Botox for Overactive Bladder

@louisy I read your post with interest because I was scheduled to have Botox for oab 2 years ago and had to cancel for a uti also. Upon getting a second opinion regarding recurring UTIs,it was suggested that the Botox might lead to more UTIs,if my bladder wasn’t emptied completely due to the Botox affect. I am glad it worked for you,but did you have any infections since your first treatment,other than the recent one?

@nonnahelen funny you should ask about UTIs. I’ve had recurrent UTIs for over 2 years. Once I had the Botox treatment and had more control over my bladder and wasn’t having so much leaking & overflows, my UTIs dropped way off! They started coming back as the Botox stopped working. I think the bladder infections were actually caused by having fairly frequent skin contact with damp pads! There are times when I’m driving or somewhere where I can’t access a bathroom right away and my pad gets wet or worse! There’s pretty direct contact with the pad and my urethra….close enough anyway that bacteria could easily make its way to my bladder. One reason I really look forward to this Botox treatment is to get relief again from back to back UTIs. I didn’t experience an inability to fully empty my bladder. In fact I had better control and also using accessory muscles, I was able to totally empty my bladder. Maybe get a second opinion on the use of Botox. I think it would be worth it. Let me know how it turns out!

@itsmeagain
Yes I had the Botox treatment several times with good success. It’s supposed to last 6 to 9 months.
I had stopped for a couple of years because of other issues and had another treatment last month with no success at all. So I’m returning to my gynecologist to discuss other options. I’m disappointed Botox didn’t work but hope we can find something else.
Good luck to ALL of us.

@itsmeagain
Yes I’ve had Botox several times and it’s great. It’s expected to last 6 to 9 months on average.
Stick with it.

@louisy
I have exactly the same issues. No control. It's terrible and affects me day and night. I'm 61. I finally got Botox for bladder treatment today! I'm so excited.
Did you urologist also discuss your Botox dosage? It can be increased. Though if your dose worked 100% then I'd suppose increasing would not be the right thing. I'd go for treatments as often as needed. Trust your doctor! This can be life changing IMO.
Also, there are still other options to consider. The nerve stimulator as well as surgeries.
None of us should have to live with this condition.

I'll post my experience with how this works for me.
I've had many injections for arthritis so I have really good pain tolerence. But my bladder injections hurt, some more than others. Apparently there are certain locations on the bkadder where it will hurt more. Entry through urethra hurt the most. And I'm achy afterward. I'll discuss with my doctor what can be done differently next time.
Good luck to you @princessbunny . I was told the Botox effect can wear off differently for people. (So dont be concerned about 3 month wearing off you experienced.) That when I first feel it wearing off just call and make an appointment right away since there can be a bit of a wait time for appointments (2-3months).

@itsmeagain
Yes, I’ve had success with Botox. It supposed to last 6-9 months and that has been my experience. I recommend it.

@slr123 Thank you for your response. I am having a UroDynamic study in two weeks before my current Urologist decides if I’m a good candidate for botox. Previouslyd I’ve done the meds, exercises, therapies and none of those worked. I had an Interstim implanted and that worked somewhat but not more than a couple of months. I tried a various settings with the urologist PA and the rep from Medtronic, the company that made my device. After two or three uncomfortable shock-like occurrences, it has been turned off. What I was never told before it was implanted was that the leads can break fairly easily so urologists are reluctant to attempt to remove it. So it will remain turned off and will remain in my body. I have been told it won’t create any problems, but I sure would have liked to have been told about the difficulty in removing it prior to having the surgery to implant it.
Ì have a different Urologist who spends as much time as I need answering questions and explaining what he recommends. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will be a good candidate for Botox and that it will work.

I am confused (no surprise there 😂) but it seems that I have read about InterStim &/or Botox being used for incontinence, overactive bladder and also bladder / urine retention. Aren’t these conditions opposite and very different from each other?

@brunnece7
Hopefully, you will find bladder Botox to be effective. I have. It has been the most remarkably effective form of therapy for my condition. It's not perfect but nothing else has even come close. My urine frequency, urgency and incontinence are markedly improved.
I have been fortunate to have been referred to an Urology specialist who has been an advocate for its use and performs it frequently. I am on a six month schedule. I was impressed that she (my Urologist) had extensive experience and a well defined way of approaching bladder Botox.
Your comment regarding the reluctance of your providers to remove the Interstim is interesting. I am hoping to have mine removed. My Urologist told me that she does not place or remove Interstims but that she had colleagues that do. My understanding was that they would schedule the removal of my Interstim separately from the next Botox injection. It has yet to be scheduled but I'm hoping it will be done.
My sense is that bladder Botox injections are being performed more frequently. I don't think the technique is particularly challenging for a Urologist to do. I hope that if it is done more frequently it is done by Urologists who are experienced and use it appropriately and that more patients who haven't found relief by other means are helped.

Has anyone experienced Botox for urgency and pelvic discomfort after bladder cancer surgery?