Radiation side effect problems for Self catheters?

[Barlow1]

hello all!

Here is my question.

I have Stage 4…one bone met

I also self catheter permanently for atonic bladder.

I am about to undergo radiation. I’m aware that a common side effect can be irritated and painful urethra possibly permanent.

If so…will I no longer be able to self cathrter? (Due to pain)

Being forced to have a permanent catheter as a result of radiation is a quality of life factor I’m extremely concerned about.

Have any of you self catheter people had intolerable side effects after radiation forcing you to use a permanent catheter!

[Tall_Allen]

What does your radiation oncologist say?

[Shorter]

I have a similar problem with a catheter, but not sure if a permanent one will help you. I had a surgery after my radiation that required having a catheter in afterwards. I ate Hydrocodone like candy for a few days until they pulled out the catheter. The pain was unbearable, but I had immediate relief when the pulled it out. The doctor told me they thought it was from radiation damage. At this point I am scared to death of anything that might require hospitalization. Sorry.

[Barlow1 in reply to Shorter]

thanks…ouch!

Yes…my problem is that due to an Atonic bladder I will have to self catheter the rest of my life. I’m afraid that post radiation will make it impossibly painful to stick a self catheter up there 6-8 times a day.,and the only other option is a permanent catheter put in which you said was unbearable.

I’m trying to research before I do radiation since this could potentially lead to years of unbearable pain

Better to know before I do it!

Thanks again

[j-o-h-n]

This may not apply to your situation:[

Greetings: Radiation - I've posted this before so to those people who have already seen this please forgive me.

I had 8 weeks of salvage radiation to "the bed". 5 days a week (not weekends) for 8 weeks minus 1 day for a total of 39 sessions at MSKcc. The actual radiation was like getting an x-ray by my dentist. I never had any side effects during the whole 39 sessions. However, 2 years later my left urinary tract was "fried" as per my urologist (or from passing prior kidney stones he was not sure). So, I had to have a urinary stent placed up my urinary tract (through my willy which is really nothing - sounds terrible but it's nothing) to aid in passing my urine (which was never a problem anyway). So I had stents in and out every three months for many years and now I'm stent free, However today 15% of urine from left kidney and 85% from right kidney, but not a problem. So make sure you get a good radiologist. Also, I don't know if this would apply to you but guys here recommend SPACEOAR HYDROGEL to be inserted for protection of parts of your body. Make sure you ask your R.O. about the spaceoar and make sure you ask here on this forum before getting fried.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 03/24/2023 3:03 PM DST

[Barlow1]

thanks so much j o h n

Glad you are stent free!

Going thru all you went thru sounds terrible ..and while also having to stick a self catheter up there all day every day or having a permanent catheter inserted…

Sounds like radiation and self cathetering for life are a potentially catastrophic combination!

Anybody else out there sailed thru radiation while continuing to catheter?

[Omalley]

I had radiation fifteen years ago and two years ago the VA found stones and the left kidney swollwen and only doing 25% of the work, after numerous proceedures the left and right ureters ended up restricted. I then went to UCSD and got the best urethral implantation surgeon in the South West, Dr. Jill Buckley, she said my ureters were bad from the radiation, she cut out the bad part and reimplanted both of them, that was Dec 12th and as of now I'm fine. I had stents for awhile which caused bleeding, I plugged up twice and ended up in the ER, had a catheter several times longest time was ten days. The stents caused concern due to the bleeding but not too much pain, the catheter was uncomfortable and hindered every day activities but not really painful. I don't think the radiation should make you self cathing any worse since the catheter doesn't go through the urether only the urethra. Don't know if I'd do radiation if I could go back but I have had fifteen fairly trouble free years. Some of my friends that had surgery have had bad outcomes but some didn't. It's hard to chose.