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My bladder, my life

Bladder management

  • Bladder types
  • Starting with catheters
  • Problems
  • Life hacks
  • Inside the bladder
  • Equipment
Problems
  • Working out what's wrong
    • I normally perform intermittent catheters and have recently started leaking in between
    • I have a suprapubic catheter and have recently started leaking out my penis or urethra
    • I’ve had lots of UTIs lately and they seem to keep coming back after I finish my antibiotics
    • I’m having trouble passing my catheter
  • Other problems
    • Watching your fluids
    • How to avoid a urinary tract infection (UTI)
    • Autonomic dysreflexia
    • Bladder and kidney stones
    • Prostatitis
    • Leaking
    • Bleeding
    • Vesicoureteral reflux
    • Hydronephrosis
    • Stricture
    • False passage
    • Catheter blockages
    • Bladder washout

    Bladder and kidney stones

    Urinary stones are a build-up of minerals in the urine that can eventually form a hard mass, called a stone. Stones occur in almost 25% of people with a spinal cord injury within the first 10 years.

    Risk factors for forming stones

    When the bladder doesn’t empty properly the minerals in the urine may form stones. SCI increases your risk of developing stones.

    One risk factor for stone formation post-injury is caused by increased calcium that is present in the urine because you are not using your bones to move around and they start to lose calcium. The body gets rid of the excess calcium via the urine. This excess calcium may start to bunch together over time and form a stone.

    Bladder stones are also more likely to form if there is a foreign body in the bladder such as an indwelling catheter.

    Signs and symptoms

    Bladder stones may not have any signs or symptoms and might be discovered during other tests or procedures.

    If a stone irritates the bladder there may be signs and symptoms such as:

    • Recurrent urinary tract infection
    • Autonomic dysreflexia
    • Lower abdominal pain
    • Leaking or frequent urination
    • Blood in your urine.

    Prevention of stones

    Because bladder stones form due to an underlying condition that is hard to prevent, it may be impossible to completely prevent them forming, however there are ways of minimising stone formation.

    If you have an indwelling catheter drink plenty of fluids (especially water). If your urine is less concentrated, there is a lower chance of a stone forming.

    Have regular check-ups. This can help detect a stone before it becomes a bigger problem.

    Autonomic dysreflexia
    Prostatitis

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    Quick links

    • Bladder types
    • Starting with catheters
    • Problems
    • Life hacks
    • Inside the bladder
    • Equipment

    About this resource

    This web resource is part of a research project to improve bladder management at the Austin, by increasing the use of intermittent catheterisation.

    The research project is funded by TAC.

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    This research project is brought to you by

    Austin Health
    TAC
    ISCRR
    WorkSafe

    Contacts

    Austin Health
    03 9496 5000
    Victorian Spinal Cord Service
    03 9496 5220
    Spinal Urology Nurse
    03 9496 5904
    spinalurologynurse@austin.org.au
    VSCS outpatient Nurse
    03 9496 5176
    vscsoutpatients@austin.org.au

    Disclaimer

    This information has been developed for Austin Health use and has been specifically designed for Austin Health. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. Austin Health accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed on this website. Written information should only be used in conjunction with advice from the health professional who is looking after you.

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