Mike's Story
GAVAN QLD
Condition: Urinary Retention due to Prostate Cancer
Uses: Soft Intermittent catheters
Challenges: Full bladder emptying, returning to full strength
A History of Helping
Mike is a Kiwi who has made his home in Australia for the last 10 years. He and his wife have raised 7 children of their own as well as three nephews. They reside on the Gold Coast, where Mike works as a support worker for a young man with autism.
Mike and his wife have been involved in working with troubled kids over the years in NZ and Australia. He coached softball, set up a panel beating and spray-painting training program, and mentored young people in bodybuilding. The programs were award-winning and resulted in a decrease in truancy as students attended classes in an effort to be chosen for the programs.
Finding Home
With so many of their children having relocated to Australia, Mike and his wife made their move to Sydney in 2010, almost immediately after Mike had surgery for a quadruple heart bypass. They settled in Sydney for 2 years and then followed work to Kalgoorlie, before moving to the Gold Coast where they have been for the last 4 years. Here they are close to many of their children and grandchildren.
While in Kalgoorlie Mike was working as a truck driver, making heavy deliveries. During this time, he was continuing with a heavy bodybuilding routine and hoped the vigorous nature of his day job would assist in his strength-building program. However, he noticed he was dropping things, having pins and needles and having to strap his wrists for support. He was diagnosed with carpal tunnel in both hands and eventually underwent surgery. The relief following surgery was instant, however over five years later, he still experiences weakness in both wrists.
Cancer Diagnosis
Not long after the surgery on his wrists, Mike moved to Queensland and was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He felt that everything was happening at once and emotionally it was a difficult time. Following chemotherapy, he was unable to empty his bladder and wore an indwelling catheter with a leg bag. Mike struggled with the drainage bag saying it felt very visible and he suffered from many accidents.
While working in security he suffered a leak which resulted in an entire bag of urine emptying on his leg. Another guard on duty followed Mike to the bathroom and asked, “do you have one of those bag things?” This fellow guard was in the right place at the right time and showed Mike a bag he had attached to his belt containing what Mike describes as straws. He kindly gave one to Mike and suggested he use it the next time he needed to urinate.
His introduction to intermittent catheters may have been a little unorthodox but he tried them and thought it was amazing. He contacted the same workmate who kindly offered to share what supply he had while Mike sourced his own.
Living with Catheters
To begin with, Mike was not sure how frequently he needed to empty his bladder and he would have accidents if he didn’t empty in time. As the months passed, he became more experienced in knowing when he needed to void. Mike is able at times to void naturally but cannot empty his bladder entirely and uses a catheter to ensure complete drainage.
Mike is a proud “murse” (man purse) carrier and will leave home with around 3 catheters and lubricant stored close at hand. He is always sure to try and empty his bladder before he leaves the house to help prevent accidents.
He eventually found Paralogic and has been impressed that even with the added cost of postage from Sydney we are still more affordable than buying from the local supplier. He is also impressed that Paralogic is owned and managed by someone who understands the products from a personal perspective. When starting with Paralogic Mike was using intermittent catheters in the standard firmness. After trying a sample pack with a mix of a few different products, he has now settled into using the soft variety.
Life... continues
Mike works 10 hours a night caring for a young autistic man and works one week on, and one week off with a team of other carers, to offer around-the-clock support. Despite this gruelling nocturnal schedule, Mike has recently been able to return to bodybuilding training again. He has constructed a full training space in the carport and he and his wife train together every day, and he looks forward to continuing to build his strength.