A WOMAN who couldn’t pee for an entire year was diagnosed with a rare condition which “completely changed” her life.
Elle Adams, 30, woke up in October 2020 unable to go to the toilet, no matter how much she drank.
Elle Adam (pictured) woke up in October 2020 unable to go to the toilet, no matter how much she drankSWNS
Elle was told that she was likely suffering from a debilitating condition known as Fowler’s syndromeSWNS
SWNSDoctors fitted Elle with an emergency catheter (pictured) – a tube that’s passed into the bladder to drain urine[/caption]
The content creator, from Bow, east London, who was otherwise “extremely healthy” said she was “very concerned”.
She decided to take herself to St Thomas’ Hospital, London, where doctors were shocked to find Elle had 600ml of urine in her bladder.
Women’s bladders are usually able to hold up to 500ml and men’s up to 700ml.
Doctors fitted Elle with an emergency catheter in the hope it would drain some urine from her bladder.
After waiting for a few hours Elle managed to see a consultant who performed a barrage of tests which looked at how her urinary system was working.
And eight months later, Elle went to a urology centre and was told that she was likely suffering from a condition known as Fowler’s syndrome.
According to the University Of Central London (UCL), the condition, which typically affects women aged in their 20s to 40s, can occur as a result of an operation, or spontaneously.
The debilitating disease leaves women unable to passing urine properly and with urinary retention issues.
“I was talked through the treatment options which were minimal – we did try medication but it just made no difference,” she said.
In the meantime, Elle was solely relying on self-catheterisation – which ended up creating a build-up of pressure and not being able to use the catheter anymore.
By this point, she was at “breaking point” and her life had “completely changed.”
Doctors said her only option was to undergo sacral nerve stimulation – which acts as a pacemaker for the bladder stimulating bowel muscles, so they work normally.
Although the surgery has not cured the condition, Elle said it has helped her regain some normalcy in her everyday life.
“It has made my life easier, after two years of hell it is all I can ask for,” she explained.
Now, Elle can sometimes wee on her own, but still relies on self-catheterisation around 50 per cent of the time.
“I am grateful for the difference, I am feeling better than I was,” she added.
What are the symptoms of Fowlers syndrome?
The severity of symptoms varies from person to person.
According to Bladder Health UK, some women experience complete retention while others experience difficulty passing urine with a residual amount left in the bladder.
Frequent urinary infections may be a problem for women suffering from Fowlers Syndrome due to the bladder not emptying properly.
Some women may also experience back, kidney and suprapubic pain, together with blood in the urine. Bladder spasms may also be an issue.
Associated risks
Women with Fowlers syndrome are at an increased risk of Sepsis due to the infections they suffer.
They are also at risk of developing antibiotic resistance due to the frequency with which they need antibiotics.