"I wasn't going to let it pull me down"

It began in 1973. Diethelm Meuser had just turned 26 and was in the prime of life. But a strong persistent pain in his bladder began to disrupt his everyday life - he couldn't fulfil his tasks as a business manager in the wood trade and all of his regular sporting activities had to be cancelled. "I had so much pain that I couldn't go outside anymore", says the passionate golfer.

A long journey
Meuser was examined by doctor after doctor, each of whom trying to source his pain and thus, diagnose his illness. Finally, after a whole year, he found a urologist who could help him. The devastating diagnosis was: "failure of the left kidney", followed by further examinations and numerous infusions, until 1975, when his kidney had to be removed. However, this was not the end to his problems; as, during his time in rehabilitation, his bladder continued shrinking and in the end he was only able to retain the amount of a small shot glass. "It was horrible; I had to go to the toilet at least once an hour. Even during the night. Because of the lack of sleep I was incredibly tired all the time", states Meuser.

In May 1976, his ureter was taken out and an artificial bladder exit (a stoma) was installed in its place. This procedure involved the diversion of the urinary bladder through the abdominal wall. Now, urine only leaves his body by this route, flowing into a pouch attached to his body.

Life with an artificial bladder exit?
It is not a problem for Meuser anymore. The initial shame and embarrassment was driven away by the recovered joy of life. "Why should I hide? Finally I was without pain again!" he declares.
Over the years, Meuser developed his own technique for protecting the skin around the stoma and changing the pouches. Since last year, Meuser has used a model skin protection, to avoid the unwanted urine flowing out - another important achievement in security and freedom for the now 61 year old.

Source: Aktion Meditech