A Wee problem (mine!)

[gluedtoloo]

I've changed my name for this! I'm going to have to go to the doc, but I wonder if anyone else has this problem or can suggest a reason, before I go.

Several years ago I got into the habit of going for a wee every time I passed a toilet, just in case. It got worse when I worked in a school & panicked that I'd need to go in the middle of a class, so I went after every lesson (50 mins).

It's got worse, & in the last 6? months I'm having to go really frequently. Worse still, I go to the loo, feel I'm finished, stand up & realise I have to go again! An example was yesterday. I did exactly this at work, having to go back into the cubicle after I'd washed my hands, went back to my desk to pack away then stopped at the loo again on my way out- could only have been 5 minutes. I DID need to go, too!

It is driving DH mad- I spend our days out asking him to stop for the loo. We go to the cinema & I go before we leave the house. I go again when we arrive at the cinema (10 mins), then again after we've found a seat. If the film is long I worry that I'm going to want to go halfway through.

I'm getting up at least once in the night, more often than not. It can be up to 3 times. This isn't normal & is starting to take over my life. I'm starting to dread having a drink, knowing I'll need the loo, & in recent years coffee has made the situation 100 times worse, so that needing to go hurts. I've cut right down on coffee but I don't want to cut it out completely... also I can never drink coke in a restaurant for the same reason.

Is this a purely psychological problem or do I now have some sort of physical problem? I would stress that I'm not pregnant & these problems started many years after I'd had the last child. I don't have stress incontinence either. I'm 40.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[gingernut]

Could it be urge incontinence ? My dad has this and it started in a similar way to yours, i.e. he always used to go to the loo `just in case' because he was afraid of getting caught short, and then he found himself needing to go more and more frequently. If you think it fits then it's worth going to your doctor because there are treatments available.HTH.

[bunny2]

I read something about this recently. Cant remember where unfortunately but apparently because you are not giving your bladder time to fill, it has shrunk and lost its ability to decide when you really need to go. To combat this you need to retrain your bladder by holding on until it is actually fuller. Cant be of more help I'm afraid but you could do some Google searches or have a word with your gp. I think most areas have a specialist nurse who deals with bladder problems so they might be able to give more advice.

[bunny2]

Good site Gingernut, I am sure I have urge incontinence since pregnancy.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[gluedtoloo]

Thanks for the link gingernut. It does sound like that (without the leaks, thank god ). At least I know what to say to the doctor when I go, and it sounds like it can be sorted out. Thanks all!