My irritable bladder…..I may have found the culprit!

Just wanted to say that the information in this thread has been very useful and indeed an eye opener. I knew caffeine stimulated the bladder but I’d not considered other food stuffs doing the same thing. Thank you Sago and everyone who has posted. And I’m another supporter of Vagifem. I think it improves dryness and skin elasticity in that area which can only help with bladder problems.

Thank you Icanhandthemback I did use it years ago so will give it a try

I have had bladder problems for several years now and have to avoid anything acidic, so tomatoes are definitely a no go area and I love them too. It's so annoying!

Catterygirl

A GP prescribed me D-Manoose. Unfortunately it isn’t available on the NHS. Buy it online but never had a bladder infection since. They are so painful. It should be available on prescription but worth every penny if you can afford it. Roughly £20.

I have been taking D-Mannose on a daily basis as have had a series of bladder infections. If my bladder starts niggling and I feel things are not right I take a couple of extra doses over a couple of days. I have had trouble with excessive toilet visits at night despite not drinking after 7pm. Went to a bladder clinic and measured wee over several days. Showed that I was expelling more wee at night than in the day. Still the same. Awake every hour and a half. Blooming nuisance but was offered some medication which I refused as am pumping too many tablets into my 82 year old body.

luluaugust

I find tea, ordinary black tea, and tomatoes do cause frequent trips to the loo. Is there an age limit on using Vagifem? It has been suggested but I am worried about starting it at over 75!!

My Mum is 80 and she started on it a year ago. There is no age limit and it does make a difference to the nether regions but I don't know about frequency of urination because she is catheterised!

Thank you all for your concern and suggestions.
I am not diabetic, I use Estriol/Ovestin.

I have had major problems with UTI’s etc over the years, I had a severe problem with a staghorn kidney stone, it could not be removed surgically until I was clear of an ecoli infection that was caused by the stone!

I took antibiotics for 18 months, I eventually had surgery after months of trying with stents and am left with only one fully functioning kidney.

For this reason I try to make sure I stay healthy, I take D-Manoose daily and only drink alcohol occasionally.
My problem is definitely caused by food/drink.

Last nights dinner with tomato paste was fine, only one 2.00am visit!

I find tea, ordinary black tea, and tomatoes do cause frequent trips to the loo. Is there an age limit on using Vagifem? It has been suggested but I am worried about starting it at over 75!!

Sago have you had your potassium levels in your blood tested. Why I ask is I have problems with potassium and have been on a potassium low/ free diet for over 10 years. There is a long list of foods I can't have plus how much milk / yogurt I can have a day.

Who knew tomatoes and mushrooms where high in potassium. Just thought they where mainly water. The list I have covers an A4 sheet.

A GP prescribed me D-Manoose. Unfortunately it isn’t available on the NHS. Buy it online but never had a bladder infection since. They are so painful. It should be available on prescription but worth every penny if you can afford it. Roughly £20.

Sago have you been tested for diabetes?
If you are getting dehydrated and up and down to the bathroom it’s a possibility.
You could also have a small bladder. Years ago I had a test on my bladder as I was having problems and my bladder was filled with water until it gave way. It’s ok it doesn’t hurt just very odd peeing cool water. I apparently have a smaller than average over active bladder.
These days it’s not bothering me at all.
Thought I would mention it.

I am fairly sure the culprit is fresh tomatoes, who knew they were a huge irritant?

I've been avoiding them too, Sago as they seemed to be a source of irritation
Worst are the little cherry tomatoes which is a pity as I love them and we always grew some of those too.

Taking a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in warm water apparently reduces acidity, or so I've been told. It does seem to help. It tastes vile so have a teaspoon of sugar afterwards!

It seems there may be link, for some people, between bladder frequency and IBS. Tomatoes are fairly high in fodmaps but not all people have the same trouble with the same fodmaps. Fodmaps are fermentable sugars that it has been found IBS sufferers cannot digest (so they ferment - not good).

I would be careful about your portion sizes if you think tomatoes might be the answer to you problems.

I should add that fruit juices have a detrimental effect on me. Pelvic floor exercises made no difference (I was never incontinent)

I know tomatoes are bad for arthritis. And I read an article today about which foods to avoid to take the strain off your kidneys and what to help them ( can’t remember what it said, though).I can go most of the day without needing to go to the loo but am then exhausted by having to get up so many times in the night. I’d give anything to sleep through the night.

My GP treated me for 15 years for what he said was an overactive bladder - I'd been weeing 20-30 times a day, so then was always thirsty and drinking more. I was prescribed various tablets, but then changed surgery and asked my new GP to refer me to a Urologist.

He told me to measure out what I was weeing throughout the day, and measure what I was drinking. It turned out I was drinking 7pts of water a day! He told me to cut it down to 2pts, and to stop all caffeine - in coffee, tea, chocolate, etc. What a difference! I've now been "normal" for about 4 years.

My Mum was sensitive to beetroot and claimed that it was the cause of flare-ups of cystitis - she never drank gin because of the same effect.

I think pelvic floor exercises are more for incontinence.
This is quite different and very debilitating when you haven’t slept!
I’ve had to work today so it’s made me very irritable.
If tomatoes are the only thing I have to eliminate I can live with that.

I have an over-active bladder I think. Is that the same as a sensitive bladder?

Has anyone tried pelvic floor exercises and did they help, please?

NotAGran55

No worries Georgiesgran

When I presented with these symptoms at 60 my GP ruled out an infection, prescribed Vagifem, and it sorted the problem with no reoccurrence. Magic stuff!

Me too! Magic stuff indeed.

My SIL can’t eat tomatoes, they play havoc with his bladder.

No worries Georgiesgran

When I presented with these symptoms at 60 my GP ruled out an infection, prescribed Vagifem, and it sorted the problem with no reoccurrence. Magic stuff!

I have had flare ups of interstitial cystitis where I did not have a Uti but where I kept having to go to the loo. It usually happens to me when there is a sudden change in temperature or I am under stress. I try to drink 2 litres of cooled boiled water spread out over the day at equal intervals and keep a diary and record. No more and no less so that everything is regulated. It may be worth a try. Good luck!

Sorry, I did a quick Google of the name and it seemed more for vaginal changes - I stand corrected.

I’ll keep an eye on this, as I’m up and down half a dozen times through the night!

Gosh, who knew. Thank you for that. I’ll definitely try eliminating tomatoes and see if it helps.

What does your GP suggest?