Peeing!

I was told an operation was the only answer but instead had a course of treatment with a physiotherapist who specialises in the pelvic floor. She also gave me exercises to do. Did the trick and I only have problems now if I forget to do the exercises. Ask for a referral.

I have had the problem of urinary frequency (not leakage) for about 4 years and have tried solifenacin, oxybutynin and also vagifem. None worked for me and all caused unpleasant side effects so I now just put up with it. I have never been offered Botox injections and will ask my GP about them and if they are available on the NHS. I always have to know where the nearest loo is and also dread being stuck in traffic!

I suffered as part of the peri menopause and had Vagifem pessaries which worked well.About 18 years ago
It's been happening again lately so am wondering why....

Hi .. try some oestrogen cream or pessaries from your gp if they will px.

also try yes or Replens lubricant for atrophy.

No caffeine if possible and do drink well.

Going caffeine free ( not decaffeinated) but no caffeine. Drink red bush, fruit teas etc. No chocolate. The difference this made to my bladder was amazing. My doc suggested trying it for two weeks and if there was no improvement or I could not cope without caffeine, go back to it. I would not have believed the difference if I had not tried it. Give it a go.

gettingonabit I was troubled with urinary urgency before I was diagnosed and treated for vaginal atrophy. I still keep using the Estradiol pessaries and they seem to keep it at bay.
For me I needed that extra but very low dose of topical Estradiol hormone. Mine had become so bad that walking and sitting down was uncomfortable.

My medication is vagifem. Can you imagine what hell women went through before they produced this stuff?

I have suffered repeated UTI's and incontinence for almost all of my adult life. After various investigative procedures I have finally been diagnosed with a condition where there has been a loss of the lining of parts of the bladder. This can't be replaced but, every six months I have a six week course of bladder infusions. It takes seconds only but has to be done on the same day and at the same time weekly. There's no pain attached to it and I have several weeks where I am virtually dry night and day. I now take a daily antibiotic to prevent the UTI's which has improved the situation significantly. My family tell me that I know the geography of the country by its public toilets.

Well I've learned more since yesterday on here than I have for years! I hadn't even heard of vaginal atrophy until I read about it on another thread. Thanks Gnetters.

I'm going to give caffeine-free a try. I've already cut down to 2 cups a day. I know I don't drink enough, and that's not good.

I wish I'd made the connection between oab and vaginal atrophy sooner. Thanks all for your contributions.

I hope I'm not too late with my two penn'orth and you've all packed up and gone home, but it's not just caffein and chocolate that add to bladder problems, there's a whole load of everyday food stuffs that have a diuretic effect as well. Here's a list of some of them
1.Coffee
2.Caffeinated teas
3.Herbal teas including dandelion, ginger, hawthorn, juniper, horsetail and stinging nettle
4.Natural Sodas (flavored with kola nuts)
5.Chocolate (made naturally with cocoa beans)
6.Lemon juice
7.Pineapple
8.Blueberries
9.Grapes
10.Cherries
11.Peach
12.Cucumber
13.Asparagus
14.Beets
15.Leafy greens: lettuce, spinach, dandelion, parsley, kale, cilantro
16.Seaweed
17.Pumpkin
18.Green beans
19.Artichokes
20.Onions
21.Garlic
22.Leeks
23.Celery seeds

Wow. Thanks narrowboatnan I didn't know about most of those. Will look into it more

I had treatment for an overactive bladder two years ago, it was am electrical stimulus of the nerve running to the neck of the bladder by attaching electrodes to the heel , like a TENS machine.
I had a full treatment over several weeks of about 10 sessions,, on the NHS it has cured me of almost all,my symptoms, and I am able to live a full life again.

I cannot stress enough the importance of Pelvic Floor exercises. Most of these problems can be helped or even cured by doing these. There are lots of tools out there that help, including electronic ones. I had one of these for years. For starters use it once or twice per day. They give very quick results. They seem to be a lot cheaper as well to when I bought mine

Marianne do you recommend any particular pelvic floor exercises or shall I just Google it ?

If you Google Urestomol they have a big section on pelvic floor exercises...I do intend to start doing them.

Re: foods to avoid, I was given a long list by my uro-gynae, which in short means nothing acidic (tea included) and BANANAS. There's something in them which irritates. Essential to find out the cause of your problem. Be persistant.

I asked for a referral to the menopause clinic at my local hospital. They prescribed Vagifem, which is an oestradiol based pessary. I use it twice a week and it's changed my life. I can now go for long walks without having to dash back for the loo.

Thanks Tegan

It's so helpful to know how many others suffer this affliction.Im going to buy a shewee or a whiz. Without wishing to encourage unsolicited advertisers , I wonder which one is most efficient ergonomically ? By the way , I have read that long term use of some tablets such as oxybutin ( spelling) can affect the memory. There was an article about it in the Times written by the doctor who is chair of BMA, and something again recently.

The group of drugs are called Anticolergenic or something similar

Bladder problems and recurring UTIs solved. 6 months and no UTIs instead of about one a month thanks to vagifem hormone pessaries. Thank you practice nurse who suggested them.

DD warned me not to go to the toilet all the time. I would often go then go again ten minutes later, just in case, this was before we went out. DD said I would become incontinent when I am older if I kept this up, she is a nurse and was working in a nursing home at the time. I always go before I go to bed but if I don't go to sleep fairly quickly I used to get up and go again. Now I tell myself I will go later and usually fall asleep without going again. It has worked for me. I don't feel like I need to go as often now.

I sometimes think of myself as a wee factory and wonder how any one person can produce so much wee.

Well,I still got up three times during the night but have just been out shopping and didn't need the loo till I got back (@ 5 hours).Not sure if it's because of the Replens or cutting out caffeine (plus the weight loss). Am also trying to stop the 'just in case' visits. I also feel a lot better knowing it isn't just me with this problem.

I put this post on the public toilets one in News and Politics but think everyone had lost interest in that one. I am reposting here as the tip I was given works if you persevere. Combining it with pelvic floor muscles is also an advantage.

One very good tip I got from the medics which I use to this day to strengthen the bladder muscles is this:
I was advised that every time you go for a wee, once you are on the loo, tighten your bladder muscles and count to 5 before you allow your bladder to go. Then increase it gradually to 10, 15, 20 etc as the muscle gets stronger. As you are already on the loo it doesn't matter if you don't last the full initial 5. You will eventually recondition your bladder to obey you. Be advised though, it doesn't happen overnight and can takes months to retrain but you do get improvements.
You can also get plastic, removable inserts a bit like a tampon to make you tighten the muscles by holding them in as you go about your housework etc. They do advise not using them outside until you have reached a certain stage. Your doctor could tell you if they still prescribe these.

Bluecat have you tried d-mannose? I never go anywhere without a supply. Used to get recurrent UTIs. Rarely now! If I feel twinges I take more of it. It's brilliant. Not an antibiotic, not cheap but it's revolutionised my life.