Peeing!

I feel sorry for you, what a shame but It's more common that you may think. I found pelvic floor exercises helped. 5 mins morning and night of squats and buttock clenching anytime I was sitting in the car at traffic lights + whenever I remembered throughout the day. It took a few weeks but definitely an improvement. Worth a try. Good Luck.

I suffered with the same problem for many years worrying everytime you went out there was a toilet nearby.I didn't realise you could get help for it ,but after going to my doctor she put me on Tolterodine tartrate tablets.

Although its not perfect my quality of life is much much better.

I think male gps don't know about vaginal atrophy unless someone suggests it to them! The treatment is very helpful.

Thanks all. I've read that it's thought that around 45% of women (and men, too, suffer with some form of overactive bladder. It's scandalous that it's not taken seriously by GPs.

I was pleased when I saw those TV ads on a while back but they seem to have disappeared now.

I've no idea how many older women are not living life to the full because of this distressing condition.

I've just bought some Urostemol tablets for what I assume is an overactive bladder, but haven't taken them yet as I'm having a scan in a few weeks time after having a PMB. Atrophy was diagnosed at the hospital a ffew weeks ago but they want to have a better look. One of my concerns was the number of times I had to go to the loo (especially at night)...but I'm also not going on long walks any more because of the number of times I've had to find a loo (or a bush) at very short notice. It is affecting my life. I have switched to decaff q1tea and coffee and am limiting how much liquid I drink and I have been better recently. I'll take the Urestomol after I've had the scan. My lady doctor didn't mention atrophy when she did my referral which worried me terribly. I've had irritable bowel for most of my adult life which now seems have improved....maybe it would be too unfair to have irritable bowel and nervous bladder!

I'm not sure if it the same thing. I suffered from an unstable bladder which would go into spasm. Made traveling into a lottery. Some simple tests confirmed the problem and a simple operation (bladder neck incision) instantly cured it.

Oh yes. I can't travel anywhere without knowing where the nearest loo is. Especially in the morning which is my worst time.

For those who have or think they have vaginal atrophy get some Replens or similar suitable vaginal lubricant. It does help.

Mmm...so there's lots of us suffering with this, then. Good luck, tegan with your medication and your procedure. I've not heard of Urestimol. Hope it works.

G I think unstable bladder, oab, nervous bladder are pretty much one and the same or at least lumped together. It annoys me too, that the "sensitive bladder* condition as advertised in that ad where the women are dancing in an annoyingly carefree way is lumped in too. Afaik sensitive bladder is incontinence, not urgency. This sort of advertising trivialises what is obviously a widespread and potentially distressing problem. People's lives-especially women's-are negatively affected, and that's not right.

I'm glad G has had this treatment, but I can't understand why this treatment is not more widely known.

It seems the medical profession is fobbing too many of us off!

My condition was not fobbed off, it was taken seriously and investigated (it was causing me a lot of pain)

I have bought a Sheewee from the internet and with practise in the shower you can use it whilst out in the countryside, into a bottle in the bedroom, keep in the car in case you need a quick pit stop. If you wear trousers with a zip you can discretely use it, whilst standing up of course.

If you think a public loo is dirty you can use it there and it has a handy plastic case.

Worth trying out.

gandtea I think you were one of the lucky ones .

I hardly ever go to the Doc; I'm thankfully in good health, but on the rare occasions I've needed "women's problems" seen to, I've not been taken seriously. I was refused consideration for Hrt on the grounds that "I should put up with it"; I had a miscarriage diagnosed as "just a period" and my bladder problems have been minimised (I feel) even though there is a link with the menopause and I was exhibiting symptoms.

At least we're able to Google nowadays and share info.

Will definitely try a shewee!!

gettingonabit before you get a Shewee have a look at the Whiz Freedom. I've used both and find the Whiz much better. It's softer so more comfortable to use and it's also more pliable so easier to tuck into a pocket or bag more discretely

This is the first time I've sent a message so apologies if I make mistakes. Could this be due to a prolapse? I've just been told about a website wholewoman.com which has information about excercises to help problems relating to this. I haven't tried any out yet but am thinking of getting a dvd from them. I agree with Linsco56 about pelvic floor excercises too. Good luck.

Ask to be referred to a physiotherapist. It's a very common problem and specialist physios can help.

hello - i suffered and it caused me broken nights sleep, which was the worst think about it for me. however, my doctor sent me to a specialist and i had a procedure which involved a botox injection and it has been very successful. i don't like taking tablets and i have been very happy with the outcome. visit your doctor and tell him how upsetting it is when you cant get sleep. hope this is of help to you and other suffers.

Thanks so much for all your replies. I think I'm going to try all the suggestions! I'm not good at going to the Doc and being assertive. Must try harder.

Never heard of wholewoman, so thanks to funwith.

I had some recurrent bladder problems a few years back, needing to pee a lot, but not cystitis...feeling generally uncomfortable and suffering from several UTI's in succession. My doc explained about vaginal atrophy and gave me some hormone based vaginal pessaries - called Vagifem. Within two weeks of starting them I was no longer troubled with problems. I had a two month course and since then have on the odd occasion, used a couple if I felt uncomfortable. Just went to check them, having read this thread and they are past their expiry date and 90% unused...so they really worked for me. Worth mentioning to your doc perhaps? Good luck

I too find I need to go to the loo a lot - it's not life determining in my case but is certainly an embarrassing nuisance! For me it started after the forceps delivery of my first DD 28 years ago, and was made worse by the forceps delivery of my second DD 4 years later. I suspect obstetricians are not very aware of the collateral damage caused by forceps because some women are too embarrassed to report it. Forceps are still in use today in the NHS. Caesarian sections may have issues and cost implications, but they would avoid the kind of damage I have. Thanks for the information and ideas on how to cope with it

Something I've been plagued with all my adult life really and a huge problem going anywhere. I used to work in a factory full of men with only one toilet which you had to walk down the shop floor to get to - luckily we didn't live far away so I would jump in the car and go home but it was such a nuisance. Wherever I do I have to make sure there is a toilet nearby and travelling we stop at the services several times on the way. If I'm going to be in a meeting I won't drink which helps a bit but its still an embarrassment and really annoying for my husband although he had bladder and prostate problems a couple of years ago and finally understood the urgency! The doctor once gave me some tablets but they made no difference.

Quick read of the Ama*on reviews shows that there are many counterfeit copies of the Whizz and possibly the she-wee, which don't work. So resist saving a couple of pounds, go direct, the Whizz is at www.whizproducts.co.uk/ currently £7 inc postage.

I got a Sheewee about 6 years ago, and I think it changed my life! DH and I are keen birdwatchers, and I had been unable to go to most of our favourite places for years because of the fear of crouching in a place where every rustle in the bushes is immediately the focus of several middle-aged men with high powered optical equipment. I also use it in places abroad where toilet facilities are perhaps not quite what I want to rest any part of my anatomy on. Recently there has been another improvement in my situation caused by a loss of weight, although I was by no means overweight before, the loss of about half a stone has ,made my ability to 'wait' almost normal - I know this is the reason, because I deliberately put the weight back on, and all the problems returned until I lost it again.

Over the past few weeks I've lost almost a stone (mainly from worrying about my hospital referral), have cut out caffeine completely and bought a cup for my tea and coffee instead of drinking from a large mug. I've also been using Replens. Have also made a note of what I've been eating etc.Someone on another thread pointed out that cranberries irritated your bladder, and I've been eating a lot of them, thinking that they'd be good for me. I also wear Tens lady pads when I go out as I'm not sure how much of my problem is psychological, and wearing them gives me more confidence, as anxiety causes the stomach muscles to tighten. I have two friends that have bad prolapses, but neither of them seem to go to the loo as much as I do. I'm also trying not to do so many 'just in case' trips to the loo as I used to. Will definitely look into getting a whizz thingy...my big dread being stuck in motorway traffic jams!

I was originally diagnosed with overactive bladder syndrome, and prescribed all sorts of different medication (none of which worked) and eventually had Botox injections for it. They worked really well and, even though it has been over a year, it still is not as bad as it was. (Botox wears off, but hopefully the improvement will last - if not, I might have it done again.)

Unfortunately, it didn't stop the recurring UTIs and nagging pain, so now I'm diagnosed with painful bladder syndrome. Again, nothing seemed to work, till the consultant suggested long-term, low-dosage antibiotics, which are helping a lot (touch wood!)

So, my advice is don't give up. Get a referral to gyno-urology, and keep trying different things until you finally gets something that works. Don't suffer in silence for years, like I did, before seeking help.