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Original poster

Sodding frequent urination problem - miserable.

23 replies

mintymellons · 20/12/2011 13:35

I've posted on this subject in the past (probably under my old name messylittlemonkey).

Anyway, I'm struggling with this constant urge to go to the loo. To give a little background, I suffer from UTIs occasionally (including a very nasty one a few years ago which seemed to trigger the problem I have now). If I get symptoms, I just take a urine sample to my GP surgery and the practice nurse dipstick tests it. On average, I'd say I need to use this service a couple of times a year. As I said, occasionaly it will show up as a UTI and then I get ABs, but more often than not the dipstick is clear and the symptoms tend to clear on their own.

I started needing the loo a lot about ten days ago so I dropped a urine sample into my GP last Tuesday. It showed a slight trace of 'something' and I was given ABs. After a couple of days the urge to wee subsided and I thought it was gone, but then it started up again. I finished the ABs on Sunday but I'm still suffering. I took a second urine sample for testng this morning and it's now clear.

This has happened before, where I have a UTI and clear it with ABs but the symptoms remain. I get all worked up about it then it sorts itself out and I forget about it til the next time.

Does anyone have any advice - it's getting me down!

OP posts:

Footle · 20/12/2011 14:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GingerbreadLatte · 20/12/2011 14:45

Agree with footle
I had this after having my daughter, saw a womens physio and had to do an exercise where i measured what I drank vs weed out then had to try to not go when urge took me etc.

Helped eventually

Good luck

ameliagrey · 20/12/2011 15:57

Have a look at this:
www.cobfoundation.org )( might have .uk at end)

Loads of info on the kind of problems you are having.

Read the section about diet and try cutting out certain food and drink for a while and see if it helps- your bladder may just be irritated and need a rest from things such as caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and citrus fruit/drink.

it's also possible that you have a low level infection which is not showing up on the tests and maybe needs a different AB.

Original poster

mintymellons · 20/12/2011 17:35

Thank you all. I'll look at the links/suggestions!

OP posts:

survivingwinter · 20/12/2011 19:59

Yes - I get this frequently. I find drinking coffee sets it off again although not tea funnily enough. Also have other triggers such as TOTM and IBS. I have only shown an infection once and took AB which cleared it up for a while.

Links look useful - will also have a read.

You have my total sympathies OP - this has plagued me for ages now

Whippet · 20/12/2011 20:04

How old are you? I have found that perimenpausal symptoms seem to include going to the loo more often. Taking Isoflavones seem to have helped me.

mercibucket · 20/12/2011 20:04

have you had blood tests run as well to check general state of health?

mercibucket · 20/12/2011 20:05

sorry - posted too soon there - my symptoms eventually turned out to be due to thyroid

Original poster

mintymellons · 20/12/2011 20:26

Thanks.

Whippet, I'm 37 so not sure if that counts as perimenopausal?!

Mercibucket I had blood tests at the beginning of this year during when I had symptoms for several weeks, but two clear dipstick tests. The blood tests were clear.

On this occasion I have to assume that the UTI (which showed up on the dipstick test a week ago) has now cleared as today's dipstick test was normal.

I've kind of come to the conclusion that my bladder is easily irritated whether it be by an infection or some other trigger, and once irritated it takes a while to calm down. And, of course, the more I fret about it, the worse it gets.

OP posts:

esperance · 20/12/2011 21:40

A number of people with irritable bladders test their own urine with a dipstick at home:

www.medisupplies.co.uk/acatalog/info_PMC0352.html

I find that this lowers the stress related to wondering should I/shouldn't I make a GP appointment.

What you said above about your bladder needing to calm down, well my urologist said in his experience that was exactly the case for some people but with time most (not all) return to normal functioning. Tricky things...bladders!

adamschic · 20/12/2011 21:46

Just been to my doctor today with a similar problem. Have had it for ages at night, having to get up most nights a few times but lived with it thinking it was just the menopause. It happens in the daytime now and does get me down. No sign of infection so I'm having blood works done, failing that a bladder scan.

I would suggest asking for bloods to be checked too.

adamschic · 20/12/2011 21:49

Just read you've had clear blood tests. I find mine gets better if I cut out caffeine or perhaps it's just because fluid intake is less.

Original poster

mintymellons · 22/12/2011 12:51

A little update.

Things have improved in the last day or so. I started taking Uva Ursi on Tuesday and not sure if it's that or not, but definitely much better. I've used this before and I do think it helps - it is highly recommended on various forums/websites.

I hope that those of us who are still suffering can get enough relief to enjoy Xmas!

OP posts:

PresentsRibbonsAndMerrySantas · 22/12/2011 12:58

i have had this, i too suffer with UTI,have all my life. but this turned out to be an irritable bladder, i cut out coffee and cola and it stopped, i find now as long as i don't drink too much caffine i don't suffer, so 1 coffee or 2 beakers of coke and i will be fine, any more and i suffer, i tend to drink only water or very weak orange squash

frankie3 · 22/12/2011 13:13

Mercibucket - how does your thyroid affect your bladder? I have under active thyroid and also have frequent urination, are the two connected in any way?

south345 · 22/12/2011 13:18

I don't suffer with uti's but have to go to the loo every 1/2 hr or so, I saw my doctor last week and am going in for blood tests next week for thyroid problems, diabetes, arthritis and lots of general things as I had various symptoms. I'm under 30 so hopefully not menopausal.

mercibucket · 24/12/2011 13:56

Gosh don't know how frankie (will google!) But just read it on an exhaustive list of signs of hypothyroidism and know it was true for me. It's amazing the different things it affects - I can smell again for instance! Weird

mercibucket · 24/12/2011 13:56

TopazMortmain · 24/12/2011 14:17

You have probably heard this before but do you put bicarbonate of soda in your water? One teaspoon in a pint and sip all day.

Works for me when nothing else does and will not do any harm...

hiddenhome · 24/12/2011 21:53

Tea was making me ill at the beginning of the year. I only drink redbush tea now and I'm fine

LuSmithTheMyth · 25/12/2011 15:07

Hey! I can relate to alot of these symptoms and I'm only 27! I've suffered from frequent urination and a sensation of constantly needing to go for years and years now, I've had a bladder scan, constant bloodtests and UTI dipstick tests and nothing came back abormal. I was told it was probably an overactive bladder, though once I did have a borderline thyroid problem, I don't have that problem anymore as I've had a bloodtest recently and nothing showed up.

I'm pretty sure its either weak pelvic floor muscles or most likely IC (interstital cystitis). Not sure as of right now but its very iritating, every time I drink I need to go within 10 minutes and usually I sometimes need to go twenty times just to feel comfortable!! During the night I get up a number of times and its uncomfortable during the day too and I've even been avoiding caffeine and spicy foods etc so its not related to that!

Original poster

mintymellons · 03/01/2012 12:28

I'm back again.

The saga continues. To give a brief history to save people trawling back through this thread:

I started with frequent urination around the first week in Dec. Ignored it a bit as it often goes by itself. Lasted for a good week or more so took urine sample to gp who found a slight trace of something and put me on ABs. Seemed to help and felt better but then started needing the loo again about half way through the course. Was like this for a few days but second urine test was clear. This then improved for a couple of days before returning over the xmas weekend (sorry this is so long winded). It then cleared AGAIN and I had about a week free of needing the loo constantly. Then, it came back yesterday (coinciding with my period which was a few days late this month). This is probably TMI but it seemed to start up after inserting a tampon nd it's been awful since yesterday - up and down to the loo all night etc...

Does anyone else have uti sympoms relating to their period and/or tampons?

OP posts:

annalovesmrbates · 03/01/2012 12:57

Hi Minty

I don't have the same issue as you but I do have very minor stress incontinence mainly if I have a big cough or have to chase a small person. I have noticed that it is worse when I have my period and use a tampon. Hope you get sorted out soon!

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