Siddiquine, South Lebanon, September 2008. One year after the first visit.
We visit Hassan Balhas, born 1973, shot as a result of the war between Israel and Lebanon in 1989, paraplegic from the injury in Th. 10-12.
After the injury in 1989 the only method you have used until 2006 was the uridome. How was your life with a uridome?
As long as I used the uridome I had to beat and press my bladder to get the urine out. I used the uridome all the time, carrying the bag of urine at the side of my leg - visible for everyone. The signs I had when the the bladder was full was also visible for everyone: The spasms started in my legs…Very embarassing when I was together with strangers.
I was, of course, incontinent during all the time since the injury, and the most serious result of using the uridome was the numerous urine and kidney infections. I used antibiotics - Augmentin, Gentamycin and Supromax - almost constantly. The urine got a characteristic smell and colour when I had an infection, I got fever and lost weight, and the situation was some times critical.
The skin on my penis was often sore and sensitive, but was really badly hurt during the war in 2006. During the severe Israeli shelling my home was damaged for the third time in some years. In 2006 we had to evacuate from my home and live in a lousy shelter for 4 weeks. There was almost no water and I had only 3 uridomes during all that time.
Then, due to a Norwegian nurse and her team of health workers who had worked with me in 1994 and with whom I had kept contact ever since, I got information about CIC - which is not available in Lebanon. She made a deal with her company, Astra Tech, and I have received the catheters since spring 2007.
How is your life changed after you started with CIC?
My life is completely changed after I started with CIC. First of all, I have gotten married. About one year ago Maryam started to drop by in my home, after a while we started to have a relationship. I must admit that I had had sexual relationships to some others before I met her - but it had been quite difficult. Once I even urinated on my partner - very embarassing… now I have full control. I go to the bathroom regularly every 4 hours and the catheters are very easy to use. I empty my bladder, and with a little Viagra, sex is available for me.
The infections are gone, and so is the use of antibiotics. I have had only one episode with antibiotics in 1 ½ years - but that was due to an infection of the stomach, and not my bladder or kidney. It must be mentioned that I also use Detrusitol regularly - and because that is very expensive here, a Norwegian friend sends me a sum of money twice a year so that I can buy it.
As I know many paraplegics in Lebanon, I know how serious the situation is for them concerning urine-problems. Why is CIC not available for them, too?