Nottingham mother of two unable to urinate for five years, doctors still puzzled
Kirstie Scothern, 29, has been unable to urinate naturally for five years after a migraine episode, and medical teams have yet to determine the cause.
During a migraine attack in April 2021, 29-year-old Kirstie Scothern realized she had not urinated since the previous evening. Emergency services rushed her to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where staff drained 2.5 litres of urine and inserted a catheter. After discharge, the catheter was removed two weeks later but she could not void on her own, forcing her to use small self-catheter tubes.
Extensive investigations—including MRI, CT, specialist bladder tests and a Botox trial—have failed to pinpoint the problem, and doctors have not confirmed a diagnosis. Scothern believes she may have Fowler's syndrome, a rare condition affecting bladder muscles, but clinicians remain hesitant to label it. She now manages her life with regular reminders to empty her bladder, a disabled-toilet key, and a support network online.
Why it matters
The case highlights a rare, poorly understood bladder disorder that severely impacts daily life and underscores gaps in medical knowledge.
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