bladder problems

[Clark5]

Good evening all;
I was wondering how the typical description of an MS bladder is.  I do not know if what I am experiencing is from a bladder that has been stretched post childbirth or is it MS related.
I do have to go, go, my children joke about mom and her having to go all the time and "now'.  I do leak when doing activities: for example I was shooting baskets with my boys (this is a site, I am no athlete) but it is family time and I try to participate.  The problem is that I leak, and to the point of wetting myself.  This can also occur if I am playing bells or walking or sitting. Not all the time but it happens, like all of a sudden.  I try to be very aware of my having to urinate frequently. I make a point on going whenever I leave the house, store ECT.  Even at that, I may still have a wetting situation. (I have gone as far to empty my bladder just before copulation, because I am afraid of having to go or wetting on the spot, (this kind of ruins the mood and it is embarrassing).  Any thoughts from some of the experts out there, have any of you experienced these problems?  Please advise or just comment.
Thank-you
Kind Regards
Clark-5  

[samsgam]

Hi,
I myself am still not dx, my docs are fumbling between ms and spinal stenosis. But, bladder issues are what started my search for answers and what I found was that I have bladder retention and bladder incontinence. Retention means that you may think you are emptying your bladder completely, but you are not. To my surprise, during a urodynamics study, when something told my bladder it was done, I still had 300 mls of urine left in my bladder. I felt like my bladder was empty. Have you seen a urologist? Both my neuro and primary agree the problem is nerve related, whether ms or lumbar spine stenosis, so my thought is you should look into it.
Good luck,
samsgam

[tragdysangel]

you might have intersitital cystisis

[wishforchange]

Thanks for getting back to me.  Will just stick with what I'm doing.  It's not a huge intrusion in my life and even if there were medications, there are always side effects.  I have to say I bow in respect to the inventor of the intermittant catheter, they are actually great little things which let a lot of us get on with life without running to the hospital every few days or keeling over with bladder or kidney infections.  To those here that get leakage, I used to too.  We have a product range called 'Tena' here, I don't know how it's branded in other countries.  They are very good and well designed.  I still wear one of their pads every day to catch any leaks.  And as one lady here said, if you get lucky one night with a perfect date you can always nip to the ladies room and get rid of it....

[grannyhotwheels]

Hi Clark, I know exactly what it's like trying to do something and leaking all over the place.  I have to wear adult diapers.  It's very embarrassing but only if you tell anyone.  This is the only thing that works for me.  I've tried doing the self catheter thing, taking some med, I forgot what it was, and going to the bathroom at all stops.  The only solution for me is the "underwear".  Now, for the more personal side, you don't have to wear them all the time.  If it's a sexy night with the other half you can always run to the restroom and put on the lace or nothing at all. haha  I still have a sense of humor.  Being almost 43 does not mean I'm dead. Well in my case it does but if you or anyone else make it to the ripe ole age of 40 it doesn't mean you can't still have a little fun.

I wish you the best and hope you find something that works for you.  You know they have the depend pads you can wear also.  They work real good if it's just a leak.

I'll be praying,
Carol

[sllowe]

Hi Wishforchange,

Believe the meds are for spastic and small bladder, and urgency w/hesitation or leaking and the techniques used, and Self Cathing are for big bladders and failure to empty.

I'm not on anything, and just ovoid those things I know make me . . .spill.

be well,
SL

[AMO]

dear wish....

we posted the same time. when i read your note i wanted to ask, was it an IterStim Therapy you are refered to have?

I had a trial off that. I have a long story about it if youu wanted to know.
The medicine I wan tto use is the oxytrol patch. However my ins will not pay, so figure how to. It give me least side effects and i tried others.

take care, amo

[AMO]

hi clark,

i see you posted this three times. it gets lost fast with alot of posts.
here is what i wrote the other day on one of your other postings..................

hi   clarlk,

sorry you have this trouble.
have you  seen a urologist? seeineg on ewould be a good idea I think.

There is a urodynamiiic test that cann tell you dooctor just what is going on.
The nurse practioner in my ms doctors made me believe mmy bladder was average and normal from having twoo  children. no wonder sheis not her e anymore!

I know,, more tests and appotintments are a bummer. maybe it is due from childbirth, and not neurogenic bladder that some thing my help you.
take care, amo


p.s. ....  It is easy to write things off for other explaintions. Without a doctor exam and testing it would be hard to know exactly what is happinging.

i use a self cath 5-6  times a day. I have urge inconteence ( all the sudden i willl empty half my bladder), then retain and can not  empty the rest. Even hearing water run can make be incontient.

It can be a double edge sword keeping hydrated and drinkning enough.
Even with cathing and depnds I  have to change my clothes multiple times a day. But if i don;t drink enough I end wiwth more UTI. I have a wonderful urologist whiuch is so important like SL said.

I have had a few bed wetting episode. If they continue to get worse, I think for me that will be time to rethink my treatments.

let us know how you are doing, amo

[wishforchange]

Hello, just reading this thread and picked up on something you said re 'meds'.  Can you eloaborate?  I don't have diagnosed MS but I do need to catheterize, and have just been told I have to do it at least twice a day now as I have retention.  The consultant did  mumble something about there being some new drug but said it was not tested fully.  They never said what it was.  Is this what you are referring to?  Anyone else know anything about this?  I keep getting offered this implant which is supposed to stimulate the neves and muscles in the area, but absolutely do not want it.  I don't know anybody else who catheterizes but apparently there are a few of you here.  My experience is whenever I go to collect a prescription from the pharmacy they get very flustered trying to work out what this strange contraption is they've never seen.  Finally trained one to regognise it and now they all know me as the lady who gets the odd boxes from them, which they keep aside special for me.  Seems that I am not the only person on the planet doing this which is a relief.  They are fantastic devices and have kept me out of hospital, but are fiddly and a bit uncool and would be nicer not to have to use them.  Also have to be careful not to leave them in bins when staying with friends as it freaks them out, so wash them put them in my bag and throw them away outside.  Just rambling now.

[sllowe]

Hey Clark,

Yes, bladder problems are very common in MS.  Many here have issues, frequency, leaking, incontinence, etc.

I too, like you don't know if mine are related to MS, or having 3 children.  Docs have asked about my bladder, and I tell them, but then back it up w/that I've had problems for years.  Learned I couldn't jump on a trampolene, or jump rope the hard way, YUCK, yea, you can imagine! YIKES!  

Anyway, all of these things started happening to me years ago before I had Neuro problems, and I attributed it to having kids, and a weak bladder.  Tried the keigels, which didn't work for that.  They are helpful for other things though :)

Anywho, a good urologist identify your issue w/the bladder, their are meds too.  Heather and a few others have experiences w/caths, etc., so hopefully they will chime in.

hang tight (lol)
-SL

[Siddy1]

Hi,

Sorry  you posted this several times.  Many of our members have bladder problems and hopefully they will jump in and give advice or compare symptoms.

Do you have MS? As with other MS symptoms, the kinds of bladder problems vary from person to person and can change over time. People may have trouble controlling the release of urine (incontinence), may experience frequent urges to urinate, may feel constant bladder fullness, or may have difficulty in starting to urinate or sustaining a steady stream. In fact, some people may experience urinary retention and will require some form of catheterization.

These symptoms usually indicate problems in the functioning of the muscles that control urination, although urinary tract infection (UTI) must be eliminated as a cause.

Is this the only symptom you have?  I know you had a nerve pain in your leg but  have you been tested for other health problems.  Bladder problems alone do not mean you have MS but if you do have MS they can be related.    Sorry,  lots of questions and without knowing a bit more it is hard to say.

Take care
Marcie