Constant urge to urinate anyone?

[SjoGirl]

Anyone else found themselves fairly suddenly dealing with a near constant urge to urinate? I have been checked for infection, nope. Doc also checked to see if it might be from my back, probably not.

I'm taking Cranberry pills in hope that it might help and see my neurologist tomorrow (he's wondered off and on for years about whether I might have MS). Otherwise need to wait to see a urologist in November. Goodie another doctor to add to my already too long list!

[Judie P]

I have it all the time.  My nurse practitioner said I could see a urologist if I wanted to, but I chose not to at this time.  I thought years ago it might have been MS, but been cleared of that.  Problem is SJS mimics MS.  So, at my age (64), my nurse practitioner told me it is probably the hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic) I am taking for high blood pressure and for me it is called urgent urination, which means I can't move fast enough to get to the bathroom before I start leaking.  I read that Sjogren's can cause it too, on a neurological end.  Good luck.  Hugs.

[SjoMan]

Yes, it can get extreme, to where you get out of bed to visit the bathroom, and by the time you return to bed with the pillows arranged and the covers on, you have to go again.  And this just repeats over and over.

I am pleased to say that I solved this problem, but I am not sure it will work for anyone else.  The solution that worked for me is to drink more water, a couple tall glasses when that happens, and this totally solves the problem.

I know this solution is counterintuitive, but I listened to my body to arrive at this solution, and it works for me.

When I don't drink enough water is when this happens.  I think I have I have to drink enough water to have my kidneys flushed out, so they work correctly.  Drinking more water seems to correct the problem.

[kmhcpt]

Currently I have been going more than normal.  I wake up every night to go.  My urine has a golden color to it all the time now.  On occasion it will be clear.   All tests of my urine have been normal.  Must be part of the the whole dryness thing.  Had prostate exam and blood work done.  All were normal.   Stinks getting up every night.  Frequency yes urgency no. 

[SunshineDaydream]

Sorry to hear you're going through this. Just be glad you're not dealing with the UTI, yeast infection from antibiotic, and OAB trifecta.

I've experienced the constant or frequent urge to urinate three times during the past 15 months, each after having a successfully treated UTI (e.g., had a UTI, bacteria gone after antibiotics, but still feel frequent or constant urge to go). I'm not talking about having to go once or twice during the night. I'm talking about urge day and night even if I've already just gone, and often not producing anything or enough worthy of the level of urgency once I get to the bathroom.

The first time during the summer of 2014, I was out of town for three weeks so had to go to an urgent care facility. The doctor said I probably had irritated bladder (irritated bladder?! More like irritated SunshineDaydream. That frequent urge feeling is annoying!) due to unsuccessful UTI home remedies followed by antibiotics. He gave me a prescription for enough Oxybutynin to tide me over until I could get to a doctor at home. Oxybutynin is to treat overactive bladder or urinary tract by reducing muscle spasm. He said to stop using it after a week to see if the urge had stopped. The drug worked, but I read about irritated bladder and figured it was basically inflammation. I stopped taking the Oxybutynin, took some ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory) for a couple of days, then stopped both Oxybutnin and ibuprofen. All was good after that until a few months later.

In winter of 2014, successfully treated another UTI but urges continued even after trying a leftover Oxybutynin pill. Saw NP at urologist's office who gave me samples of Myrbetriq, another urinary anti-spasmotic for overactive bladder but I think newer and in a different class of drugs. Before I got around to reading about possible side effects (well, it was a couple of weeks), the symptoms went away.

Well, the same crap just happened again starting this past Labor Day weekend, the Oxybutynin didn't work, and I noticed this week that my symptoms stopped on their own. I still didn't get around to reading up on Myrbetriq.

The good news is I saw Oxybutynin is available OTC now in the women's products aisle, but in patch form and slightly lower dosage than the prescription from the urgent care doctor. Maybe you'll want to try that after trying an anti-inflammatory.

Had the symptoms persisted despite OAB drug treatment, the urologist's office said the next step was to move on to invasive procedures to determine whether something else was causing the symptoms.

[eye2dry]

do you have discomfort/pain in your bladder area?

people can have interstitial cystitis which sort of mimics a bladder

infection. my daughter was diagnosed 12 years ago with it.


I hope you do not have MS or interstitial cystitis
let us know what they say

shelly

[SjoGirl]

Thanks all. Interstitial cystitis was mentioned by the PA as a possibility. I might have thought inflammation, but I've taken acetaminophen with no relief for the problem. I am trying to drink more water, but it generally goes through me pretty quickly. I've even tired cranberry chews, but no help from those either.

I hear you about the feeling of constantly needing to go. When I saw my PCP today I had just gone before going to her office and by the time I was with her 30 minutes later I felt I needed to go again.

Speaking of irritation, not with me, she's irritated that they can't find a treatment that will help my SjS (which she believes is the root cause of all of what I'm experiencing). I told her the upside is I'm not scared like I was when this all first started and I had a great summer.

I see my new rhuemy one month from tomorrow. My PCP and I are both hoping he'll find something that will help.

Thanks again, so helpful to "talk" with folks that understand what I'm going through.

[Sooki]

About 15 seconds after I urinate, I urgently have to urinate again, and sometimes a second time as well.  My sister with MS also has that symptom.  She found a physical therapist who was able to give her some exercises that helped a little.  Now I just stick around the bathroom for awhile afterwards. 

[StevenB]

I've noticed just recently that when I suddenly have to go I need to go immediately.  Just today I was in a shop and hopping from one foot to another and had to run out of the store to find a bathroom.  I didn't feel like I could make it another minute.   This is a new thing for me and don't ever remember this feeling like I'll pee myself if I don't go immediately!!!

[irish]

Why do't you folks do a search for Trigonitis. I have had this for about 50 years. It has not bothered me a very long time and I think it is because I am on prednisone and IVIG.

I got this at age 21 and am 72 now. I have done quite a few posts about this over the years and you should be able to see what I have gone through and had done. I swear it is another inflammatory process that plaques us. Lots of pain but no infection. It is the trigone of the bladder that has the inflammation. Good luck. Irish

[araminta]

Just a comment about cranberry tablets in case it's any help to people here.   Several years ago I had around seven episodes of cystitis in one year and was presribed seven rounds of antibiotics.   I was getting desperate with it.   Then I tried Holland and Barrett triple strength cranberry capsules, and since then I have never needed antibiotics for this problem again.   I have recommended them to anyone I know who suffers with cystitis.   

By the way more diluted forms of cranberry like cranberry juice had no effect at all for me.   And of course I should point out that the capsules only work against bacterial infections, so if there is some other cause for the frequent urination they will be no help.

[Tharrell]

Just be aware that should you have interstitial cystitis then cranberry juice would aggravate the bladder. My poor daughter, and I feel very badly for this, kept having what I thought uti. I kept giving her cranberry juice or azo tabs for uti containing cranberry. She started this at 7 years old, but was not diagnosed till one brilliant urologist poured vinegar water into her bladder and she had an instant pain reaction and dx her with IC. Now she has to stay away from acidic stuff and limit her potassium intake, both which could start a flare up. She also pees constantly and has a problem with emptying her bladder. She has to push very hard to get it out. Her poor bladder is so scarred from the inflammation which went undiscovered for 8 years that she can now only hold a 1/2 cup of urine. She is now looking at possible botox injections.

[Sleepy In Seattle]

I agree with the  Trigonitis comment...the area of the bladder affected in Trigonitis is a mucous membrane, and of course with sjs our mucous membranes don't work right.

Even though it's not something that is an "official" benefit of plaquenil, it CAN relieve bladder symptoms associated with sjs. It absolutely does for me! And yes, it does flare up following an infection.

Google "the uti that isn't" - there's also some interesting stuff there.

Sorry you are suffering from this - it's absolutely HORRIBLE. :-(

[Nugget]

It happens from time to time, but not consistently where I have to go all the time, or it comes on suddenly and I can't get to the bathroom fast enough.

[Dolly Dimples]

HI, I have this problem too, My Doc said "Sjogrens is an overactive immune system, equals over active bladder.
    She also told me never hurry , sit until you pass a little more,
              keep doing this because it will help to keep water infections at bay too.
                            Dolly x