Question: Greetings. I'm a 61 y/0 t-12 paraplegic of unknown etiology. Disability began in 1993. I also have a history of prostate cancer with imrt as my treatment modality. Radiation was completed appx. 10 yrs. ago. For about the first 15 yrs. of disability I self cathed a few times a day with very few uti's. About 4 yrs. ago passing a catheter while sitting in my w/chair became impossible. A catheter would however pass easily while lying supine. lying down to XXXXXXX throughout the day isn't an option. I've been managing my bladder with an 18 gauge indwelling Foley catheter for these past four years. The catheter is changed every 4-6 weeks.
Two or three days prior to each change I can remove the Foley and easily self XXXXXXX while seated. My urologist has been advocating a sphincterotomy which is what I've been trying to avoid for some years now. It's very important to me to get back to self catheterizing. Can you make any suggestions?
Thank you.