ADRIANNA
An Unsilenced Survivor Story
"I received no sedation or anything to numb the pain as they inserted the catheter. I was screaming, yelling and crying about how PAINFUL it was."
I was around 12 years old when this happened to me, and prior to this, my grandmother was always a controlling woman who believed I had urinary issues when in fact I in fact did not and just had a small bladder. I went to this doctor a couple of times, I considered it the bathroom doctor as I never figured out the name of it, not even to this day that I know. There was one time I recalled that I had to drink a lot of water and hold it until I got there, then, I would wait in the waiting room needing to pee, it was so embarrassing sitting there and rubbing my legs together to hold my urine. That was when I was brought into a room, I remember being in a wheelchair of some sort? It was so vague, but I remember it. I was taken away from my grandma and brought into this room, where I was asked to remove my clothing and strip in front of these men. No women were in the room, not even a female nurse. I felt so alone, and I did what I was asked. I received no sedation or anything to numb the pain as they inserted the catheter. I was screaming, yelling and crying about how PAINFUL it was. I was told repeatedly that it was not that painful, but they had no idea about how PAINFUL it really was. I was 12 years, naked and being held down by these strangers with tears in my eyes. When it was done, I could not walk and go to the bathroom by myself for three days because of this procedure. I never knew the name of this until I saw your post on it, thank you for giving me the voice I needed and that those who went through this are not alone.