stick to watery things like lager. I live on nettle tea which stops me retaining. There’s a pukka one called Radiance you can buy on Amazon - I drink it every morning. You can also get urine test sticks so that you can see if you have an infection. Check you aren’t constipated as that can affect your bladder. Can you work from home at all? You could ask to speak to occupational health and ask for some temporary changes to your job if it’s possible.

Poor you, I’m wincing reading that. Antenatal urinary retention is usually caused by a mechanical obstruction on the bladder neck ie the growing uterus. It is most likely to happen if you have a retroverted uterus (facing the back rather than the front): in this orientation the bladder is more likely to get trapped and kinked by the uterus, essentially making you unable to wee. If this is the issue, it usually spontaneously resolves by mid second trimester, when the uterus moves out of the pelvis and becomes an abdominal organ. So if this is the cause of your retention, it’s not unusual to need catheter from several more weeks. Sorry, not what you want to hear I’m sure.

However: a catheter should not be causing you pain or bleeding. It sounds very much like you may have a catheter-associated UTI, and it is not recommended to wait for lab results before starting treatment in pregnant women. It sounds like you need antibiotics ASAP, and most pharmacists can prescribe them now. Has a specimen actually been sent off? If not, it needs to be.

Also, re-reading your symptoms, has the original catheter been replaced at all? If not, that certainly needs doing, both to give you a fresh sterile system, and to ensure the balloon hasn’t been displaced and that is what is causing you the pain. On a practical note, the catheter is not dragging is it? Is the tubing secured/have you got a leg bag? Again any pulling on the system can traumatise your urethra as the balloon sits just above this in your bladder. And don’t raise the bag above bladder height (to prevent urine free draining back into the bladder).

More long-term suggestion: absolutely avoid getting constipated – this can play havoc with a catheter placement and can cause lots of discomfort. Also drink well, lots of water; avoid carbonated, caffeinated and citrus drinks which can all cause bladder irritability. Good hygiene around the catheter insertion site: warm water douches (sitting on the loo) should be fine, and especially after opening your bowels.

But it does sound like you would be a candidate for intermittent self-catheterisation: this is significantly more comfortable, would give you more “normal” control back and reduce the risks associated with UTI (and these risks are higher in pregnancy) This is something usually managed by the uro-gynae specialist nurses. Have you been referred to them?

Not quite the same but I had a nephrostomy in my first pregnancy and my appointment to have it removed kept being cancelled and it was genuinely one of the worst times of my life, I was in so much pain and couldn’t do anything except lie down it was awful so huge sympathies for you, I’d keep calling to see if any cancellations come up

I had something similar and went private. NHS was not helpful, I would ssy completely useless

I had this ages ago when pregnant (my daughter is now 18) so I can't remember times or dates very well, but I went in for a scan and had to drink a lot of water before and then at a later point afterwards I couldn't pee. Ended up in A and E. They wanted me to stay in, but I persuaded them to let me self catheterize which was surprising straightforward so I went home and the situation resolved itself after about week. As a pp said, it was to do with having a retroverted uterus and I had the same problem briefly after giving birth but this soon resolved itself. I'm sorry I can't remember the details for this as it was so long ago, but just wanted to say that you are not alone and as a pp suggested, maybe worth asking if you can self catheterize. To reassure you, I've never had the problem again after pregnancy.

To add to the above, thinking about it, it was after the second scan when it happened so later than you if relevant at all.

Thank you everyone who took the time to reply, it has really helped. To keep it short, the situation became worse and I ended up back in hospital, I am pleased to say that the catheter was removed and I have since been able go on my own, although at night time it tends to be difficult but once I'm up and about in the morning it becomes easier. Hoping that will be the end of that nightmare 🙏🏼

Oh that’s a relief for you.