Bladder Leakage Issue

[Msnme]

Hello. I have a strange question and my doctor looked as if he wanted to laugh when I asked him. His response was, "Hummm. Sorry, I have never heard of that".

I am unable to empty my bladder. I can usually urinate a few times during the day. But, my badder does not fully empty. So, I self-cath 3-4 times per day.  I then self-cath once before bed and at 3 a.m. I take Myrbetriq once before bed and in the morning.

The odd question is this. I wear pads throughout the day for light leakage. While I am wide awake and sitting during the day my clothing become damp. But, it is my tops that become damp. Yes, my tops around the neck, sides and sleeves. This is not a joke. And, no, I am not sweating.

I do get some periodic leakage and damp clothing overnight. I can understand gravity if I am lying down. But, I don't understand why this is happening when I am in an upright position. Please help me make sense of this. It is not my imagination.

Thank you.

[SarahL2491]

first, you need a new doctor!

that said, MS can cause you to sweat on your face and neck but I can't figure the rest out.  If you don't have an MS doctor, please get one.  I can work in my bedroom or kitchen (without cooking) and will be dripping water off my face and neck.  My neuro says its MS related.

You also need a urologist who is familiar with MS (mine is clueless).  Who is giving you the catheters?  your regular doctor or a urologist?

You are going to be your own proactive person on this and I'd start with new doctors.

Just my opinion, after tossing more than several doctors in the trash bin!

[essdipity]

I too can't imagine how urine (you're sure it is urine?) wicks its way upward in your clothes. Unless, that is, your 'bottom' clothes are already wet and the moisture has nowhere to go but up. And maybe out, so whatever you're sitting on should be wet too.

Possibly you aren't able to feel yourself urinating, which could explain a lot. And if you have MS, a neurogenic bladder is common. This could show itself in failure to empty, hesitation--starting and stopping, not getting the right signals at the right time, a really over-stretched bladder, lots of fun stuff. Also in emptying in all the wrong places. I've had pretty much all of these, off and on.

If you suddenly feel the desperate need to go and can't hold it till you get to the bathroom, that's urge incontinence, though it doesn't seem you are even aware of an urge. If you leak because you cough or laugh, that can be a very common, even normal situation called stress incontinence. It's not your emotions that are stressed, but the organs involved in urinating. Many women get this during pregnancy or later in life after having children, and it doesn't represent a disease state. The other circumstances I've described very much do.

If you've never had urodynamics testing, seek out a uro-gyno as soon as you can and get that process underway. And as for the doctor who almost laughed at you--boo! If he's never heard of leakage, he needs to start med school 101 in a remedial course. Is he a neuro? If he's never heard of leaking 'upward,' I'm thinking he didn't get all the facts from you. In any case, feel free to give that doc the bum's rush in favor of someone both more knowledgeable and more imaginative.

ess

[Cache916]

Thank you. I appreciate your response. I will try a different type of pad.

[Cache916]

Thank you. I appreciate your response. I know it 's really strange but.....

[supermum_ms]

Hey there,

What a weird situation your dealing with, hmmmm i've travelled the net trying to find an explanation and then i wracked my pea brain and all i can come up with is the possibility of your top becoming a wick, and the leakage is travelling up the sides of your top but i'd think that could only happen, if your top is tucked into or overlaps your lower clothing. If the dampness has even a slight urine smell then it's probably leakage but otherwise i'd probably be thinking it's more likely sweet....I would suggest changing the pads to another type and see if that helps.

Cheers.............JJ  

[jensequitur]

Wow... you need a new doc.

It's called a neurogenic bladder. Lots of MS patients have involuntary leakage from the bladder during the day. It also goes with an inability to empty the bladder completely. I have urge incontinence, which means whenever I cough I leak. This is hellish right now because I have bronchitis! If I have to cough I run to the bathroom because it'll be messy. Sometimes I can't go, even though I know I need to pee.

The clothing getting damp - I don't think that's related to the bladder leakage. If your clothing's getting damp, but you're staying dry, perhaps it's evaporating?