Can't feel my bladder

[Username87654]

Over the last few months the sensation you feel when you need to wee has become less and less. It's really hard to explain but I just don't get the urge to wee anymore, just a dull ache quite low down. I have no leakage or incontinence. I'm 50.
I've been the GP and I have traces of blood in my urine , have done 2 samples. I had a bladder scan last week and that came back normal.
I don't really know what to do next.

When you say you don't know what to do, what do you mean? Are you saying that it's causing problems in your quality of life that you need to solve or is it that you are just worried why it might be happening? Did the doctor have any suggestions - is it just menopause/ageing?

It's just a bit worrying as I don't know why its happening. The doctor seemed really puzzled by it and didn't have any suggestions. Just wondered if its something that happens with age/menopause but also worried it will lead to incontinence

Do you have any numbness in your groin area? Or any back problems? Or pain / tingling / numbness in either of your legs? Might be worth asking for a very prompt (urgent??) review by a neurologist to check and rule out an issue with the nerves serving your bladder / groin area (eg a disc compressing the relevant nerves)?

Even though your bladder scan is clear, you need to go back to your GP, your symptoms are abnormal.

How delightful he is puzzled 🙄, you require further investigation @Username87654.

Id "ask" (ie insist) for a referral to a urologist tbh.

Please advocate for yourself. 🌸

Not knowing when you need to empty your bladder is quite a big thing and if it continues she could end up bursting it. So it's really serious.

OP, I agree with pp and wondering if it's a compressed nerve/disc. I would ask for an urgent referral although not sure where - neurologist, urologist? and hopefully get an xray or mri done. In the meantime set an alarm for every few hours and empty your bladder then rather than wait for that low pain, and hopefully you'll get an answer soon.

I had this after both c-sections so id go for hours and hours without a wee, then think "ooh, its been a while I should probably check" and lo and behold yup like a camel 🐫.

So it could well be a nerve issue and id push for this to be explored. Its not normal so dont be fobbed off!

I had this feeling after birth of 3rd baby, I’d only know I needed a wee when it felt painful a dull ache, finally went away after 6 weeks, mentioned it to GP and she said it was probably pelvic floor muscles being weak

Thank you for the replies. No I don't have any numbness, pain , tingling etc. The GP (female) asked me a lot of questions. The blood in the urine is concerning me too but she said that could be due to menstrual cycle (which has been very irregular).
I think I'll contact them again and see if I can be referred.

The blood in the urine is concerning me too but she said that could be due to menstrual cycle

I don't understand that bit, how are they connected?

No i don't really either 🤔 I think she meant if I was due on my period then there may be some blood somewhere which gave the trace reading in my urine. But because my periods are all over the place its hard to say

Can you clench your pelvic floor?

I’ve had this happen with menopause. I basically have to remember to go once an hour or I will pee my pants on the way to the loo ☹️

I had this for a very long time after gynaecological surgery. The ‘correct’ sensation returned gradually over more than two years. It’s very difficult to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.

Given that you haven’t had surgery you must keep pressing for a cause. As far as I’m aware It isn’t a natural consequence of menopause.

Thank you for all your suggestions. @violetcuriosity yes I can clench my pelvic floor , I should do more regular exercises on that!
I've also noticed that when I used to drink alcohol I would be back and forward to the toilet all night. I've been drinking tonight for the last couple of hours (not a regular drinker btw) and not been once and not feeling any urge.

🤔 Could you maybe seek a second opinion OP? I feel a bit nonplussed about that GP. Good luck, hope you get some answers soon.

Yes im definitely going to chase it up. They wanted another urine sample this week but im actually on my period now so will have to wait 🙄

I would actually make it a thing to go for a pee every hour until this is sorted.

you could try vaginal estrogen cream and see if it improves your symptoms
But I would be asking for a referral to a specialist doctor.

I have this issue when I have a uti. I get a dull ache but no urge. It’s horrible. Please continue to push for answers.

You need to get a second opinion and ask for a mri.
not to alarm you but my mum had this it was the first symptom of a first episode of what’s now being investigated as possible ms.

This happened to my mum in her 50s and the sensation never came back, but neither has it led to incontinence. She just makes sure she uses the loo every 2 hours or so.
The doctors could never work out what caused it.

Did an econsult this morning asking for further investigation and have been given an appointment for this afternoon! So thats encouraging and worrying at the same time

Just to say that unless you are actively bleeding on your period and being asked to give a sample in a pot, then the blood in your urine is likely to be coming from elsewhere. Please flag this as something to be investigated. Not to worry you! But I have also historically had this suggested as a cause and it absolutely wasn’t the case.

I wouldn’t be worried by the promptness OP, it just means they have appointments available that haven’t been filled by urgent stuff. Appointments at our GP tend to be same day or never, no in between.

Hope you get some answers

My GP surgery is notoriously difficult to get into. Appointments for the day are booked up by 8.30 . Appointments given are normally 2/3 weeks away