Medical fun update - TWOC
Jul. 14th, 2011 04:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dormouse1953So I got called into hospital for tests today. I probably should have gone in last week, but it looks like my referral didn't get referred properly.
This is what they called a TWOC, a test without catheter. They took the catheter out first thing, which wasn't as painful as I thought it might be, and then sat back and waited to see what happened. Which was basically nothing. After a couple of hours, I felt like peeing, but nothing came out but a drop. (I'd been given a jug to measure how much urine I was passing. I really needed a micro-pipette.)
Another couple of hours more and still nothing, and it was getting uncomfortable again. The catheter went back in, only this time I've been given a valve not a bag, which is more comfortable walking, but I have to remember to empty the bladder.
Apparently, the bladder probably got so stretched two weeks ago, it might just be difficult to get enough pressure to empty it normally. She is going to prescribe something that might help this and I'll go back next week to try this again. Only trouble was, she couldn't find a suitable urology doctor to sign the prescription, so I'll have to pick it up tomorrow. After that, there'll be an appointment with a specialist.
It's looking doubtful I'll make Worldcon this year. I was about to book a flight the day this problem came up and didn't feel well enough to do so. Since then, I've held off to see what happens, but I don't like the idea of travelling with a catheter, taking things like urine bags with me, and what happens if I need to see a doctor while away. I have annual medical insurance with Amex, but I'm sure that won't help if I fly with an existing medical condition.
This will be the first Worldcon I've missed since 1982.
This is what they called a TWOC, a test without catheter. They took the catheter out first thing, which wasn't as painful as I thought it might be, and then sat back and waited to see what happened. Which was basically nothing. After a couple of hours, I felt like peeing, but nothing came out but a drop. (I'd been given a jug to measure how much urine I was passing. I really needed a micro-pipette.)
Another couple of hours more and still nothing, and it was getting uncomfortable again. The catheter went back in, only this time I've been given a valve not a bag, which is more comfortable walking, but I have to remember to empty the bladder.
Apparently, the bladder probably got so stretched two weeks ago, it might just be difficult to get enough pressure to empty it normally. She is going to prescribe something that might help this and I'll go back next week to try this again. Only trouble was, she couldn't find a suitable urology doctor to sign the prescription, so I'll have to pick it up tomorrow. After that, there'll be an appointment with a specialist.
It's looking doubtful I'll make Worldcon this year. I was about to book a flight the day this problem came up and didn't feel well enough to do so. Since then, I've held off to see what happens, but I don't like the idea of travelling with a catheter, taking things like urine bags with me, and what happens if I need to see a doctor while away. I have annual medical insurance with Amex, but I'm sure that won't help if I fly with an existing medical condition.
This will be the first Worldcon I've missed since 1982.
