Urinary Incontinence Support Group

Botox for what specifically? There are a number of experimental botox treatments for urinary incontinence. They handle different types of incontinence. I was/am considering botox injections in my urinary sphincter due to retention issues. This would have the effect of rendering me completely incontinent for about 3-6 months.

I haven’t found anyplace that will do it or have even heard much about it. I’m not sure about insurance coverage. Hell, insurance doesn’t even cover diapers.

songshira,
I had Botox injections into my urinary sphincter through the winter of 1998-1999 and into the spring and summer of 1999. Perhaps the Botox formulation now used is different, but then my problem was that the injections wore off after successively shorter periods of time. Basically, they paralyzed the sphincter, so that I leaked continually while the injections worked; but, when they wore off, my sphincter clamped shut again. Coupled with excruciatingly painful bladder spasms, my situation made morphine necessary. This was only resolved when my urologist infused RTX, a nerve poison, into my bladder to kill the offending nerve endings, and gave me a sphincterotomy, so that I leak continually, and will for the rest of my life. The Botox will give you a good idea of what living with a sphincterotomy would be like, and, because they are temporary, would not entail the permanent commitment that a sphincterotomy would.

I cannot speak with any authority to insurance issues. However, because my bladder was threatening my kidneys with reflux damage, my insurance company gladly paid for it, as it was much cheaper than dialysis and a kidney transplant.

Hope this helps.

songshira,
One thing I forgot to mention: I reacted strongly to the anesthetic that was used, and needed home health care for the day after each injection. This may reflect my brain damage or some other quirk. However, if you do have difficulty with anesthesia, you may want to consider assistance following each shot.

The botox is injected into a number of places of the bladder wall. The aim is to paralyse various sections of my bladder so that when my bladder contracts involuntarilary the spasm doesn't travel to the whole bladder and it cuts down on the amount of spasms happening overall. Earlier tests showed that too much botox paralysed too much of the bladder and caused the bladder to overfill. My clinic seems to have the balance about right now.

Ironically, the procedure is covered by insurance, but they don't cover any of my supplies. *grrr*

songshira,
This is a new one for me. My urologist used RTX to do about what your urologists seem to be doing with Botox. Live and learn.

Is RTX medication? They use that too, but this has the potenial for me being off meds for the period whilst the botox is working.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrep...
gives some more info.

songshira,
RTX is a nerve poison. At the time it was administered, my bladder held a measured 1.25 ozs.; gradually, in the months afterwards, my bladder capacity increased to some 11 ozs.. I do not know what it is now. The RTX did not wear off, like the Botox. And, the sphincterotomy is permanent, really permanent, so you do not want to go that route unless you have no alternative, and you fully understand what it will do to your lifestyle.

I should have said, above, that I got the Botox injections from November, 1998 to June, 1999. I forgot that folks in the southern hemisphere have different seasons.