Urine Retention

I am 34 and four weeks post-op from a total hyster w/bladder, rectal, vaginal repair(From total vaginal vault collapse). I wore the cath/bag for one week, at check up my bladder didn't work so I had to keep the bag on for another 2 weeks. At this check up they where shocked to find it still didn't work. They taught me how to catherize every three to four hours. They are telling me time will retrain my bladder to work, I have my doubts. No one at any time mentioned the chance of my bladder not working. Has ANYONE had these problems? If so can anyone give me some pointers to help the situation or any words of encouragment that my bladder will be retrained? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Nancy
[Edited by KittyRobb on 10-11-2000]

I surely know how you feel. I have had my cathador since my surgery Oct 2nd. I had a vaginal total hyterectomy and bladder tuck. I am getting tired of wearing this darn thing. I know that I would feel better if I wasn't wearing this thing.
Someone gave me some advice, just to hang in there and have patience. It will work slowly but surely. It takes time for the swelling to come down. There was a lot of work done on the insides of you, so your systems is probably trying to heal.
Take care and keep us posted!!

Dear Nancy,
I had exactly what you're dealing with, besides that Im also 34. I know how frustrated and scared you are thinking things are never going to work again. When they first told me I had to self cath I thought they were nuts. Im 4 wks post of tommorow and just a few days ago could go completely on my own. I started about a week ago able to go just a little and that was pretty sparatic. What we figured out, once I was able to go a little was that I was still on some med called detrol which is a bladder relaxer. (After cath was taken out at home first time and it didn't work I got really swollen and in trememdous pain so dr. prescribed it). Well with detrol the bladder wasn't stimulated enough to go, even though I more that felt the urge and like you tried getting the capacity up. Anyways quit the detrol and it made a huge difference. Things are still slow but no more cath. They kept telling me to relax (warm water, tap running etc.) didn't help. Body just needed to heal on it's own. It'll happen. Take care, sorry so long Allison