Hi everyone,
this is my first post after months of reading threads. I gave birth almost 5 months ago - long labour ending with epidural, episiotomy, bit of ventouse. I couldn’t pee after the birth and they found 900ml in my bladder. I was catheterised twice - for 72 hours and then later for a further week. I passed (just!) the TWOC after those 10 days (peed 350ml and had 150ml residual which was apparently on the cusp but ok). Midwives and obstetrician thought I’d had some ‘nerve bruising’ and that it would all heal fine.
Things felt fine to start with apart from the first wee of the day which I often felt I wasnt fully emptying and had to double void. But the last 6 weeks I’ve felt like I have to double void more and more often to feel empty, and realised I was actually only doing small wees of 100-250ml.
Just had bladder scanned and they found 300ml remaining after first void, 170ml after second void. I’ve been told I’ll need to intermittently self catheterise at least until I can have urology tests to work out what’s wrong, and this may be permanent or temporary they don’t know.
im feeling super super down, and struggling with fear that my bladder has no chance of recovery now, especially given the time it’s taken to diagnose, almost 5 months after the birth.
Does anyone have any experience of this stuff? Has anyone had postnatal urinary retention that went on for months, and did it ever get better? When/how, if so? Am I looking at intermittent self catheterisation for the rest of my life? I’m so frightened and it’s ruining my maternity leave, ability to care for my lovely DS, mental health.
Any stories, advice or hope greatly appreciated 🙏