Bladder Botox == Awesome

[nayr]

I think awesome is probably the best word I can use to describe my experience with bladder botox injections.

I'm 3 years post injury and up until a few weeks ago, I had been wearing condom catheters with the nice tube leading to a collection bag either strapped to my leg or hooked on the end of the bed. This had become my normal way of living. My insurance recently approved me for bladder botox injections and I had the procedure done shortly after receiving the approval. I am amazed! I am totally condom catheter/leg bag/bed bag free! And I have had 0 leaks - even at night! I still find myself tapping my left calf where my leg bag used to hang to see if I need to empty the bag, only to find that there is no bag.

I know it will eventually wear off and I'll need to have the procedure done again, but to me it's worth it. It's a nice bit of freedom. Just thought I'd share.

[mamadavid]

Thanks for the post. What's your system now? Intermittent cathetrisation?

[diaspora]

im happy for you
I also had good luck with the botox treatment
although it has been close to a year now, it has considerably worn off, but still better than before the treatment; I wonder when is a good time to get another shot

[woman from Europe]

I did it in July and I was with the urologist in February and since it was still working, he told me to come back in the summer.

But I thought it was very painful, I was crying the whole hour he was using to set the needles. I am not sure if I want to do it again because of that. And I am bored of using a catheter.

[JoeMonte]

It works for some . For me it did not work after a week. I had three different injections . My urologist said the catheter insertion smooths the botox and causes the leaks. I am glad it worked on you.

[nayr]

Originally Posted by mamadavid

Thanks for the post. What's your system now? Intermittent cathetrisation?

Yes I cath intermittently about every 3-4 hours (I get 7 kits a day)

[nayr]

Originally Posted by woman from Europe

I did it in July and I was with the urologist in February and since it was still working, he told me to come back in the summer.

But I thought it was very painful, I was crying the whole hour he was using to set the needles. I am not sure if I want to do it again because of that. And I am bored of using a catheter.

They put me completely under anesthesia for the procedure. I doubt I would have had much discomfort from it if I had been awake since I have almost 0 feeling down there. It was nice to go to sleep all happy from the meds and wake up with it all done. It was outpatient and we were out of the hospital before noon.

[nayr]

Originally Posted by JoeMonte

It works for some . For me it did not work after a week. I had three different injections . My urologist said the catheter insertion smooths the botox and causes the leaks. I am glad it worked on you.

It wore off after a week for you? And by 3 different injections, did you mean injections 3 different times (3 sets), or just 3 individual injections as part of a single procedure? The doc told us he did 30 injections during my single procedure.

[stephen212]

Originally Posted by nayr

They put me completely under anesthesia for the procedure. I doubt I would have had much discomfort from it if I had been awake since I have almost 0 feeling down there. It was nice to go to sleep all happy from the meds and wake up with it all done. It was outpatient and we were out of the hospital before noon.

The anesthesia was used not shield you from the discomfort of the injections, since you have no sensation (like myself), but to control the very real likelihood of autonomic dysreflexia, including severe spikes in blood pressure.

[hlh]

Does anyone know if Medicare pays for botox for SCI/neurogenic bladder?