Nursing and Interstim

School is going really well. It has been crazy though, there is just a ton of information to take in and I miss a lot. The teachers talk really fast and I am not able to grasp everything they say. Luckily though between a few friends in class I have been able to get info that I may have missed.

We had a practice test to give us an idea of how the real test would go. Afterwards I felt really confidant that I had done a great job. It seemed as if everyone had the same answers. Well, the results came back and I made a 68 I was bummed. The passing grade is a 78. 77 or below is considered failing.

I have been studying my butt off, and the questions I missed were because of stupid stuff. I really kicked myself in the butt for that.

We took our real test 2 days later and I made an 82. I wish I could have done better, but I was just glad that I passed. I felt really bad for my bnbe (best nursing buddy ever). She made a 74 and had to do remediation. She studied so hard. But the test is not like "what is the definition of...?" It is critical thinking. It gives you a situation and asks which is the best or what you do first. All of the answers are something you would do, but you have to choose the best answer so it is difficult.

We had a surprise drug test on Tuesday. That morning I had draken 1 bottle of water, 1 glass of apple juice, and 1 glass of coffee. That is more than enough to make someone want to pee, but for me its a no go. So, the teacher comes in and says dont get up, dont leave your desk, we are doing a drug test. Luckily I had 2 bottles of water in my bag so I started chugging.

Lucky me, my name starts with a C so I was called pretty quickly. I told the lady doing it that I have bladder problems and she just told me to sit and try. I really dont think she believed me. So, I sat there for 20 minutes pushing and trying to go. I know that any normal person would have been able to if they had drank as much as me, but I was not. I couldnt go. I pushed and tried so hard and it wouldnt come.

What was worse, about 10 minutes into me trying, the other lady steps in and says "We need to get someone in here who can pee." That really hurt my feelings. I felt so bad, so inadequate. So they started bringing in other people to pee. After about 20 minutes of sitting there it finally came. I was so glad, but so embarrassed. I just wish they had let me wait until my bladder was ready.

I went to my urologist on Thursday. My retention is getting a little better, but I am still having problems feeling the senstion when my bladder is full. I have to wait until I am about to explode before I can pee. And even then I cant get it all out. Sometimes I can, just depending on how long I have had the sensation to go, but not always. Its really weird.

So, the dr is going to try an Interstim. It is like a pacemaker for the bladder and colon. It sends electric signals to the sacral nerves that tell them to work. On Thursday he is going to give me a temporary one. There will be probes that will go under the skin of my back and a huge batter pack that will be taped to my back. I will have to wear it for 48 hrs. If it works that means that I have nerve damage and would explain my retention problems. If it works, then he will put a permenant one in. The permenant one is the size of a credit card and goes into the skin of my back. You cant even really see it but I would have a small scar from where it was put. That one gets a remote control so you can turn it off and on, and control how often you get the signals.

I am really excited about this and hope it works. Its kind of cool thinking about it. I am such a dork, but I am tired of taking flomax. I feel like such an old man. I mean I am 27 and the only reason I can pee is because of a prostrate drug. It is just frustrating.

If this works, then I will get a medical card that I will have to carry around. It is metal so that means no MRI's and no metal detectors. Could you imagine getting an MRI with metal in your back? OUCH that would hurt tearing out of your skin!

So, wish me luck that this treatment will work. My loving hubby is getting frustrated too. He was hoping that I would be better by now, and I was too. URGH!!!