Comfortable Bladder Solution for IMRT & SBRT Figured Out- Hope it is Useful!

[JWS13]

I have had now 11 IMRT treatments at UCLA with Dr. KIshan and they have been terrific EXCEPT for the "comfortable full bladder issue" which was like waterboarding for the first couple of treatments...

Here is the formula I developed for the "full bladder " issue and it has worked every time. (no urgency, all 85-100% full bladder!). I won't do the math for you , you can extract it from my example:

Appointment time 4:10.

Drank water (one 12 oz bottle ) at home in morning until 2pm.

At 3pm voided at home and left for UCLA.

Got to UCLA at 3:30-

At ucla started drinking (12 oz bottle) at 3:38 (every 2 minutes until finished at 3:48.. waited till appt at 4;10...perfect every time. (85-100% full everytime) Was shown scan each time.

ABSOLUTELY NO URGENCY!...(all body types are different but this should work for most)

[EaNa]

Thanks for the tip. Very timely as I'm about to start an EBRT series myself.

[bkjamjets]

Good to hear you found your stride for the radiation treatments Jeffrey! Every patient has to "break the code" for their own physiology and I'm glad you kept at it and succeeded. I was a little low on my 3rd treatment (of 5). The techs were super patient and hand held two bottles for me while I was in treatment position ("in bore", with bendy straws). Hard to drink flat on my back, waited 10 minutes after each one to check bladder response. Finally got there and treatment proceeded. I felt terrible about it because I was the first treatment of the day and I'm sure I made them be late all day! I hope your SE's remain tolerable, Ben

[JWS13 in reply to bkjamjets]

bk..did you have imrt or sbrt...how many tx's , what SE's did you end up with? and how did you resolve them...I am having some urinary cystitis...(taking flomax)...thanks

[bkjamjets]

5 SBRT treatments on the ViewRay @ UCLA in November (you and I talked on the phone) ... I'm taking Flowmax too. Had a very little bit of general malaise at end of treatment which lasted a day or 2. Urinary, a little bit, highly managable: urgency, frequency. No complaints, all as expected. Cheers!