Bladder the size of a pea!

[nickymanley]

Recently I have found myself having to get up twice in the night to wee and if I am going out or on a long car journey I can wee up to 3 times in 10 mins and even then when I get in the car I need a wee again. Also, when I am nervous I constantly need a wee and I am really worried as I am getting married in 3 weeks and I don't want this to ruin my day. If I am just at work on a normal day I am fine - probably only wee once or twice - don't know what to do!

Please help!

[hannahjo]

I don�t want to worry you here, but I�d go to your doctor. Needing the loo a lot can be a sign of diabetes, so you should get yourself checked out. Hopefully it�ll turn out to be nothing serious.

Enjoy your big day!

[nickymanley]

Trouble is - it's not all the time - like I said if I am having a normal day at work then I hardly go at all! I had the diabetes test a couple of years ago and it was all clear! I also try and do pelvic floor muscle exercises every day but that doesn't seem to help! I have visions of me p***ing myself down the aisle! Argggghhhhh!

[hannahjo]

Hmmm, I�m stumped then� sorry. maybe your doc might have some solutions anyway?

[KittyGlitter]

Perhaps its more a psychological thing? I know that if I go on a long car journey, I worry about needing to pee and that makes me want to go. Like you, I can spend hours at a desk not wanting to go. But perhaps that because you know that you can go quickly if you need to? Mind over matter? Regarding night time, try not to drink much before going to bed.

[becks]

What difference is there between  you being at work or being in the car ie the amount of times you need to pee? Do you drink a lot more when driving/ less when at work - because if there is no difference to your habits, it probably is psycological. Also, when you say you need to go when you're nervous - is there a pee to do or is it just the feeling of needing to go? If it's just the feeling, see the doc as this could be a bladder infection, if you do actually go - could you be pregnant? (not sure if you're the bride or groom!) Either way see the doc - just to make sure if it is a pyschological or physical problem. Good luck with the wedding!

[nickymanley]

I never drink more before going in a car (if anything - less!) - and I always have pee to do! I just don't understand it! Yesterday I had a 10 min journey to do and I had to go 3 times before - and I still needed the loo when I got there! How weird am I?! I am pretty sure I'm not pregnant - damn it was trying to avoid a trip to the docs but looks like I will have to! Thanks for the advice though guys!

[FP]

Would say you had an irritable bladder which can be caused through stress and thinking about it will make it worse.  I have a friend like this who has to wee about five times in 10 minutes before she goes on a journey.  Her brain is now programmed so that this always happens!!!  I would talk to your doctor and take a wee sample with you to rule out anything else, but please don't worry and have a wonderful wedding.

[nickymanley]

Thanks FP - has your friend been able to do anything to stop this? Beginning to think wearing a nappy on the big day is the best option?!?!?

[Rach4018]

There was a question on here recently about a woman who had a condition where the bladder didn't empty properly so she always felt like she needed the toilet and could go again shortly after having already been.

Ask your doctor about it.

[FP]

She just lives with it Nicky!!!  It's very frustrating for all of us when we want to go anywhere - it takes ages before we can leave the house. 

[woofgang]

 

Sorry for the length of post

First thing to say is if you actually cannot control the need to pee (are incontinent) then this needs sorting medically.

Second thing is that an urge to go more often can be symptomatic of menopause, although from your post I am guessing that you are young and have no other hormonal type symptoms.

Third thing is please do not do your pevic floor exercises by trying to stop peeing in mid go. This stops off the outlet to your bladder without making the bladder relax and can cause the bladder to contract more strongly, thus increasing the need to pee feeling.

Completed in part 2

[woofgang]

part 2!!

This problem can be partly psychological, as you have realised it gets worse when you are nervous. Also bladders are very trainable things. Excuse the length of this post, there's not a quick way to say this. The bladder is a sphere (more or less) of muscle. When it is empty the muscle is contracted into a small ball. As urine runs into the ball, the muscle does two things. First it gives a little twitch which is that "ooh got to pee" sensation then if you don't go and pee, the bladder muscle relaxes and allows filling to begin. as the bladder fills it will continue to give the twitch signal and then relax and as the bladder gets fuller, it will twitch harder and relax less completely until you really have to go. When you do go, essentially you turn off the control that your brain has over your bladder that stops it from contracting. The bladder contracts, squirts out the urine and returns to a fully contracted state

...need a part 3!!

[woofgang]

part 3 and the last

Most people don't even notice the first few twitch signals. You say yourself that you don't when you are busy at work. Once most people start noticing the twitch signal, they are able to suppress the need to go for quite some time. Again, you at work.

Bladders are easy to train accidentally. If you never allow your bladder to get decently full, then it will begin to give its highest level of "got to go NOW" signal sooner and sooner

Allowing that there is nothing physically wrong, its quite easy to retrain your bladder. All you have to do is put yourself in a situation where you can get to the loo quickly if you need to and then ignore your bladder signal. First you ignore it for 5 mins, then 10, then longer and so on. Do keep up your water intake while doing this as strong urine tends to stimulate the "got to go" reaction more than dilute urine does.

As I have said, allowing that there is nothing wrong, this retaining does work. If you don't think that you can manage it before the big day, there is an inhaled medication usually used on children who don't have control at night which you mifght be able to get from your GP to help you on the big day.

And have a wonderful day!

[woofgang]

sorry, meant that the retraining works!!

[nickymanley]

Wow! Thanks woofgang! I tried to book a docs appointment today but was told I have to phone first thing tomorrow so will definitely do that!

I never do pelvic floor exercises whilst peeing!  I quite often ignore the first twinges I get (especially when I am having one of my 3 times in ten minute moments!) as I don't want people to think I am weird! This can lead to stomach pain which is only relieved when I go to the loo. In fact, I am forever having to hold my wee as I often get the urge when there are no loos around!

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice - I will let you all know how I get on at the docs tomorrow!

[Litchick]

My needing to wee a lot was noticed by my dentist during a long procedure where I kept asking him to stop so I could take a loo break.  He asked me if I had high blood pressure and since I didn't think I did, I said no.  When I went for my gyno check up the next week he did confirm that my bp was elevated.

[hopalong]

When you pee how much comes out?  is it a lot or just treacle is your bladder slow to empty or normal?   If need to use a public loo go ingo a cubicle.  Drop you trousers and pants then gentle press you bladder to see if any more can come out

[billearly]

Hi nickym   Although I am a female pensioner your problem could be habit,I wake up at regular intervals during the night to pee,yes I know this is an old lady thing, but it is always the same times in the night .I am not diabetic just weak bladdered and it can become a habit as smoking is.Have a lovely wedding day . 

[nickymanley]

Hopalong - it is always a normal amount and isn't slow to empty. Woofgang - forgot to say, I am 27 so I seriously hope it's not the menopause! Billearly, I agree that at times I think it is habit, like you - it always seems to be at similar times and this would fit in with the habit of having to go numerous times before a car journey but there is always urine to pass - I'd understand that it was just psychological if I was just trickling a few drops each time but it's not! Once again, thanks for all your advice - I have booked a doctors appointment today for 4.40 so will let you all know how it goes! x

[hopalong]

Lucky you nickymanley, for getting an appointment so soon. I have to wait up to 14 days before I can get an appointment