Bladder frequency/urgency - is this an age thing?

[LarkDescending]

I’m 49 - always had a bit of a sensitive bladder, but it hasn’t stopped me getting a night’s sleep.

Over the last few months the frequency and urgency have got ridiculous. In the daytime I can scarcely make a bus trip without worrying whether I will need the loo before the end. Last night I went to bed at midnight (no caffeine or alcohol consumed) and got up urgently needing the loo at roughly 1.30am, 3am, 5am, 6.30am after which I got up for the day. I need to sleep better than this!

I am well-hydrated, active, healthy weight, good diet etc. GP says my urine dip is clear so nothing to worry about. Friend who is a nurse says this is just a premenopause/menopause thing and very common. Is she right?

Full disclosure: I have a recent history of severe complicated diverticular disease and resulting major bowel surgery - deep down I am worried there has been some bladder damage. Surgical review due in late September.

[LarkDescending]

*perimenopause

[TwitterQueen1]

No that's not normal. I would go to the doctor.

[LarkDescending]

Many thanks TQ (if I may). I know you are right, although the GP seems very much of the view that no infection = no problem. I suspect she is sick of the sight of me!

[Olivesandwine]

Yes it could be an age thing but I would still go back to gp or maybe see someone different in the practice. Getting up that many times a night must be exhausting.
I am going through bladder issues myself at the moment so I can sympathise.

[LarkDescending]

Just looking back and I see that it is almost exactly a year since I started this thread. My urinary symptoms are no better and I am finding the chronic sleep loss quite exhausting. I have a constant dull ache in my left flank and am chronically tired and sub-par despite drinking (almost) no alcohol and my diet being as close to optimal as it has ever been. Urine dips have come back negative every few months, but my urine remains cloudy and often has lots of visible (over 1cm x 1cm) flakes of tissue in it.

My GP is out of ideas and although I think I am on a waiting list for urology I have heard nothing about an appointment. In the meantime any wise ideas are more than welcome!

[ToLiveInPeace]

I would call urology to check you're on the waiting list. Also, if you is there another GP you could see? You deserve better than this.

[Egghead68]

I had a less extreme version of that for a few years. I think it was a stage of perimenopause in my case. It went away eventually. I hope that happens for you too.

[UncomfortableSilence]

No input but I have the exact same symptoms and have also had no luck at the GP, have seen all 3 at my practice and basically been told my bladder is weak because I have had 2 children

I get up at least twice a night regardless of how much I have drunk, I have real urgency to go even if I've maybe been just half hour previously and I have the most overwhelming exhaustion.

Just had some bloods done on my insistence and going to push for a referral too.

[scarfaceace]

I wonder if it's an overactive bladder? There is medication you can take for that - it worked wonders for me.

This site might help: www.bladdermatters.co.uk

[goingdownsouth]

Lack of oestrogen can cause this.
Look up vaginal atrophy. It's not just the vagina.
You may need something like Vagifem

[PenguinsRabbits]

I've had a more extreme version of this for over 2 years now - not really got very far with NHS tbh. Did get referred to urology but was 3 months between each appointment first appointment just went through issues, 3 months later tests, 3 months later appointment 3 months later more tests and I gave up at that point. They did at one point prescribe some medicine for overactive bladder which I reacted badly to so had to come off but that maybe a possibility. Kegel exercises helped a small amount, they are worth trying.

It is worth asking for a referral for urology - you should get details to arrange a choose and book appointment within a week or so, I suspect it hasn't gone through if you didn't get a letter. I did go privately at one point and that was much better and they were on about doing a bladder treatment though moved areas - think that may have been for my regular utis though. What you have maybe urge incontinence and there's something called bladder training but best to get properly checked and assessed. I find services vary from hospital to hospital so hopefully you will have more luck than me. I just wear pads all the time but you really shouldn't have to wear giant pads in your 40s.

[LarkDescending]

Thanks everyone. Plenty of food for thought, and I am sorry to hear others are struggling too. I will chase up the referral and keep a symptom diary in the meantime.

I didn’t know that (peri)menopausal atrophy could cause urological symptoms as well as gynae ones. I am awaiting results of an MRI for other reasons which may or may not reveal any pelvic damage from my illness and surgery, but if that draws a blank I need to find some resolution one way or another.