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Woman Can't Pee for 5 Years, Doctors Baffled
25 Oct
Summary
- A mother of two has been unable to urinate for five years.
- Doctors are still unable to diagnose the cause of her condition.
- She manages by self-catheterizing multiple times daily.

A Nottingham mother, Kirstie Scothern, faces an unprecedented medical mystery, having been unable to urinate for five years. The condition began in April 2021, leading to the discovery of 2.5 liters of urine in her bladder. Despite extensive medical investigation, including CT scans and urodynamics tests, doctors have not identified the cause. Kirstie now relies on self-catheterization, a difficult procedure she performs every four hours, to manage her bladder.
Initially treated for potential side effects of migraine medication, Kirstie's condition persisted even after stopping the drugs. Treatments like Botox have also proven ineffective. The inability to urinate has forced her to change careers and adapt her daily life significantly, impacting her physical comfort and emotional well-being. She suspects Fowler's syndrome but awaits a definitive diagnosis.
Kirstie shares her struggle to raise awareness, emphasizing that many take normal bodily functions for granted. She highlights the emotional toll and isolation associated with such a rare and unexplained condition. While doctors remain uncertain, Kirstie seeks to break the silence surrounding bladder dysfunction, offering support to others experiencing similar challenges and hoping for a future diagnosis and effective treatment.