I have suffered with Shy Bladder Syndrome for more than 50 years. One of my fears has always been having to be admitted to hospital. So far I have been lucky with my health. I eat healthy and try to stay fit.

However, with the current Covid-19 pandemic this has raised my anxiety levels with regard to hospitals. I am worried more about not being able to pee than I am the actual virus. I would be okay if I could get out of bed and use a private toilet but I could not imagine me being able to pee using a bed pan whilst lying in bed. If I was to require a ventilator would a catheter be fitted? Would Doctors, Nurses and other staff be sympathetic to shy bladder syndrome? So many questions.

Has anyone on this forum had experience of hospitals, perhaps having been admitted for an operation, who could offer me advice on how they coped or what the protocols are?

Hi Tom

A very natural worry. I know a person who took information about the condition and the UKPT with her and showed it to the consultant, with was very professional about it and gave specific instructions to the staff to accommodate her needs. So you could do the same.

If you were to be put on a ventilator, you would be unconscious, so it does not arise.

If bed-bound, you could have a permanent catheter put in, so your bladder would drain of its own accord.

Does that help?

Andrew

Hi Andrew

Thank you for the advice.

Regards

Tom

Being admitted to Hospital is my main worry, above everything else. I’ve had AP all my life, and let’s face it, the older you get the more likely the wheels will fall off and you may end up there. Lying in bed surrounded by others is I suppose the very worst situation for someone who has this affliction. But worrying won’t change anything, if you’re ill you’re ill. I think that the nurses and doctors should understand although it’s likely they’ve never heard of AP. but they’ll be familiar with milder cases of bashful bladder. A patient could ask for a bed bottle and keep it handy until things quieten down, say during the night. Worst case scenario is a catheter I suppose, so that is the ultimate sanction against AP. I just keep my ever ageing fingers heavily crossed!

Hi Ricky

You say the worst case scenario is a catheter. It is actually not what you think. I have tried one and it slides in easily with no pain at all. After all, they are used so much that the designs have evolved appropriately.
Hope that lessens your concern.

Andrew

AP has been the monkey on my back for many years and like many sufferers how I would cope in hospital has caused me concern.
Several weeks ago I had a serious accident, while decorating I fell off a ladder, and ended up in hospital flat on my back, no pillow, and ordered under no circumstances to get out of bed. I was given pee bottles but struggled to use them so told a nurse of the problem. A scan on my bladder was taken,a doctor sent for who then inserted a catheter. O the relief.
When the consultant came round I told him that I struggled to pee in the bottle and he said that so would he!