30-Year-Old Woman Suffers from Rare Condition That Prevents Her from Urinating Regardless of Water Intake
The New York Post reports that the life of Elle Adams (a 30-year-old from the UK) changed drastically when she woke up one day in October 2020 and found herself unable to urinate.
She told SWNS: “I was very healthy. My body had no issues. Suddenly one day I woke up and realized I couldn’t go to the bathroom. My life has completely changed since then.”
The woman suddenly unable to urinate due to a rare syndrome. (Photo: Elle Adams/SWNS).
Adams went to the emergency room at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, where doctors informed her that she had one liter of urine in her bladder.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the bladder can typically hold up to 500ml of urine in women and 700ml in men.
Doctors inserted an emergency catheter into her bladder to help Adams drain the urine. She was given the option to have the catheter removed to try to urinate or go home and return to the hospital for reassessment after three weeks.
Adams, who currently works as a content creator, consulted a urologist eight months later and learned how to self-catheterize at home.
She endured the inability to urinate normally for 14 months. Doctors were unable to determine the cause of her condition until December 2021, when she was diagnosed with Fowler’s Syndrome.
According to the NIH, Fowler’s Syndrome is a condition in which the body cannot empty the bladder. This condition primarily affects young women. The cause of this syndrome is still unclear. Currently, there are about fewer than 1,000 individuals in the U.S. diagnosed with Fowler’s Syndrome.
This diagnosis means that Adams will need to use a catheter for the rest of her life.
In January, Adams underwent a sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) procedure. According to the Bladder and Bowel Community, this treatment can help address bladder and bowel issues.
This treatment stimulates nerves through a thin temporary wire placed near the nerves close to the sacrum. These nerves control the bladder and bowel, stimulating intestinal muscles to function normally.
Adams believes that while this treatment hasn’t changed her life dramatically, it has improved her current situation.
“The frequency of my need to catheterize has decreased significantly, about 50% less than before. The surgery has made my life easier. After two years of living in hell, that’s all I could ask for. I am grateful for this change and feel much better.”
