Re: Warning: Completely Unmentionables.
Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 1:44 pm
Some 2 years after experiencing my last UTI, I was examined by the Doctor at the time - who advised me that I had an enlarged Prostate, but there was no cause for concern as the condition typically affects older men such as myself. I got on with life as usual.
Even so, in late March of this year, one day I couldn’t urinate as usual. A day later I visited my Doctor, who said that I had bladder retention. I required Hospital admission to have it drained. I was admitted within the hour. The cause of my problem was the enlarged/benign Prostate.
Via a Catheter, they drained 2.2 Litres from my bladder (what a relief). After 3 days of observation I was sent home with an attached ‘in-dwelling’ (self-draining bag) Catheter. This was then changed to a Catheter with a ‘flip-flop’ tap (no bag) that I would simply open/close when I wanted to use the bathroom.
On returning home, I had also contracted Covid resulting from my Hospital confinement - and had to recover from that, too.
At home, the key problem, even when wearing loose-fitting Joggers, was that the catheter tap would regularly/inadvertently open from the mere action of walking, causing ‘spillage’. Plus, getting my Joggers caught around the toilet bowl (because of the very short-length tap) was unhygienic. Shorts were not an option, as they interfered with opening/closing the tap.
My Daughter’s forthright observation was that “You’ll have to wear a Skirt” - which was the completely practical solution to my predicament. All I had to do was raise my below-the-knee length Skirt above my waist to successfully to visit the bathroom, with zero ‘spillage’. My chosen length Skirt masked the flip-flop to others when I sat down or when walking around the house.
On such cool Spring days, to ward-off the chill on my legs, I took to wearing a sheer stocking on one leg and a matching sheer knee-high on the other leg (that didn’t impede the tap). On wearing such a below-the-knee length Skirt it looked as though I was wearing sheer stockings on both legs.
I took the opportunity to advise other family members that I had little choice but to buy some Skirts for the sake of hygiene/practically (with no negative response received).
I’ve since had the in-dwelling Catheter removed, with daily medication to ease any tension between Bladder and Prostate during bathroom visits. I’ve now been prescribed with ‘self-catheterisation’ - that is self-implemented thrice daily to ensure that my Bladder is empty. It sounds far worse than it is in reality. Early on, in-between each use I resorted to wearing pads for security, but have since dispensed with them as natural flow when standing-up has returned.
I now have to wait up to 6 months before I can get an appointment with the Urology Consultant to ascertain what further action, if any, is required. Meanwhile, regular outpatients appointments ensure regular contact between myself and the Hospital.
Even so, in late March of this year, one day I couldn’t urinate as usual. A day later I visited my Doctor, who said that I had bladder retention. I required Hospital admission to have it drained. I was admitted within the hour. The cause of my problem was the enlarged/benign Prostate.
Via a Catheter, they drained 2.2 Litres from my bladder (what a relief). After 3 days of observation I was sent home with an attached ‘in-dwelling’ (self-draining bag) Catheter. This was then changed to a Catheter with a ‘flip-flop’ tap (no bag) that I would simply open/close when I wanted to use the bathroom.
On returning home, I had also contracted Covid resulting from my Hospital confinement - and had to recover from that, too.
At home, the key problem, even when wearing loose-fitting Joggers, was that the catheter tap would regularly/inadvertently open from the mere action of walking, causing ‘spillage’. Plus, getting my Joggers caught around the toilet bowl (because of the very short-length tap) was unhygienic. Shorts were not an option, as they interfered with opening/closing the tap.
My Daughter’s forthright observation was that “You’ll have to wear a Skirt” - which was the completely practical solution to my predicament. All I had to do was raise my below-the-knee length Skirt above my waist to successfully to visit the bathroom, with zero ‘spillage’. My chosen length Skirt masked the flip-flop to others when I sat down or when walking around the house.
On such cool Spring days, to ward-off the chill on my legs, I took to wearing a sheer stocking on one leg and a matching sheer knee-high on the other leg (that didn’t impede the tap). On wearing such a below-the-knee length Skirt it looked as though I was wearing sheer stockings on both legs.
I took the opportunity to advise other family members that I had little choice but to buy some Skirts for the sake of hygiene/practically (with no negative response received).
I’ve since had the in-dwelling Catheter removed, with daily medication to ease any tension between Bladder and Prostate during bathroom visits. I’ve now been prescribed with ‘self-catheterisation’ - that is self-implemented thrice daily to ensure that my Bladder is empty. It sounds far worse than it is in reality. Early on, in-between each use I resorted to wearing pads for security, but have since dispensed with them as natural flow when standing-up has returned.
I now have to wait up to 6 months before I can get an appointment with the Urology Consultant to ascertain what further action, if any, is required. Meanwhile, regular outpatients appointments ensure regular contact between myself and the Hospital.