MS and your bladder

A year ago, I had a suprapubic catheter inserted into my bladder. It has changed my life.

Like me, many with MS have bladder problems. In one estimate provided by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, bladder problems affect at least 80 percent of those with MS. Typically in MS, bladder dysfunction occurs when nerve fibers are damaged, blocking or delaying nerve signals that control the bladder and the muscles surrounding it. Because of this, people with MS may have overactive bladder, underactive bladder, or both.

Bladder dysfunction can be embarrassing and can interfere with social outings and relationships. It can be isolating – making sufferers afraid to leave the house for fear of accidents or constantly needing to be near a restroom.

This was true for me. With my limited mobility, it came to a point that I couldn’t transfer to the toilet on my own. I had lost my independence. I tried medications but they didn’t help me enough. I needed a change.

A suprapubic catheter is a hollow flexible tube that drains urine from the bladder. It is inserted into the bladder through a cut a few inches below the navel. This is done as an outpatient procedure.

I have a tube running down the outside of my leg to a drainage bag hooked to my wheelchair. Because I don’t have to worry about finding a bathroom (let alone an accessible one!), I have less anxiety. I can go out again. Part of me is back.

Everyday Health: Coping with Bladder Dysfunction