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Original poster

Bladder and bowel probs - doctor's appointment?

198 replies

ScarletFaced · 15/08/2021 11:48

Name changed for this because I am too embarrassed!

For about the last 2 weeks I've been having big issues with bladder and bowel control. I haven't experienced this previously and at first I thought maybe I had a stomach upset, but I don't actually feel that it is.

I don't get any warning when I need to "go", have to dash to the toilet and sometimes haven't been able to make it in time.

Very occasionally I don't feel properly till it happens - like this morning, I didn't feel the urge until it was already happening Blush

I was kind of putting up with it till I realised I've been getting up in the night 5+ times to go, constantly having to run to the loo at work, etc. And it is getting me down.

Is it silly to book a doctor's appointment for this? The next one I can get is in 4 weeks anyway, so it will probably have stopped by then!

Is there something I can do? I'm so embarrassed and I feel like I can't tell anyone!

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 15/08/2021 22:28

Oh no, you’ve really been through the wringer today! At least they are taking things seriously, not just fobbing you off. I hope all goes well tomorrow x

Genegenieee · 15/08/2021 22:53

You've been looked after very well @ScarletFaced today, I hope you get some sleep tonight and I have everything crossed for you for tomorrow. Please do tell your best friend from uni, your friends will understand and want to support you

RockPaperScissorLizardSpock · 15/08/2021 23:14

Thinking of you tomorrow OP Flowers

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Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 01:42

Thanks! I had a good chat with my uni friend and I'm having a good rest, if not a good sleep...

OP posts:
Paranoidandroidmarvin · 16/08/2021 04:18

I have my fingers crossed for you. I have bladder problems and it is no joke. It takes over every aspect of your life.

JustTrying2021 · 16/08/2021 11:28

I’ve been thinking about you and hope you are doing okay.

CormoranStrike · 16/08/2021 11:53

Nope all the tests find answers for you promptly

Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 14:27

Hiya,

It's all been okay, thanks! I couldn't say either experience was enjoyable but they weren't too bad either.

I should get to go home pretty soon, and apparently I will get a call tomorrow to discuss next steps.

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 17:44

They've also referred me to a "continence clinic" to get some advice on managing my issues in the meantime. Apparently there isn't a long waiting list for initial assessment appointments, so I might get it this week or next.

Sorry to ask, but does anyone have any experience with anything like that (or maybe knows a friend or family member who does)? I am a bit nervous because I'm not sure what they're going to do or ask.

The immodium actually helped today with the bowel issues, but I've been told it isn't something you can take long term and it also gave me a bit of a stomach ache. Unfortunately it must have worn off before I got home, which resulted in a very embarrassing and very uncomfortable accident en route Blush

OP posts:
QueenStromba · 16/08/2021 17:57

Did the desmopressin help overnight?

Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 18:02

It helped a bit, I think! I still woke up twice to wee, but compared with 5+ times per night it was a big improvement. The doctor mentioned that they can give a higher dose if needed too.

It was also a bit better this morning than it has been, so I wonder if that was a bit of carry-over effect.

OP posts:
QueenStromba · 16/08/2021 18:19

Yeah, it can take a while to wear off. Make sure not to drink too much while it's working as there's a risk of water intoxication - that's only a very small risk if you're just taking it at night though. Is it the 25mcg Nocdurna melts that you have? You can make them work a bit better by not drinking anything for 30 minutes after taking them and not eating anything for an hour either side, particularly dairy.

JustTrying2021 · 16/08/2021 18:46

I have a condition called diabetes insipidus which is treated with desmopressin nasal spray - do take care with it, if you drink too much it can make you feel rotten as QueenStromba has more accurately explained. I hope they can sort you out soon. What a nightmare. I’m guessing they have ruled out DI. It also doesn’t affect bowels.

Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 18:56

Yes, it's the 25mcg Melts - I did the not drinking thing, but I did have some food before, so I will try to have it earlier this evening!

Honestly I am so tired that I kind of feel like the need to sleep should override the urge to wee, but I know from experience that it won't! This evening has been more irritating than usual because honestly, I just want to lie down on the sofa and chill out but I keep feeling like I need to go to the toilet - and then I go and barely anything comes out, and then I need to go again 15 minutes later. I know it sounds so incredibly pathetic - I am an adult, I should be able to hold on! But it literally feels like my bladder is constantly twitching or something, and I can never tell whether it is going to be a lot or just a little Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 19:00

@JustTrying2021

I have a condition called diabetes insipidus which is treated with desmopressin nasal spray - do take care with it, if you drink too much it can make you feel rotten as QueenStromba has more accurately explained. I hope they can sort you out soon. What a nightmare. I’m guessing they have ruled out DI. It also doesn’t affect bowels.
They didn't specifically mention Diabetes Insipidus, but they did say that having checked bloods, urine, etc they could rule out diabetes in general because everything was totally normal in that regard. I was quite relieved by that - it must be difficult to live with!
OP posts:
QueenStromba · 16/08/2021 19:23

Yeah, it's unlikely be diabetes insipidus as that involves large volumes of urine - yours sounds like an urgency problem if it's only small amounts of urine at a time. I did have awful diarrhea with it before I got medicated but most people get constipated with it if anything.

starfishmummy · 16/08/2021 19:35

They've also referred me to a "continence clinic" to get some advice on managing my issues in the meantime

@ScarletFaced. My son sees the continence team. He's incontinent due to disability and for him they provide pads free of charge.

I imagine there will be a discussion about what is happening. So ot might be a good idea to keep a diary eg frequency and amounts. I don't mean measuring the amount but whether it's a little or a whole bucketload. They may discuss whether there are any strategies that you can try - but it sounds like the doctors have that part covered.

If they prescribe pads for you usually it will be from a limited range from the supplier they have a contract with - so may not be the most comfortable or discreet! DS has always been given samples of different ones to try.

Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 19:59

I don't like the idea of having to use pads, but it does give you a bit of peace of mind!

For me, it can be small amounts or big amounts. The problem is, I can't tell whether it's going to be a lot or a little. I just get the feeling of urgency that I can't hang on, and sometimes it's a proper wee but sometimes it's just a little bit!

OP posts:
peridito · 16/08/2021 20:22

Might be a good idea to keep a (rough) record of fluid intake .

If you are wearing pads it's important IME to wear close fitting knickers .

Or maybe try period pants ?

Hugs and sympathy ,rotten and exhausting to put up with .Flowers

Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 20:50

I'm pretty sure that my fluid intake is normal, or normal for me - as in, it hasn't changed in any way to what I'd usually have!

Period pants might be an idea. The biggest issue is that if I'm somewhere where I can't access a toilet quickly, I can't hang on at all. If it's just a little bit then pads do the job, but if it's a big fish then not so much Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarletFaced · 16/08/2021 23:33

Big gush, not fish!!! No fish involved. Bloody autocorrect!

OP posts:
Holidaytan · 16/08/2021 23:45

I developed this issue myself.
I have found that cutting down on caffeine, wheat, sugar and processed foods has helped no end. I would get sudden urges for the toilet and would have an accident if I didn’t get there in time.
Since changing my diet in this way I have no problems, unless I slip back, then the urgency and looseness returns with a vengeance!

Original poster
ScarletFaced · 17/08/2021 07:39

@QueenStromba

Yeah, it can take a while to wear off. Make sure not to drink too much while it's working as there's a risk of water intoxication - that's only a very small risk if you're just taking it at night though. Is it the 25mcg Nocdurna melts that you have? You can make them work a bit better by not drinking anything for 30 minutes after taking them and not eating anything for an hour either side, particularly dairy.
Quick question: good news is that I took the Nocdurna earlier and without drinking / eating within an hour on either side and slept through the night without waking up to wee. It felt amazing not to be knackered in the morning from rubbish sleep!

I was wondering, though, if this can be a side effect? When I got out of bed I wet myself without even feeling any urge at all - it was so weird. It was just as though my bladder just did a big "twitch" and emptied of its own accord. It was quite disconcerting and I was just wondering if this or something like it can be a side effect of the meds?

OP posts:
QueenStromba · 17/08/2021 10:46

Great news about the uninterrupted sleep! People who haven't lived it just don't understand how wearing constantly having to go to the loo is. I've never heard of desmopressin doing that and I was quite active for some time on a Facebook group for people with diabetes insipidus (and so are pretty much all on desmopressin). It's much more likely to be a progression of whatever's causing the general incontinence I'm afraid so do mention it to your doctors.

Desmopressin is a synthetic version of anti diuretic hormone. The natural hormone serves some other purposes but the synthetic one only binds to receptors in the kidneys that tell the kidneys to conserve water by concentrating the urine. Theoretically the only side effects you should see would be to do with having too much water in your system from drinking too much while on it. People in the DI group do report other possible side effects but I think they're mainly due to the disease process that caused the DI*. Anyway, no need for you to worry about that as I think it's unlikely that you have it unless you've been quietly suffering from excessive urination (volume wise) for a long time and your bladder has become overstretched. How much do you drink on average per day (water, tea, coffee, soft drinks, alcohol etc)?

*DI is mostly caused by damage to the pituitary so we're more likely to have problems with our other pituitary hormones like sex linked hormones and the hormones that control the thyroid and adrenal glands. Plus the pituitary damage is often caused by undiagnosed autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

peridito · 17/08/2021 10:51

OP I do feel for you .I've just popped on to say do look after your skin down there and make sure to use some kind of barrier cream to protect .Prevention better than cure and all that ,