something weird happened to me the other day

[Riki]

The nurses didn't seem to have an answer for me, in fact, the head nurse at my unit laughed and walked away.  And yes, before you ask, I did complain.

I got home from dialysis on Monday, and as I normally do, I went into my bedroom, turned the tv on to watch Wheel of Fortune and then turned to my computer, which is on a table mate, next to the bed.  As I was sitting there, I felt like I needed to pee.  I haven't peed in 4 years, but I get this feeling all the time.  I ignored it, like I always do, but this time, I actually peed.  It wasn't much, but it was enough to make me wet and uncomfortable.  I went to the bathroom to check and make sure that was what it was, and not something else, like blood, that came out, and when I sat on the toilet, I peed again.  It scared me, because it's not something I expected to happen.  I joked with some friends on twitter after it happened, saying that it was the beginning of my miracle cure, but I was really terrified that there was something really wrong with me.

When I went into dialysis on Wednesday, I told this to one of the nurse, who seemed concerned as well, so she called over the head nurse, who, like I said, laughed and walked away, without answering any of the questions I had.

I figure, with the huge consensus here, I should at least get some of my questions answered, like...

Is this normal?

Even though I had no other symptoms, like fever or pain, should I have gotten them to test for infection?

Is this a sign of some other underlying problem, not related to the kidneys?

The whole thing freaked me out.. it's still kinda freaking me out, even though it's almost a week later. I'm wondering if I should start going to the bathroom when I feel the need, even though 99 times out of a hundred, nothing is going to happen... maybe more than that.

[Ang]

i'd be asking for a set of bloods to be done,ask your neph about it on your next visit

would be interested to hear the conclusion

[Riki]

My nephrologist is a dick. I don't think he'd have a clue.  All he really cares about is riding his motorcycle and playing golf.  I don't think he'd have much to say about me peeing myself after 4 years or not peeing at all, that is, IF I see him before September.  There's no such thing as clinic visits for hemo patients

[okarol]

I can't believe the nurse laughed and walked away. What kind of care is that? 

[billybags]

You are in  a catch 22 with this. if your neph is a dick and the nurses laugh about this, and if your GP or what ever you call your local doctor is like owes and does  not know much about renal, only doling painkillers out, you stand no chance. Next time you go to hemo, be positive and tell them you want answers and stick to your guns. Four years is a long time to go with out peeing and then to pee, you want to know why. I bet it felt really weird to do that. Its like having your menepores, nothing for years and then whoops. Get it sorted. Take no prisoners

[Poppylicious]

Wow, Riki.  Laughed at you?  What kind of care is that?  I hope that it's just 'one of those things', but I also hope that they do some checks just to make sure there's no underlying cause (if only for your peace of mind.)

*huggles*

[Riki]

It hasn't happened again, and I have no other symptoms that say it might be an infection.  I did talk to the Neph yesterday when he was in, and he was a bit dumbfounded.  In our discussion, we've decided that my kidney does work just a tiny, tiny bit, enough that just a little bit of urine is made and does come out on it's own, but normally isn't enough for me to notice.  This time there was more, for some reason

We also joked that it might be the beginning of a miracle cure, but he said to not put all my eggs in that basket.*G*

I'm satisfied with this.. but I am disappointed that the nurse that laughed at me did not apologize

[Stacy Without An E]

Its times like these when you need to become a force to be reckoned with.  The staff @ my clinic knows after 7 yeare there are certain things I will not tolerate, and one of those is poor personnel.  Overall, I'm pretty fortunate because we usually only have trouble with traveling staff.  We've had incredibly bad luck bringing in people from across the country to "work" in my clinic.

Be firm.  Make your point known.  And keep forcing them to provide answers.  They are holding your life in their less than professional hands.  Demand better.

[rsudock]

after 4 years of not peeing do you still get the urge or feeling that you should go to the bathroom?

[Riki]

after 4 years of not peeing do you still get the urge or feeling that you should go to the bathroom?

I do, but I ignore it.  I used to go to the bathroom when I felt it, but when it got to a point where nothing ever came out, it seemed a pointless waste of time and energy to move if nothing was going to happen

[Jean]

Dang Riki, that is bizarre. Since no one will help you out, guess you will have to just sit tight and wait and see what happens. Wouldnt it be grand if your kidneys were recovering? How awesome.

[cath-hater]

Hey Riki -

Regardless if you are over-reacting or bringing up a legitimate issue, no nurse should ever just laugh it off. But as for the little mishap, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. It use to happen to me all the time. During my 9 years of D, I would get this urge to pee once in awhile. Most of the time, nothing would come out, but once ina blue moon, I would produce a little urine. Maybe enough to fill a teaspoon. I found that sometimes it's things that I eat or pills that I take could give the old kidneys a little jolt.

I don't think it's an underlying problem. Don't stress yourself over it. If anything, I would be kinda happy that I was able to get rid of some extra fluid.

[*kana*]

I don't have any kidneys and about once a week I get the urge to pee......I just relax and let the pee muscle go.  I get a tingly pee feeling down there and then it goes away.  I dont see why you couldnt be still producing urine. 

[Riki]

what scared me was that something actually came out, when nothing had come out in 4 years.  I figured that at this point, I probably had no function left in any of my kidneys. It just kind of weirded me out

[RichardMEL]

wow I don't blame you Riki!! After 4 years of nothing then to get that happen I'd freak out too and definitely be concerned that something was wrong. It's sort of encouraging(I guess) that it hasn't happened since - but that tends to discount the miracle theory - damnit

Maybe it's like your kidney producing little tiny bits over time all built up in the bladder and it got to a point where it decided to dump it all at once? Something like that? I dunno.. it's weird allright, but I suppose if it doesn't happen again, and your labs are OK.. just one of those things that happen....

I do think it is not cool to have laughed at you though - that head nurse should be more professional. Even if it does sound funny to them that's not the point. It's a reasonable thing to report as a change. Not cool in my book.

[kristina]

Hello, Riki, I was debating with myself whether or not to write,
because I am still pre-Dialysis with a kidney-function of 10-12%,
and I can’t really comment on Dialysis-experiences.

I think if something like that would happen to me
(if I were on Dialysis), I would just be too curious
and would have to find out my creatinine & urea.

If it would be confirmed there is a little kidney-function left,
I would encourage the little fighter with a particular kidney-friendly diet,
including perhaps a natural diuretic like a little portion of asparagus now and then
and I would do my very best and hope for the best.

As an “incurable-chronic optimist” I would do just that.

Best wishes from Kristina. 

[brandi1leigh]

after 4 years of not peeing do you still get the urge or feeling that you should go to the bathroom?

I do, but I ignore it.  I used to go to the bathroom when I felt it, but when it got to a point where nothing ever came out, it seemed a pointless waste of time and energy to move if nothing was going to happen

I pee about half the time I get the urge. I described it to my mom as being the same thing as people who lose a limb but still feel that it itches. Still, with me going about half the time, I can't ever ignore it.

[Riki]

Kristina, I've been on dialysis 7 years now. Even though I've been on dialysis twice before, this is the longest, and it's the first time that I've stopped peeing all together.  The first time, it slowed a bit, and the second, I wasn't on dialysis long enough for it to slow. It took a little more than 3 years for it to stop completely.  I'm not sure what a diuretic would do to me right now, probably nothing good.. *L*

Since it did appear to be a one time thing, I'm not worried about it

and yeah, Richard, so much for that miracle cure.. *LOL*

[billybags]

What a lot we are "to pee or not to Pee"  Hubby had to have his 4 drops of pee sent to the lab last week, it had got blood in it. He doesn't pee much at all,  dribble here and a dribble there. labs came back and they were clear but they need to have another sample. it is so funny we are actually collecting drips over a three day period. I have explained this to the GP's nurse and she looks quite amused. Do you think I should help him out. Lol

[Riki]

they'd be waiting a long time for those 3 drops from me, cuz it just don't come out.. *L*  it took four years for a dribble that wet my underwear enough that I noticed it, so.. yeah..

[Annig83]

http://www.aakp.org/aakp-library/Stop-Urinating/
I don't know if this will answer any questions for you, but it's more than what your doctor or nurses told you!  Good luck... I would look for a new team.

[Riki]

There's no such thing as a "new team" here. You go where you are told.  There is no changing centers as there are no other centers.  That's the thing with government run health care.  It's either good, or crappy.  There is no in between