Anyone else struggle with bladder?

[dahliaaa]

I posted earlier the year about a uti that wouldn't clear. After a number of different antibiotics it eventually went.
The problem is that I am still left with severe bladder 'awareness' and I constantly feel like I need the loo.
As soon as I have been I feel desperate again and I feel uncomfortable all of the time.
There is no pain when I actually urinate.
This predates the uti in January. I've had it with various degrees of intensity for many years.
GP says it's just something I need to put up with but it has a really big impact day to day.
I am fully into menopause and 5 months again I started vagifem but this hasn't made any difference unfortunately (I was so hopeful.)

Anyone else struggling with their bladder and want to moan?

I don't drink tea / coffee or alcohol. Don't use any perfumed products. Done all the standard advice.

Oh, can I have a moan? My issue is slightly different!

I drink pretty nearly the same amount every day. I'm very bad at drinking enough, but have tea in the morning, coffee at midday, then tea again in the evening. Some days I am absolutely fine - other days I feel as though I am pissing myself inside out! The other night I had to get up FOUR TIMES for a wee (and it was a big wee too, not just bladder being oversensitive). And yet other nights (like last night) I can go a good 8 or 9 hours and not even wake.

What's that all about then?

I wonder I this is the kind of issue people sometimes have botox for. Could be worth looking into.

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat feel free to moan away. Hope you get some better sleep. Very frustrating for you that there's no obvious pattern.
Bladders are such complicated things.
I need to go into town this afternoon and preparing myself for the constant aching / discomfort.

I had a volunteer on my farm a couple of years ago who had the same problem - her bladder woke her at 4am every morning and she found it hard to get back to sleep. We did two sessions of hypnosis and the problem was solved. I simply talked to the part of her subconscious mind that was sending the 'go to the loo' signals unnecessarily and asked it to stop.

A friend and I always joke that the first thing we do on parking the car is to find the loos...

Yes, I can't work out what the pattern is with mine. As I said, I drink pretty much the same amount every day, and yet some days I must wee twice as much in volume. It's a wonder I don't look like Gollum.

Thank you @Winter2020
I will have a look at that.
Maybe they can sort my forehead at same time !

I could write an encylopaedic guide to our local public loos !

Please go back to your GP. I have what you describe plus sometimes leaking before I get to loo and my gp prescribed medication and has passed me on to urology. The medication really helped stopped me feeling like I always need the loo. I'm 53 and my Gran lived into her 90,s, I refuse to spend potentially 40 years feeling I need a wee all the time.

I've had years and years of bladder issues and am currently waiting to see a uro-gynea specialist.
One of my (many) problems is bladder sensitivity which causes the urge to pee, which sounds like what you might have, OP, and I have found that these capsules from a company called Jude do help. They are pumpkin seed and Soy Phytoestrogen, all natural etc. etc.
I am the most sceptical person when it comes to supposed magical supplements, but they do seem to reduce my feelings of urgency, and I have done a trial where I stopped taking them for a week and the urgency came back.
Jude

I would try and see a dedicated women's gynae physio - the woman I see is fantastic and far more knowledgeble than GPs (she is the one who suggested the Jude capsules) They can help you with pelvic floor exercises which are really important, and bladder training to help get over the habit part of feeling like you want to pee all the time.

A quick tip - if you feel urgency do some calf raises. Apparently it is the same nerve and by exercising your calves it takes the focus off your bladder for a bit.

@MagpiePi that's really useful info thank you. I'm going to see if I can find a women's gynae physio locally.

@thebear1 do you mind sharing which medication you use? I think I might try again to see if I can get a urology referral and if not see what private options there might be. It has such a big impact day to day.

It's oxybutynin Hydrochloride. Hope that's helpful.

I prone to constipation and when it’s worse I go for a pee every 25 minutes. Otherwise it’s better but stillI I can’t go through a theatre show without visiting loo at break time. It’s also worse when I’m nervous especially before going out of the house. its so exhausting, all my travel planning is always around toilet availability.

I had this a couple of years ago and was told by a locum gp (who specialised in bladder stuff by luck)that i had irritable bladder syndrome - which i didn't know existed- was put on solifenicen and it was life changing. Good luckxxx

Thank you for the medication info - really appreciated.
@pizzaHeart sorry you suffer with it too.

.

This is worth listening to outlines the mismanagement of ongoing bladder issues by doctors.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/cuti/id1733889603

Will have a listen @TravellingIncognito

There's certain exercises you shouldn't do as it could aggravate this if it relates to the positioning of the urethra.
Not sure if you are an exerciser or not.
Also, wear flat shoes not wedges or heels because walking in those is pushing on the pelvic floor.
Don't do heavy lifting. Does it get worse with standing and as the day goes on? Is it relieved by lying down? If so it could be a slight prolapse.

Interstitial cystitis

I've just started taking D Manose supplement and I think it's helping already 🤞

I did try DMannose for a little while but maybe I need to give it longer.

@Lucy377 I've been checked for a prolapse. It does feel worse standing (although definitely still there when lying down) but I think that's more down the gravity than anything else.

I'm mid 50's and had started to think that I just need to accept it and deal with it as best as I can but I think I'm maybe doing myself a disservice.

My physio also suggested DMannose but I I read it had some side effects that I wasn’t that keen on.
They recommend taking the Jude for about 12 weeks to see some difference.

I see my physio through the local NHS health trust continence clinic but she does work privately as well.

Definitely get a private referral to physio who deals with pelvic floors. They are so knowledgeable in this area. Best of luck with it and keep looking for answers.

Please see a pelvic health physio. GPs can also prescribe bladder medication without seeing urology but sounds like yours may not be that supportive so I would push for a referral.
Botox is a later option after oral medication etc has failed as there is a risk of needing to self catheterise x

I had the exact same issue, op. UTI that went away but left me always aware I slightly needed the toilet and I was up several times in the night. I am now on month 2 of the Jude supplement and I'm trying to go when I need but never 'just in case' which I was also bad for. The supplement is only 2 ingredients which you could easily just add to your diet - but I know I'd forget. Whether it works or is placebo, I've noticed a huge difference.