Needing the loo all the time

[RoseNarene]

Hiya!

As the title states! I can’t say when the problem began, only that it’s been since I had children, though not necessarily straight after. The last one was born 2016; I don’t think it happened before then. Both births were by c-section.

I just feel the need to go to the loo more frequently than is normal. I can hold it in, but it causes discomfort and, eventually, pain. I don’t leak. I can go to the toilet, go to bed, and then need to go to the loo again 10 minutes later. There’s always something to expel, but not always a lot. It’s inconsistent, too. Sometimes I can go several hours without needing to go. Sometimes there’s a lot coming out, sometimes not. No matter how much urine there is, the urge to go is still there. Which is silly; why should I get that urge when my bladder isn’t even nearly full?

I’ve had STI checks and they’ve all been negative, and I know it’s not a water infection. I’ve been to the docs and they did urine tests and all came back normal. They didn’t know what to do, except suggest retraining my bladder to hold more. I tried this, but it causes me so much discomfort that I had to stop.

I guess what it feels like is that something is putting pressure on my bladder, but not all the time, to force me to need the loo.

has anyone else had this? It’s driving me crazy.

I would get checked for diabetes and hyperparathyroidism in addition to the above

I have had this problem for as long as I can remember and I am 47 now! Hate going to new places if I'm not sure where the toilets are. I thought it was urge incontinence or a weak bladder as I never fully empty properly when I do go, as am always in a hurry to finish quickly.

I think it may stem from some psychological trauma of having to use the horrible underground and smoke filled toilets at secondary school 🧐

I've read I should learn to double void or something like that, so I now try to wait a bit even when I think I'm done.

The worst is that I can never go the whole night without getting up at least once. Usually twice or more. Its worse as I am a front sleeper and that puts more pressure on my bladder 😬

I had this, tested negative for uti's had an internal ultrasound, all fine.
Went to a good osteopath, he said it was something in my lower back, he worked on it and I did exercises, totally gone now.

Are your back/hips ok? I had bladder problems but it was a consequence of a problem in my hips. Once I’d been straightened out by an osteopath it was fine. I hope you get sorted :)

Have you tried Jude tablets? I found they have really helped me !

I have this. I assume it’s an overactive bladder. I know giving up coffee would help but I love it so I just make sure I’m near a toilet after I’ve had a coffee and don’t have any after 12.

I have to get up at least 4 times a night to wee though which is very disruptive to sleep. Have looked at the Jude tablets but they are expensive. Do they help with night time weeing?

I've bought the Jude tablets off the back of this thread. I've tried everything else! I'll happily report back in a few weeks.

Another vote for potential fibroids here.

Coffee does this to me. Definitely caffeine makes it much worse.

@mynameischloe Oh great. I hope they work for you.

To be honest I don’t really help myself by refusing to give up coffee but I can’t bear to give it up.

If it's helps I've given up caffeine and it made no difference, if anything it seems to make things worse!

@mynameischloe That’s interesting!

I think my night frequency is hormonal. In fact I think it’s all perimenopause related. So maybe giving up coffee wouldn’t make that much difference. I’ll tell that to myself!

I’ve cut out fizzy drinks no caffeine and it’s helped me I still up and down in the night but I’m used to that.

I have exactly what you describe and have been the same for years. An earlier OP mentioned irritable bladder syndrome and I feel like that sounds like mine!
I never know if it's psychological or not, or whether I don't empty my bladder fully, or damage caused by taking too many illicit drugs in my youth!! Or all of it
But it's incredibly annoying. Especially that having to get out of bed again shortly after getting into it (which I put down to water retention in the legs getting relieved when they're raised!!). So no advice, only sympathy.