A man who was left with a bladder the size of a 'shot glass' has issued a warning after a ketamine addiction ruined his life.
The class B substance has become incredibly popular as a party drug in recent years, to the extent that specific clinics are now being set up in the UK to help people as young as 12 overcome their addiction.
Drugs often come with a wide range of dangerous side effects, but ketamine-induced uropathy, also known as 'ketamine bladder', is usually the one that encourages people with an addiction to seek help and rehabilitation.
Several former users have come forward to share their stories of how the drug 'shrank their bladders' to the extent where they would endure painful pees multiple times an hour, while one unfortunate addict was left passing 'chunks of her own flesh'.
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Luis Corselli, a confessed party boy from Manchester, was another unfortunate victim of ketamine bladder after his addiction spiralled during lockdown, as he spent £60 a day on the drug and was left needing the toilet every 15 minutes.
He said: "In Covid, I bought a house, and that's when it turned from a recreational habit into an everyday thing. I was taking three and a half grams per day. It was costing me £60 per day, and I was in about £15,000 debt.
"I ruined everything, I didn't have a penny. All of my money was going on ket, sometimes I would even buy two [bags] and it would be £120 a day."
It was only when the issues with his bladder first surfaced that he realised his addiction was out of control, but even then, it took two years for him to go cold turkey, as he turned to the drug as a form of pain relief for the 'ket cramps'.
Luis added, "Every time I went for a wee, it was like being stabbed with a knife; it [the pain] was awful. [Doctors said] the capacity of my bladder was at 30ml.
"Every time I had a drink, I would go to the toilet. At this point, I was going to the toilet every 15 minutes of my life, morning, noon and night. I couldn't leave the house."
Doctors informed Luis that he would have to avoid the drug for a whole year if he wanted to undergo bladder reconstruction surgery, and he took it for the last time in August 2023, undergoing the life-changing surgery in November 2024.
After his surgery, he was able to have a painless wee for the first time in a while, which he described as 'the best moment of his life'.
Now, the HR analyst is raising awareness about the dangers of the drug after fearing that his own addiction would end with his death.
He concluded: "It really did ruin my life. I thought I was going to end up dead, and I'm glad that I'm where I am now.
"I just want to spread awareness and get people off ket. It damages everything. It's not just your bladder; it damages your whole life.
"If you notice yourself going to the toilet more or getting ket cramps then that is the start of it all. You start going to the bathroom more, then the pain starts, and it's a downward hill from there because you need the ket to stop the pain.
"Once you get into that cycle, you can't get out of it. If you notice any sort of issues, stop while you're ahead.
"It is not worth it, and your life will be ten times better without ketamine because you'll get your personality back. It takes over your whole life, you're not you at all, and you'll notice that as soon as you get off it.
"I just don't want people going through what I did."
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week
Topics: Mental Health, Health
James Moorhouse