A mum who could not wee for five years and was in agony was told by doctors to just "run the tap" and wait for the urge.
Rachel Ingrim was diagnosed with a rare condition known as Fowler's syndrome in April 2015, nearly three years after giving birth to her second child, Isla, when her problems began.
The syndrome leaves sufferers unable to pass water normally - a symptom Rachel began to notice herself, regardless of how much she drank.
After having Isla in October 2012, Rachel ended up in hospital where it was revealed she had two litres of urine in her bladder - four times the limit women can usually hold - and was left in "absolute agony" over the build-up which made her look "six months pregnant".
But Rachel claims one baffled doctor, instead of knowing what to do, suggested she sit in a bathroom and leave a tap running in the hopes that the noise may make her need the toilet.
Rachel, a teaching assistant from Ashford, Kent, said hospital staff also told her she was "too young" to have bladder problems, and was emptied only to return five hours later still in pain.
In May 2015, Rachel had a sacral nerve stimulator fitted - a pacemaker device implanted into the body which controls urination.
But after a fall which dislodged the device, Rachel was back to square one and unable to wee again.
After a major operation to remove the pacemaker, Rachel had a Mitrofanoff - which uses part of the appendix to form a channel between the bladder and tummy skin.
The patient passes a catheter through the channel to drain urine - fitted in March 2019 and says her life is now "complete".
"The doctors didn't know what was wrong with me they hadn't seen it before," Rachel said.
"I was finally diagnosed with Fowler's syndrome in April 2015 - after going private.
"Now, my life is completely different - I am back at work and have trained to be a teaching assistant and have started going gym.
"Don't get me wrong it is not completely problem-free, and I still have the odd bump in the road."
Fowler's Syndrome UK charity says that only 30 per cent of GPs are aware of the condition - meaning a diagnosis can take years.
After seeing a urologist, Rachel was diagnosed with Fowler's syndrome in April 2015 - three years after originally experiencing symptoms.
Rachel said: "I had been told of that three-year period of different things that could be wrong with me.
"I was told I might have MS - I was told it might be problems with my spine - I was given all sorts of tests.
"When I finally had the private appointment, I remember crying.
"The doctor asked me what was wrong, and I said how I finally felt listened to.
"To finally have an answer was such a relief that I could move forward with my life."
According to Fowlers Syndrome UK, 85 per cent of women with the disease say the condition has had a severe or devastating impact on their life.
Rachel had an operation to fit the permanent catheter in March 2019 which lasted four hours.
"Initially after the operation, the first six months were hell," she added.
"I was so poorly, I ended up with a blood clot in my leg, and multiple different chest infections, my body was so weak and run down - I didn't think I would get better.
"It has given me my life back, I had no life, I didn't want to be here.
"I didn't think it was fair on my family but now they have got me back."
Fore more information on the condition, visit Fowlers Syndrome UK.
