Overactive bladder?? What worked for you

[Sunny866]

I just wanted to share my story and see if anyone has any advice. I have been suffering with UTI symptoms on and off for around 3 years. I thought it was due to large fibroids but I had those removed for other reasons but I am still suffering. I just want to add I do not have any pain whatsoever. My only symptom is the urgency to wee and when I do go to the toilet I am actually producing urine as opposed to small drops you get with a UTI. I am currently in the middle of a flare and have been weeing every 45 mins. I have a newborn and I am exhausted as I can’t sleep due to the constant urgency. Antibiotics don’t help and I’m not sure they would if it isn’t a UTI. I am considering going down the private clinic route to see if it is an embedded infection. Has anyone had this symptom without pain and resolved it? I am thinking whether it could also be an overactive bladder that flares from time to time? I have also been quite good at doing my pelvic floor and that doesn’t help either. The doctor has prescribed me (today) a medication for overactive bladder but I am a bit reluctant to use it due to side effects and also as I know previously flares have subsided. This happened to me around once a month but strangely in pregnancy it didn’t happen at all. Any ideas?

Antihistamines! I suffered with bladder pain similar to yours for months and months.

Fexofenadine worked for me

@tomatoontoast thanks, I am not actually in any pain though. It is just the frequency of going. Is this what you had? Are you still on the antihistamines or did it improve symptoms and you’ve now stopped?

How new is your newborn?

I had very similar problems to you OP but after my first pregnancy it improved massively, although only once I got past the new newborn stage where you’re getting rid of all that excess fluid.

He’s 8 weeks now. But I have had this on and off the past few years. Also have a daughter who is 3

I've found magnesium spray has dramatically helped my overactive bladder.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor thanks, where do you spray it and how often? Have your symptoms gone?

I had frequency and what felt like a UTI but my samples were clear.

I took a daily antihistamine for 7 months and then stoped. It gave my bladder enough time to recover and repair.

I stopped the antihistamines when I got pregnant but I could have went off them at 4 months without my symptoms returning but I wanted to give my bladder extra time.

You can buy fexofenadine from the poundshop. A daily antihistamine should have no side effects. It's well worth trying. It just might take a few days to notice a difference.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Magnesium-Oil-Spray-Sensitive/dp/B00P2N1T4G/ref=asc_df_B00P2N1T4G/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309964069570&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13344837588807458574&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006868&hvtargid=pla-762153312396&psc=1&mcid=f15f417791a63ae5a97cda7e0219c51b

This what I use, four sprays on each leg after my morning shower. Felt the difference within a couple of days and am sleeping loads better too.

@tomatoontoast thats great thank you. I will try this. Was there any particular brand you were using? Do you think allevia would work. Any side effects?

I'd 2nd antihistamine and also tomatoes! I know the bladder feeling well, did some elimination diets for IC and realised raw tomatoes, lemons and peppers cause my flares.

All links to high histamine as well, but don't rule out diet as well as medications.

Not one single side effect, thank goodness! I just want you to be aware again that they didn't work instantly for me but a few days really helped.

I didn't buy any particular brand as I didn't want to pay for a brand name. I took 180mg of Fexofenadine and bought it from the Boots pharmacy but you can buy it in Poundland as I mentioned. If you feel better with a brand name Allevia is exactly the same.

Please do let us know how you get on.

I would just check OP that you definitely don't have an embedded UTI

I have had reoccurring UTI since having my baby 2 years ago. The doctors started prescribing amoxicillin which the bug has now become resistant to!

I've had a cystoscopy and my bladder is inflamed and they believe the infection has got into the walls

I have the same symptoms as you-no pain and I go for full wees but I have urgency and lots of frequency. When I have flare ups I'm also going every 40 odd minutes.

I have found D-Mannose, cranberry capsules and women's pro biotic have helped ease the symptoms.

@milesmachine yes I did wonder this too. I am waiting for an urology referral. Are you in any antibiotics for the embedded infection? Or do you just ride through the flare?

I am on dmannose and a probiotic too

Antihistamines would help. Perhaps it’s the drop or change in hormones? Like with perimenopause/ menopause the hormones or lack of massively affects the urinary system.

@tomatoontoast do you think 120mg would also work?
just looked online and allevia is 120mg and 180mg is available just for treating hives? Just thinking what to say if I go to a pharmacy and they ask why I want the higher dose

Are you breastfeeding? Could you be in early perimenopause? The bladder region is full of oestrogen receptors and the symptoms you're suffering could be caused by dropping oestrogen levels - which can be alleviated easily with local and very low dose creams or a pessary.

I’m not breastfeeding no, just bottle. I am 37 so not sure about perimenopause. I don’t have any other symptoms of it. Thank you for the suggestion I’ll try and see if any creams etc make a difference

I'm glad I found this thread! I've suffered on and off for donkeys years. It got a bit better after having a hysterectomy for fibroids (? Possibly pressing on a nerve?) but recently got bad again. My life is planned according to toilets.

My GP started me on oxybutnin recently. It helped, but I was unable to tolerate the side effects. I had a very dry mouth but the worst was feeling continuously zonked. I was falling asleep at work. I'm learning to drive and stopped it 3 days before a lesson because obviously the risk was too high. To combat the dry mouth and sleepiness i was drinking far more water, as well as tea and diet coke for the caffeine which was defeating the object as caffeine is a no no with bladder issues! I went back to the GP and was changed to the same drug in patch form. The thinking behind it being as it helped the symptoms, a slow release version might provide less side effects. I've been on the patches for 3 weeks now but it's not made any difference either good or bad!

I never knew about the antihistamines! There's a Poundland on my high street and I have to go to the High Street anyway so will nip in and get some.

Antihistamines at night time
ovestin vaginal cream
no caffeine or alcohol
drink lots of water (my symptoms get worse the more concentrate my urine).
d mannose
strong probiotic x 3 a day during a flare up.

I have an inflamed bladder from an undiagnosed infection which plagued me for about a year - and the above all help when I’m having a flare up of symptoms.

Brilliant advice here. Thanks

A

When medication didn’t work I saw a physiotherapist who helped me when I had an overactive bladder. I also had a lot of tests at the hospital so see if you can get a referral.

I never tried the 120mg but I went for the 180mg as I was at the absolute end of my tether with the symptoms. It really affected my mental health and I wanted to throw the 180mg at it to try and get any benefit as fast as possible. Thankfully, it completely cleared my symptoms but without it I don't know where I would be.

I think the 120mg should be fine. The 180mg was just for my own peace of mind.

Try it and see how it goes.

I've got everything crossed for you!!

Just a note for anyone else reading this thread that might want to try antihistamines. I remember at the height of my symptoms, I searched Mumsnet praying someone might have a solution.

I primarily used Fexofenadine but Lortadine also worked for me.

Lortadine was easily found in any poundshop/ Home Bargains / B&M. The brand name didn't matter but I just bought the 30 pack of tablets for a couple of pounds.

I accidently found that antihistamines worked when I took them during the summer for hay fever and my bladder pain / discomfort / peeing stopped.

I then spoke about it with Dr Patrick Campbell, the urogynacologist in Northern Ireland, and he agreed that my symptoms were likely a histamine response that overwhelmed the bladder and antihistamines would give it time to recover. He couldn't tell me how long I would need to stay on them for but, I just stopped when I got pregnant and I haven't had a single symptom since.

Also try avoiding tea ,juice, coffee, alcohol, fizzy drinks, chocolate and tomatoes as well as spicy foods.
Also look at how much you are drinking volume wise. We see women complaining of urgency and frequency but see in their bladder diary that they are drinking 3-4 litres a day. Way too much.