Wellness

[kivah]

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@GenXmuse wrote:

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@Foxxee wrote:

My sister had similar symptoms.  She was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis...irritable bladder.  

She went to quite a few doctors, plus a trip to the ER and none of the doctors came up with the right diagnosis.

Finally, one doctor told her to see a gynecologist/urologist.  

There is medication for it.  

You may not have it, but it's worth ruling out if you don't.

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Yes, I was just about to mention it. It can cause involuntary spasms of the urethra and make you feel like you have to go and can be very painful in some. Some doctors even use Botox to help relax the muscle. 

Do you actually have to go every time you visit the bathroom or does it just feel like you do? 

Definitely worth investigating if these other things aren't working for you. It's very disruptive especially when trying to get a good night's sleep. 

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I always have to go - around 6 times during the night ----- and 10 times during the day.

It's constant. I don't have any pain.

[kivah]

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@tansy wrote:

@kivah I tried that medication for a while and felt that there wasn't enough benefit.  If we are traveling, I use it.  

I no longer drink any caffeinated drinks, which helps a bit.

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I'll drink tea tomorrow to see if that helps. 

If I don't drink coffee in the morning, I'm unconscious.

[kivah]

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@RedTop wrote:

@kivah,

What you've described can also be associated with a weak, or dropped bladder that needs a surgical lift procedure.   

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Over a month ago, I had that telephone conversation with my doctor - as his office was closed due to the virus. This is when I told him about the urination problem and he mentioned I could have a dropped bladder - and he put me on myrbetriq - which isn't working. I'll call his office next week and mention the lift procedure - and a few other suggestions from people on here.

[Starpolisher]

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@RedTop wrote:

@kivah,

What you've described can also be associated with a weak, or dropped bladder that needs a surgical lift procedure.   

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This is what I was thinking. It's very common as we age and lose muscle tone.

[Toppers3]

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@kivah wrote:

For the last several years, I have to urinate endless times a day and night. My doctor recommended I take Myrbetriq, 50 mg. I've been taking it for the last 6 weeks and it's not helping. Do any of u have a similar problem and tried this drug??? Are u on other drugs that u could recommend? I do have medical issues so I'll have to ask my doctor.

I got the prescription at Walmart and paid $45 for a 30-day supply. I asked the pharmacist why it's so expensive and she said the regular price is over $400/mo. There's no generic. 

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I have an Overactive Bladder.

In the past it was thought that I had Interstitial Cystitis, but when the Urologist that I see checked my bladder, he said that it was looking good and he had said that it wasn't inflamed anymore like it had been in the past. It had improved over the years, thankfully.

I still have symptoms of urgency and frequency though, along with bouts of urgency incontinence. 

I am allergic to some of the medications that are similar to the one that you are taking, so I take one that is also used for colitis, called Levsin. 

I also learned how to "train my bladder" years ago, to help with the frequency of using the bathroom.

Basically, you hold off as long as possible from going to the bathroom in increments of time, adding more time on as you can tolerate it. You do this with the help of your doctor's office and with their knowledge, making sure that you don't have any type of an infection when doing this.

You also keep track of what you eat and drink, watching to see what foods or beverages might be irritating to your bladder.

For me, I no longer drink any kind of teas. I used to like to drink hot decaf. tea, and the tea/s acted like an irritant.

Certain spicy foods can also act as irritants, too. 

[Carol Diane]

I had trouble with frequent urination and pressure for years when I got married.  I was checked for Interstitial Cystitis and was told a million different things.  I cannot begin to tell you how miserable some days were.  I finally went to a urologist who said I had pelvic floor dysfunction.   He was a life saver.  I went for physical therapy and learned if I relaxed that area (not as easy as it sounds), the frequency and discomfort went away.  I am forever grateful I found him.

[Mindy D]

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@kivah wrote:

For the last several years, I have to urinate endless times a day and night. My doctor recommended I take Myrbetriq, 50 mg. I've been taking it for the last 6 weeks and it's not helping. Do any of u have a similar problem and tried this drug??? Are u on other drugs that u could recommend? I do have medical issues so I'll have to ask my doctor.

I got the prescription at Walmart and paid $45 for a 30-day supply. I asked the pharmacist why it's so expensive and she said the regular price is over $400/mo. There's no generic. 

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@kivah @There more than one medication for overactive bladder. Your doctor might prescribe a different medication.There are also other treatments besides medications. I do agree with some here that a visit to a urologist, if possible, due to the virus, might get you an accurate diagnosis. This is what The Mayo Clininc site says about medications for OAB:"

After menopause, vaginal estrogen therapy can help strengthen the muscles and tissues in the urethra and vaginal area. Vaginal estrogen comes in the form of cream, suppository, tablet, or ring, and can significantly improve symptoms of overactive bladder.

Medications that relax the bladder can be helpful for relieving symptoms of overactive bladder and reducing episodes of urge incontinence. These drugs include:

• Tolterodine (Detrol)
• Oxybutynin, which can be taken as a pill (Ditropan XL) or used as a skin patch (Oxytrol) or gel (Gelnique)
• Trospium
• Solifenacin (Vesicare)
• Darifenacin (Enablex)
• Fesoterodine (Toviaz)
• Mirabegron (Myrbetriq)

Common side effects of most of these drugs include dry eyes and dry mouth, but drinking water to quench thirst can aggravate symptoms of overactive bladder. Constipation — another potential side effect — can aggravate your bladder symptoms. Extended-release forms of these medications, including the skin patch or gel, may cause fewer side effects.

Your doctor may recommend that you sip small amounts of water or suck on a piece of sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum to relieve dry mouth, and use eyedrops to keep your eyes moist. Over-the-counter preparations, such as Biotene products, can be helpful for long-term dry mouth. To avoid constipation, your doctor might recommend a fiber-rich diet or use of stool softeners."

LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT CAN HELP

• Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing weight may ease your symptoms. Heavier people are also at greater risk of stress urinary incontinence, which may improve with weight loss.
• Drink adequate amounts of fluid. Ask your doctor how much fluid you need daily. Drinking too much fluid can worsen your symptoms, but not drinking enough can make your urine become concentrated and can irritate the lining of your bladder. This increases the urge to urinate.
• ✅Limit foods and drinks that might irritate your bladder. Some foods and drinks that may irritate the bladder include ✅caffeine, alcohol, tea, carbonated drinks, citrus juice and fruit, chocolate, spicy foods, and tomatoes. If any of these worsen your symptoms, it might be wise to avoid them.

To read more about the conditions, including all the treatments for it, this article at Mayo Clininc is pretty good. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjsqIfUw7bqAhUNCKwKHTRUCCQQ...

[DAD]

I have bladder & bowel spasms dut to herniated discs in my lower back. Muscle relaxers help the spasms.

[pprmntstx]

@kivah  I hope you find something that works for you.

[kivah]

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@Toppers3 wrote:

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@kivah wrote:

For the last several years, I have to urinate endless times a day and night. My doctor recommended I take Myrbetriq, 50 mg. I've been taking it for the last 6 weeks and it's not helping. Do any of u have a similar problem and tried this drug??? Are u on other drugs that u could recommend? I do have medical issues so I'll have to ask my doctor.

I got the prescription at Walmart and paid $45 for a 30-day supply. I asked the pharmacist why it's so expensive and she said the regular price is over $400/mo. There's no generic. 

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I have an Overactive Bladder.

In the past it was thought that I had Interstitial Cystitis, but when the Urologist that I see checked my bladder, he said that it was looking good and he had said that it wasn't inflamed anymore like it had been in the past. It had improved over the years, thankfully.

I still have symptoms of urgency and frequency though, along with bouts of urgency incontinence. 

I am allergic to some of the medications that are similar to the one that you are taking, so I take one that is also used for colitis, called Levsin. 

I also learned how to "train my bladder" years ago, to help with the frequency of using the bathroom.

Basically, you hold off as long as possible from going to the bathroom in increments of time, adding more time on as you can tolerate it. You do this with the help of your doctor's office and with their knowledge, making sure that you don't have any type of an infection when doing this.

You also keep track of what you eat and drink, watching to see what foods or beverages might be irritating to your bladder.

For me, I no longer drink any kind of teas. I used to like to drink hot decaf. tea, and the tea/s acted like an irritant.

Certain spicy foods can also act as irritants, too. 

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I know that I like - and eat - all the wrong foods.