Quote:
Originally Posted by Albatross2008
Joining this thread because I have been having the same problem. It’s happening a lot lately. When I need to go, I can’t finish up what I’m doing first. I have to drop everything immediately and go directly to the bathroom, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Let a cat unexpectedly park itself in front of me, making me stop suddenly to keep from stepping on or tripping over the cat, and there will be an “oops” of some size before I get to the bathroom, whether a drop or two, or a puddle on the bathroom floor. Even when I do make it, I might make it with only nanoseconds to spare.
There are a lot of reasons this can happen to a woman. In my case I have IBS-C, and I am currently treating myself for constipation. This can cause bladder issues because the colon is distended and crowding the bladder out. For this very reason, I don’t want to take medication for an overactive bladder. I’ve tried it before, and it constipates me, which in the long run makes matters worse.
I too am overweight, and I also have diabetes, which certainly doesn’t help.
Kegel exercises are a good idea. Besides that, I think I have to rely on good old Poise pads and/or the grown up version of Pull-Ups.
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Albatross2008
There is now a new class of medications for overactive bladder that might help you. The old medications for overactive bladder are anticholinergics. They have many nasty short and long term side effects. Among the short term side effects is constipation, due to their mechanism of action.
You can read about new treatment options at
Overactive Bladder Medication: Anticholinergics, Beta3-adrenergic agonists, Neuromuscular Blockers, Botulinum Toxins, Tricyclic antidepressants, Hormones
There is also a non-invasive procedure called percutaneous nerve stimulation which helps in about 60% of cases. I have started it for frequency and some false urges. I have a different problem than yours: I can hold urine for quite a long time, but I go too often and the frequency varies widely and depends greatly on the stress level, so timed voiding is not a viable option for me. I also sometimes have false urges in the evening, when I feel like I need to go, but then I sit on the toilet and nothing comes out. These are still all symptoms of OAB, just different manifestations. It is good that there are more treatment options now.
Percutaneous nerve stimulation is done weekly for 12 weeks. I have had it twice and so far no effect, but I have been told that people do not see an effect until after about 6 sessions.