My Incontinence - Part 2

What is urethra diverticulum?

Urethral diverticulum is a rare condition where an unwanted pocket or sac forms along the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. UD is much more common in females than in males and usually appears between the ages of 40 and 70. The origin of acquired UD has recently been attributed to repeated infections and/or obstruction of the periurethral glands with subsequent obstruction eventually evolving into UD. Although some earlier studies have suggested congenital causes or trauma experienced during childbirth. Due to its location, it can become filled with urine or even pus.

Whenever You Are Ready

Some time in early 2021, Monica shared that another patient of hers had the same condition and she went to see a urologist who recommended that there was no need for any invasive procedure. I jumped with excitement! Yay! No need for any surgery!

I made an appointment to see Dr Shirley Bang from Advanced Urology.

I brought my X-rays, MRI scans etc and walked in with a glimmer of hope, looking forward to an alternate opinion. 

Dr Shirley reinforced that only a surgical procedure can remove the diverticulum and resolve the issue. As a mum herself, she understood my circumstances at that time.  

“But it is not life-threatening, so come back whenever you are ready”.

When will I be ready?

There were so many things to consider.

The physical discomfort.

The thought of going into the Operating Theatre again.

The thought of needing 2 weeks downtime due to the catheter. 

The thought of possible complications. 

But it is not sorted, I could foresee impending problems too. 

The bladder will start picking up on bad habits and eventually other issues of incontinence may likely arise, in addition to this original problem.

Getting ready for the endoscopy at Mt E Hospital

By the time of visit to Dr Shirley’s, I knew deep inside that I was already starting to cultivate bad voiding habits. I would go to the bathroom and take an unusually long time on the toilet bowl, in the hope that I would have emptied everything, so that no leaks would come later. But it never worked. And after I felt leaks, I would have the tendency to run to the bathroom again to try to ‘void any remaining fluid’. 

And it was never the bladder’s fault. 

It was the diverticulum. 

The reservoir of fluids caught in the diverticulum would leak anytime I got myself into a position that puts the slightest pressure on it. 

Eventually, a prolonged collection of a reservoir of urine would encourage infections too.

So I got myself mentally ready for it.

But with the husband out-stationed for a year in 2021, there was zero opportunity for downtime. 

2022 it shall be. 

References:

​​https://www.washington.edu/urology/urethral-diverticulum/

https://www.urologysingapore.com/urethral-diverticulum 

<< Click here to Read Part I