My dad who's got psp is having trouble going for a wee .he tried for a hour last night said could feel wanted to go but couldn't do it .wasn't until this morning he then went is this normal ? Also is coughing and spitting a lot more .
Any advice much appreciated
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Rocky3434
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I posted a similar comment a few years ago when my husband was having the same problem. Someone told me not to presume it was the PSP causing it but take him to the doctor. I did and the doctor sent him to the hospital for tests. They found he had an enlarged prostate which was causing the problem. Medication helped a lot. He had lots of tests but the doctor advised against more invasive ones which could diagnose cancer. He said if it was, the a PSP would progress quicker than the cancer so it was best left alone.
Difficulty in urinating is a very common symptom in older men and medication is effective so it’s worth getting it checked out.
My father experienced the same thing about a year ago (urinary retention-is what the doctors call this). He was catheterisded as an immediate remedy to the problem as an emergency procedure on the local hospital. This has ended up as a permanent catheter, and whilst not without its own issues, it in some ways has been a good thing. Prior to being catheterisded my father was up and down multiple times each night, and having frequent night time falls. Often he would not reach the bathroom in time which would mean my mother having to be on her hands and knees scrubbing the carpet in the middle of the night, on top of helping him at the bathroom and also managing the falls. The catheter has resulted in considerably improved sleep for both my parents, and considerably fewer falls. My father is now 100% wheelchair dependent and uses a sara steady for transfers in /out of bed, to the bathroom, etc. There have been countless issues with the 'bedding' on of the catheter /frequent uti's etc, but happily things seem quite settled at the moment. There were a lot of problems in the early months with it clogging, but a considerably wider bore tube is now fitted (I think it is a size 20- he was initially fitted with a size 12) and this seems to have pretty much fixed the issues.
The urinary retention was an alarming episode when it happened, but overall life is easier for my father now with the catheter. It's not as daunting as it might seem initially.
Rachel, our experience is very similar. Chris wears a Conveen as catheterisation was problematic with complications which led to hospital to be sorted. He had numerous falls before this whilst trying to pee but hopefully these are now a thing of the past.
He tends to retain urine if he has an infection and yesterday didnt pee for nearly 24 hours - he has a raging chest infection and is now back on antib's.
Interesting Anne. This is something I have never heard of before. How long has he been using the Conveen for and how do you rate it against conventional catheterization. As I mentioned, my Dad has had his fair share of catheter related problems. Things do seem stable right now and never good to rock the boat when there's not a problem, but it's interesting to hear there's an alternative. We have also had discussions about installing a suprapubic catheter, but again somewhat reluctant as this requires a general anaesthetic.
Who was it recommended your husband tries the Conveen?
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