frequent urination

[whatsup]

Hi

Does anyone else have a problem with frquent urination?  I seem to go a million times a day!  And night I'm up on average 2-3 times...Is this a symptom of Sjogrens?  I drink a lot of water I guess due to a slightly dry mouth but my dry mouth is not extreme as my dry eyes are.  I don't have any kind of infection.

Thanks

[Pooh]

Hi,
My first question would be, "Have you talked to your doctor about this?".  If not, you really should.  You say you don't have an infection, are you sure?  Other than having to go so much are you having any discomfort or pain? 

This is definitely something you should discuss with your doctor. 

Pooh

[whatsup]

No my urine has been checked for infection and I have no pain or discomfort.  It's just that I go every half hour or so.  Sometimes there is a lot of urine sometimes a little.  Perhaps I have an irritable bladder.  I have mentioned it to doctor's in the past.  I suppose I could put it down to drinking about 10-15 glassess of water per day but I'm not diabetic.

Thanks for your response

[Katybarstool]

Hi Whatsup

I saw a continence nurse a few months ago for a similar problem. I had to measure my liquid input and output for 2 x 48 hour spells. From this, it was noted that sometimes when I pu it was often only a very small amount, sometimes larger. Appaarently we should aim to pass around 300-400ml each time. She thought I was not emptying my bladder properly, and so was going more regularly.

She also thouoght the Sjogren's was irritating my bladder. The constipation from IBS was not helping either. So, she recommended laxatives to keep 'regular' and concentrating on emptying the bladder completely every time. YOu do this by jiggling forward and really trying hard to pass more urine. It can help, once you get used to doing it.

Another recommendation was to cut back on the caffeine. I rarely drink coffee, but do drink a lot of tea. Apparently caffeine irritates the bladder, so I got some redbush tea, which is caffeine free. Also, I was told to concentrate on pelvic floor exercises (front and back). Believe it or not ,all these things really helped.  I go less during the day now, and am down to once during the night.

Might be worth a try.

Kathyx

[whatsup]

thanks Kathy

[wen.uk]

Hi there

My sympathies are with you!!!   I've had bladder problems for a number of years, and when I have to go I have to go or else I can leak urine.  I've been seeing a specialist for some time regarding this and am no further on, he says it's a problem with the muscle in the bladder and there's nothing that can be done surgically.  I've taken medication previously which does help, but the side effects include dry mouth, eyes etc., so as you can guess it's nigh on impossible to take it long enough to see any difference.  If it is an irritable bladder you have, all the pelvic floor exercises in the world won't help as they are two totally different problems.  My pelvic floor is very strong, is the bladder that isn't!!!

Like the SS, I'm learning to live with it but it isn't easy and has a huge impact on my quality of life.

I wish you luck and hope you can find some improvement.

[Scottietottie]

Hi Whatsup 

I was sent to a urologist recently for much the same thing. I had to fill out a urine chart over 3 days and had tests, which weren't particularly pleasant but that disn't actually hurt.

No infection and no lurking 'nasties, which was a relief. Dxd as Irritable Bladder Syndrome having discounted other possibilities. I'm meant to be being sent for physical therapy but it hasn't happened yet.

Otherwise the advice was to cut way down on tea and not to eat or drink oranges/orange juice, tomatoes/t juice, lemons/l juice or grapefruit/ g juice. Well that pretty well cut out everything I fancied drinking, so I bought some tena ladies and decided I can live with peeing a lot.   

Take care - Scottie 

[Skylar]

Whatsup, I'm glad you posted this. I too have frequent urination and some of it clearly is due to large fluid intake. I also don't empty my bladder completely and usually have to have 3 trips to feel emptied. I wonder if this is related to SjS or just a common problem for everyone?

As for the nocturnal urination - I used to go 5 times a night - until I was tested for sleep apnea and started to use a cPap machine. Now I only get up once through the night. I didn't have the typical apnea symptoms of falling asleep in the evening in front of the tele. The reason for frequent urination was because the apnea kept waking me up through the night. If you think you might have sleep apnea, please get tested. I actually didn't think I had sleep apnea, but knew DH had it and when they ordered testing for him, they added me for testing too - I was lucky the Dr. did that.

Skylar

[Sandra]

This is an annoying and sometimes serious issue for me too. When things ae bad and i'm real dry I drink allot more thus I can leak allot too. And my bladder can become very painful and eventually I end up with a UTI. This has not been totally figured out yet, there is some question about the added dryness and motility. Many times when I drink more water I can acctually retain it and have to use watermelon and tea to help eliminate it. it's a mystery I will be talking to my rhumey about in August. A note to the extra water drinkers be careul not to eliminate you minerals. Have a glass of juice andclub soda occasionaly, kind of pedialite for adults. Sandra

[kelsey]

Hello to everyone posting on this subject.  It is probably just as well we are not all out on an outing as there would never be enough toilets for our needs.  I have had this problem all of my life and have NEVER slept through a night.  Over the years I have had every possible test and done everything that has been suggested but to no avail.  You will understand that when I have been on a catheter in hospital it has been a relief, the last time the nurse could not believe the amount I passed and why there was no gap in the passing as she took it out.  I have been on HRT for many years.  In the early years I was on the two different ones but now on only one.  I used to check which one I would be taking while on holiday because the difference in trips to the loo varied depending on the time of the month.  This makes me convinced that in my case it is hormonal. Has anyone else found this? It doesn't help that my two friends I holiday with and see regularly do not go to the loo all day.

Scottie I am just going along with you, we will just buy shares in Tena lady.

No prizes for guessing how many times I 'went' while keying this post.  Happy visiting  kelsey

[Nettie]

There is a condition called Interstitial Cystitis (ICS).  It's another autoimmune condition that affects the bladder.  I was diagnosed with this about 5 years ago.  Anyone who is having systems of frequent uriniation, but no infection should see a urologist and ask to be evaluated for ICS. 

Nettie

[Rania]

I experience that when I have a flare, I get more trouble with my bladder than usual. Sometimes it feels like I'm not emptying the bladder, and I suspect infection. An urine sample taken that time, usually show a urine that is pretty unclear. It looks like it is infected but is not, but histology tests has revealed that it is a lot of epitel cells from inside the bladder that comes out in large amounts and make the urine unclear. I even sometimes take the urinesample with a catheter, to get the urine as pure as possible.

Well, the flare and the things with the bladder who follows makes me feel I have to pee each 15 minutes. Well, sometimes I actually do. Other times, my urine is...well, the color it is supposed to be. Or a bit clear, if I drink a lot. That is just natural and it doesn't wory me a bit.

I do have a damage on my spine too, so I'm not sure everytime it happens what is caused by Sjs and what is caused by the damaged spine. But the color of my urine give me a clue sometimes. Now I've got my hands on those sticks to check out the urine for infections, so I can check it out myself. It is the same kind of sticks used on a docs ofice. If it tells me that something is wrong, I deliver an urine sample at the docs office, so they can check it out and send it to a lab for a closer look, and maybe give me antibiotics if needed.

[salsen]

I just started this lovely journey at the end of last year.  I have gotten up during the night for years but this sudden can't hold it urge every 15 minutes is fairly new.  I have been tested for kidney stones and bladder infections - all is normal.  Nope that can't be right - LOL - otherwise I wouldn't be having this problem.   

It has been decided I have OAB.  The autonomic neuropathy can have it's little fingers in the mix but there is no way of testing.  Regardless the treatment is the same.  Right now I am on Sanctura XR and it is working very well.  The constant running has slowed down considerably although when it is time for the medicine an increase in trips has begun.  This is the second medicine I am on.  I used Dextral? LA which worked for about three months then gave up the good fight. 

I feel for my daughter as she has had issues from a little child.  The older she gets I think she will be in for a rude awakening.  She has major allergy and asthma problems and I think this comes into play in her case.

Good Luck  - as they say "I feel your pain!"

[trector1955]

hello
    This message is for Rina. I read about the problem with your spine. Will you please tell me more about your spine. My sister also Has problems with her spine. she can't walk sometimes I just found out I have sjogrens I bet my mom and sisters have it also.
Thanks Theresa

[eyeamdry]

I have no infections etc. either, but I must get up and pee between 2-4 times a night.  What a pain.  It's usually not that that wakes me, but dry eyes or mouth.  When I'm awake, I take care of all 3 items--even if I don't have to go badly. 
Lucy