Woman warns of 'ketamine bladder' after drug use scarred hers for life
Summary
A young woman named Ellie Wight developed permanent bladder damage after using the drug ketamine for several years. Ketamine, often used legally as a medical anesthetic, is also used illegally as a party drug and can cause serious urinary tract problems, including a condition called "ketamine bladder."Key Facts
- Ellie started using ketamine at 18 and took up to 3.5 grams daily at the worst.
- Ketamine can irritate and scar the bladder, making it difficult and painful to hold urine.
- "Ketamine bladder" affects the whole urinary tract and causes symptoms like stomach pain, urgent need to urinate, and bladder shrinking.
- A healthy bladder holds 300-600 ml of urine, but Ellie’s now holds only 50-100 ml.
- Despite stopping ketamine for 10 months, Ellie still experiences daily pain from the damage.
- Use of ketamine among young people in England and Wales increased by 231% since 2013.
- A specialist clinic for ketamine bladder cases was set up in Aberdeen due to a rise in young patients with damage.
- Doctors warn that ketamine use can cause lasting harm, especially in young, otherwise healthy people.
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