Another step backwards

Dec 30th (I know I've been slack) Mark had his 'urgent' MRI. He got his monies worth this time, they did him twice, once without the dye in his system and once with it. You would think in this day and age of digital information, the results would be available pretty quickly, but no, still 10 days before they send it through to the Consultant, but what the heck, the Consultant is on holiday anyway so we have to wait for him to come back at the end of Jan!! So much for urgent. So we don't have any feedback on that yet - frustration levels are very high.

Yesterday we had to go back to Pinderfields again to see the Urologist to discuss why his bladder is not working properly and causing all the dysreflexia attacks - is it an independent problem or is it happening because there's a problem in his back. The Urologist is one of the good guys, Mark has respect for him. Unfortunately, he's not sure if it's because of other problems or just something that happens around this time following the accident. He told Mark that for 18 months his autonomic system will be in flux, learning how to deal with the change. That was a surprise, no one has told him that before. Anyway he discussed a number of options Mark has for the forseeable future to solve his bladder problem, there are drug options but the Urologist has no faith in them, there's a small op where the bladder sphincter is cut so the bladder is free draining, there's another op where part of the bowel is removed and added to increase the size of the bladder then it won't get to the stage where it wants to spasm to empty so won't cause dysreflexia. The most common solution is a SupraPubic catheter. It's a small op usually performed under a general anesthetic. He will only be in for the day.

An incision is made just above the pubic bone and a small hole is poked in the bladder and a catheter is inserted. It is held inside the bladder by a small balloon inflated with sterile water. The bladder then drains into an external leg bag as normal. The biggest benefit of this method is that it's totally reversible. So when the problems in his back are sorted out he may be able to train his bladder to work properly again. At that point the catheter is just removed the the hole heals over. Mark had his pre op assessment while we were there yesterday and he should have it done within the next 6 weeks. It will help in that we won't be worried about any more dysreflexia attacks but it's a backward step as far as Mark is concerned because it's a foreign body inside him and he wanted to avoid that at all costs.

On a positive note, house is progressing but it is slow!!! We should get our formal offer of a mortgage by the end of next week then it's over to the solicitors. Luckily we've got a good one - haven't we Mike!!!