A DU Series... Storytime: Near Death Experiences

[mnhtnbb]

29. I missed your story when you posted it: my OB nicked my bladder when he did a C-section

to deliver my second son. That pregnancy is a story in and of itself ( 4 1/2 months on bedrest to keep
from losing the baby--with a circlage--AFTER our daughter had been stillborn at 22 weeks a year earlier).
Anyway, our first had been delivered C-section and after a trial of labor with this baby, OB said, no,
let's do the C-section.

So, he nicks the bladder when he opens me up, but does the repair, so no leaking into the abdominal cavity.


BUT, almost 2 years later I'm admitted to hospital with a raging bladder/kidney infection and really high temp.
After an allergic response to the IVP dye (that was weird, I started sneezing uncontrollably, my throat is tightening and all of a sudden
the radiologist is brought in and administers Benadryl) and other tests, the urologist discovers that when the OB nicked my
bladder he also cut a nerve that controls emptying the bladder. So for the last couple of years, unbeknownst to me, my bladder
does not empty by itself and a small amount of urine remains providing a great place for bacteria to grow.

Long story short--I told the urologist "no more surgery" and I've lived with this situation ever since (about 25 years). I use the heel of
my hand to press on the bladder in order to fully empty it. Screw surgeons. I won't have surgery unless it's absolutely necessary (and I waited
as long as I could before having a hip replacement in 2007).

Scary stuff.