To phone my surgery because I can't stop peeing?

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I've spoken to GP last week a couple of times and saw someone yesterday .. I can't stop peeing. I'm going about 12 times a day and desperately needing when I do go. I'm up in the middle of the night every night too.

GP said maybe an anxiety thing, also maybe non infective cystitis whatever that is. All urine samples totally clear , no growth or inflammation.

I've had a catheter twice , retention a few times , a cystoscopy and dilation a few years ago and well over 30/40 UTIs so do tend to get worried over this. I don't think I am fully voiding although have been taught to 'double void' before. Keeping a fluid balance vaguely in my head , have had a smoothie, 3 500ml bottles of water and a cup of tea - from that I peed at 8, 11, 12, 2, 2.45 , 3.15 and now.

I don't want to phone surgery unless I have to, I'm just uncomfortable , flatmates boyfriend is currently in the toilet and I'm absolutely desperate to pee again (having just gone half an hour ago). He stinks the bathroom out when he does go too.

Worth phoning GP or just leaving it?

Why not ring the non emergency number for advice? I would stop drinking tea and stick to water as tea will make you pee more.

Have you had a blood test, just to rule out diabetes?

No, I haven't had a blood test since December actually - I'll get one of my colleagues to do a BM tomorrow (I work in a hospital). Wonder if that will shed any light. I'm 16 stone so that would be a possibility of sorts I suppose. I don't have any other symptoms that I know of though, no excessive thirst. Just peeing constantly, unwanted facial hair (I have to shave my 'beard and moustache') and constant pelvic pain.

I did have a glucose tolerance test a few years ago and passed that OK but suppose things could change over time.

I would check that, just to be sure, if you haven't checked it in a while. I had GD and I knew it because I was peeing all night whilst the pregnant friend I shared a room with on a girls' weekend didn't go once from 8-8! Hopefully it's just a little water infection, fingers crossed.

I will do. I thought that too, a water infection, but they just keep saying it isn't. I've never had to pee at night before and suddenly I'm up every night at 2ish desperate to go. If I don't go/ignore the urge I wake up again at 4 or 5 in agony. It's awful.

Hi there

It sounds like you may have a condition called Interstitial Cystitis (IC). The frequent urination AND the pelvic pain suggest it. Any urine sample will rarely, if ever, show any infection. You need to insist that your GP refers you back to a Urology consultant for help/diagnosis. Don't be fobbed off by your GP.

If it's something more 'simple' like an overactive bladder there are medications that help some people and your GP/Consultant can prescribe these for you. There are several types used for the bladder but they all come under the header of anticholinergics. You can also do 'bladder training' which helps your bladder re-learn how it's supposed to work!

I have a bladder condition similar to yours and I take 50mg of Amitriptyline every evening to stop my bladder waking me up to wee. It doesn't help during the day but I find I can face the day more easily if I have a good night's sleep!

I'm only in my thirties but have lived with this since my son was born 6 years ago. It's awful but I have learnt to cope with it. I find stress is a trigger. I also cannot emphasis how much you should cut out caffiene (tea, coffee, chocolate) and carbonated drinks. Some people have trigger foods but I think you need to get a referral first before you cut everything out of your diet.

I'd go, it could be internal cystitis or even diabetes or a kidney problem. Probably the first one but there's definitely something a miss

What is your bp like?

Don't be fobbed off by "anxiety" unless they can show you other evidence that you have "anxiety" and indeed explain to you what "anxiety" entails (hint: it isn't really a proper thing, it's just the modern version of hysteria).

It might help to take in a diary - what you take for the pain / when, how often you pee, etc. I would certainly persist with the GP and ask for a referral to a specialist - even if it's not a serious condition it must be badly affecting your quality of life

Was the Irvine test a dip one? 50% reliable

Semaphorically did you mean to be quite so horribly insulting there? Anxiety (no need for the quotation marks) is absolutely a real thing.

No I didn't mean to be insulting, I'm really sorry!

I know that anxiety disorders are absolutely a thing and affect people's lives in real ways. But they need to be properly diagnosed and then suitable assistance provided if it's in a healthcare setting like this was, otherwise it's just unhelpful dismissing of the person and their experiences. "Anxiety" as the OP's post refers to it is very like the way women used to be dismissed with "hysteria" in times past. The GP didn't then go on to actually help OP.

Sorry again, I didn't explain myself properly.

That does sound like a lot to drink.

But now I am questioning whether I am normal too!. I have to urgently pee about every half an hour if I have anything to drink at all.

This is OK at work but I don't drink much at the weekends if I am out and about to avoid it.

Do you think this sounds excessive?

George BP is always on the low side, usually sits between 100-110/60-70 . Has been lower before I think.

Yes I've looked at online descriptions of IC before and it does match to be honest. I asked if I could be re referred to see urology again after they stuck another catheter in 3 weeks ago, was told it wasn't necessary just now, but things are no better really.

I have an urgent appointment with gynaecology surgeon next week about the pelvic pain so will ask her what her thoughts are. They've got me to see the urogynaecologist before a few years ago so maybe they can refer me her way again.

I normally actually drink more , at work I can easily get through 3/4 litres a day . But that's long shifts on a hot hospital ward.

I have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder so I can see why they've come up with it to some extent .. but I think too that it's too easy an answer. The doctor yesterday (not my usual GP) said are you very anxious right now and listed reasons why I ought to be (they're familiar with my life circumstances) and I said I am a bit, but I always am , I have been since I was 17 and this is something that is getting worse and doesn't seem connected at all to the anxiety. I don't think it is anxiety. She said the more you worry about what something is the worse it gets and it's funny what your mind can cause, so like hypochondriac maybe? I don't know. She isn't my usual GP . She was very nice but I just felt dismissed sort of. She did say to try the cranberry sachets from the chemist but I think that's maybe a waste of money, it's not burning to wee or like normal cystitis symptoms - I just can't stop going/shake the urge off.

Have you had a blood sugar test? Could you be diabetic?

Get your diabetes checked tomorrow. Excessive thirst (you are drinking double the normal amount) and frequent peeing are warning signs.

I will do, I'll get a colleague to check. I maybe do drink a lot - I've now had 1500ml water, and 5 mugs of fruit juice/ smoothie/ tea. Can diabetes make you very hot? I'm permanently hot - I pointed out to GP yesterday that I have sweat pouring down my face and my neck quite often , at work I have to try to work with a fan on me and it burns my eyes it's so bad. I put deodorant around my hairline and neck, under my breasts and around my ears but doesn't seem to work well.

It's that bad that I can walk around comfortably in a T shirt and jeans in most weathers , I've gone to bed tonight in just knickers and vest and semi dried hair as so bloody uncomfortable!

I did have a glucose tolerance test a few years ago and passed that OK but suppose things could change over time.

Yep Deffo. Are you feeling more thirsty, tired? For a few years I kept on at Gp but they said the results were normal. I tested on a stick when at my friend's place (her dog was diabetic) and found that I was too!

How old are you, OP? Is it possible you're perimenopausal?

I'm 25 , I have had injections to stop my periods - decapeptyl , so I suppose that could have had an effect. Last injection was 31st December but I've not had any periods since or anything like, so presuming my hormones are not yet back to 'normal'.

I am feeling a bit more thirsty yes, and I'm permanently tired , I'm always lying down by 7pm ish and struggle to get up after even 9 or 10 hours. Can easily sleep for 13 hours or so, but I never wake up refreshed.