*URGENT* Have friend in hospital...

[FourArms]

... following a gall bladder operation. She had the op yesterday, and has been unable to have a wee since then. She's had a scan and has a full bladder, but nothing happens when she sits on the loo. She's tried running taps and pouring water on herself, but it hasn't helped. They don't want to catheterise her because of her age (?) (she's about 26). She feels like she's desperate to go to the loo, and is in pain because of it, and not drinking because she doesn't want it to get any worse.

Any ideas gratefully received!

I don't get the not wanting to catheterise her because of her age thing. Women that age get catheterised during c-sections all the time.

I thought that... and she's had two c-sections.

Seems it's not uncommon (have been googling), but she should have had restricted fluids pre/post op until she was passing urine. Since her bladder is painfully full I can't see why they can't help.

Why won't they cath her?

That's ridiculous and dangerous.

It's quite common after ops under GA to have problems like this because the organs can take a while to wake up.

I had it happen after a knee operation.

Went to A&E, nurse cath'd me, I stayed in and drank, had a wee on my own, went home.

Have just done some research, and being over-distended (500ml+ in bladder) for over 4 hours can cause long term damage. She's been feeling like this since 4pm yesterday!! Have just said she needs to complain LOUDLY! This is all via FB so can't go in and help.

I'd keep ringing the call bell. Over and over.

Agree with expat re the GA. Happened to me too.

Your friend should kick off big time, it's not at all good to have a full bladder and can lead to urine going back into the kindeys casuing an UTI or kidney infection!!

Idiots.

The muscle at the base of the bladder sometimes goes into spasm if a patient's had a procedure on their abdomen, she shouldn't be left with a full bladder though, they really do need to allow the urine to run out, tell her to get onto them about this.

This happened to my mum, she ended up needing a catheter for months, it came out a few weeks ago and now she's back in hospital with a UTI again.

Haven't heard back from her for a while, so hope they'e sorting it all out now! Thanks for all the feedback.

I hope she's on the mend really soon. You are a lovely friend to care so much.