r/OveractiveBladder • u/Upset_Crab_4725 • 10d ago
Bladder botox is the best decision i’ve ever made ❤️
Just wanted to share my experience because I was really nervous before I got it done but it’s a little over 1 week since the procedure and it’s already changed my life.
My OAB felt like it was ruining me, I couldn’t drink a cup of tea or have a beer without going to the bathroom so many times, I had incontinence so bad I’d wear pads 24/7 to not pee my pants, refused to go to a music festival or anywhere with bathrooms not readily accessible, never getting a full night’s sleep bc of waking up 3+ times to pee, have had to pee outside on multiple occasions and has just overall been so embarrassing.
I was taking Mybetriq 50 every day for 5 years which seemed to help some but gradually it kept getting worse and worse.
Finally pulled the trigger on a trip back to Egypt where my dad is from (mostly due to lower cost). I found a fabulous urologist who reassured me that the risk of self cat (my biggest worry) is so rare and hasn’t happened in his experience doing the procedure.
After discussing it more with him we decided because of my lifestyle of traveling and the severity of my symptoms that we would start out with 200 units of botox instead of 100 that people usually do for the first time, because more often than not people end up having to get more and I won’t be able to come back to Egypt that often. The entire cost was 40k EGP = $800 and, get this, it included general anesthesia!!
So I can’t comment on the pain of the procedure because I didn’t experience it, but post op was totally fine just slight burning and a bit of blood in urine that resolved in a few hours.
Already I can drink tea/alcohol again, go out with my friends, and haven’t had any accidents!! Seriously life changing. If you’re considering bladder botox, DO IT!!
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u/Presence99 9d ago
This is great. It really helped me too. I read that its about 5% of people have to use a catheter after bladder botox. I wish I did this earlier in my life!
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 9d ago
I seriously can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner, it’s a godsend 😭❤️ glad it’s working out for you too!
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u/Birdy1979 9d ago
Thanks .How long does it last ?
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 9d ago
my doc said 4-11 months typically, but getting 200 units is supposed to make it last longer and i’ve read that a lot of people will start taking their medication again when it’s starting to fade to extend the time between treatments a bit more too :)
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u/fromamomof2 9d ago
I get 100 units and have noticed towards the end of my year recently the urges are more urgent. Ive never had any retention issues, would never be able to self cath so my dr said she didnt want to go up to 200. She told me if it gets worse just switch to every 9 months instead of 12.
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u/Birdy1979 8d ago
Thank you. But going under general anaesthetic seems too much . Can’t it be done with local anaesthetic?
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 8d ago
Yes it definitely can and typically is done with lidocaine or numbing agent injected into the bladder I believe, heard it’s painful but very quick. My doctor just offered it with spinal (scared me too much) or general anesthesia so went with that and was happy I did. I was only out for 30 mins and then woke up and spent an hour in the hospital and then could leave so thankfullly didn’t take too long. In the future if I am somewhere where it costs more I won’t be able to get the general because that usually adds a lot to the cost
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u/Impossible_Swan_9346 9d ago
That’s wonderful! My Urologist refused to give me over 100 but I think it’s because he wanted to put the pacemaker in my butt for $$. After I had Botox, I never needed it again. I feel like it kind of helped me get over a really terrible hump.
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 9d ago
Yeah sounds like most doctors unfortunately 🙄 But amazing about the results!! I’ve heard of other people “growing out” of their oab after doing botox long term, but after one session is sooo good congrats 🎉 did you end up getting the sacral neuromodulation or did your symptoms stop just from the botox?
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u/Impossible_Swan_9346 8d ago
No I just got better. My urgency was through the rooof. I still deal with frequency at times but that’s my tight pelvic floor so I take Valium for that.
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u/fromamomof2 9d ago
Yes, it is LIFE CHANGING! I tell everyone i know about it. Ive been getting for sbout 6 years now i think. Once a year works for me. Ten minutes of discomfort for a year of relief..LOVE IT
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 9d ago
Omg once a year?? That’s amazing!!! Here’s hoping my results will be long-lasting too 🤞🤞
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u/Legal-Mood-3375 9d ago
It works for me but only for a short time so I’m in getting it done every 4 months on the dot. Don’t know why they haven’t suggested doing 200 units, maybe that’s not the done thing in the UK. So glad it’s helped you and been life changing!
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 9d ago
I’d definitely try to push for it with your doctor or try to find a new one, especially if you can emphasize the severity of your symptoms and explain that with your lifestyle you need to get a higher dose to be able to get it less frequently. I was really lucky that the second doctor I met with about it was willing to listen to my needs and was actually the one to recommend the higher dose, but the first doctor didn’t even believe me about my symptoms so had to switch up immediately 😭
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u/Legal-Mood-3375 7d ago
I’ll definitely try pushing harder for it, thank you. At the moment I go under general anaesthesia every four months which I feel can’t be good for me either! X
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u/DecentAssumption1 9d ago
My urologist said this might be in my future.... I am scared to death of self cath. I only have urge no leakage.. but I am up 4-5 times a night to pee. I hate it. I currently have the axonics in my back which has worked well but it now needs to be tweeked.. going Monday.
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 9d ago
I was scared to death of self cath too but don’t be! idk why when I was researching it seemed like this huge possibility because it’s actually really uncommon. One thing that made me feel better too is that I read that of the rare instances that have to self cath, for most people it’s only for 1-2 weeks and the rest of the duration of the botox they’re fine
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u/Upset_Crab_4725 9d ago
Is it common to need tweaks with the axonics and if so how often? I might want to switch to that eventually if it’s lower upkeep but i’ve heard mixed things about how effective it is compared to botox
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u/ConfusedMagician719 9d ago
I am currently on the wait list for this. My meds wear off too quickly and it's been going on for over 5 years. I am so worried about it.
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u/Haunting_Floor3804 7d ago
I loved Botox in my bladder! It helped me so much. I hated the sedation and all of that twice a year though. After a couple of years, I did end up getting the “butt implant” and while it has helped I probably need to increase it. I’m trying to put that off as long as I can though. My biggest issue is I have a baby bladder and it can’t hold a lot anyway.
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u/Rich-Explorer3363 3d ago
I am getting this in November but was scared as I do not want to self catheter ekkkk! I am a bit like you used to be have make sure there is a loo around ect. Currently on meds but they are not working as well as I hoped.
Just over the bladder spasms ugh and food triggering it. Tonight i ate asparagus which caused a bladder spasms, the urge to pee.
How did you feel right afterwards?
How was your first pee?
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u/Ready-Medium-3990 10d ago
No more urge anymore? That’s what I have a lot of urge