not sure how to handle this

[ljta]

I am a thirty-eight year old female.  For several years it seems that I always need to go to the bathroom to urinate.  I need to urinate more than eight times a day.  However, I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to do so.  I just feel like I could go to the bathroom and urinate at any given time.

I do not leak before getting to the bathroom.  I do not leak when I laugh or when I cough either.  When I do void my bladder it isn't a lot of liquid that is expelled.  

It took me a couple of years to even mention this to my Docs. I was embarassed by it. My obgyn blew it off and so did my GP until I pressed the issue.  He gave me no tests but prescribed Vesicare.  He told me before going to urologists and doing a bunch of tests to try this first.

I haven't taken the meds as I have a couple of concerns.  Could frequent urination be a sign of something seriously wrong health wise?  My Dad has parkinsons and I know this is one of the symptoms of this.  On a funny note he never gives me grief when I need to find a bathroom as he can relate.  Also could I have a bladder infection?   Doubtful since this has gone on for years.  Could hormones being out of whack cause frequent urination?  Could my bladder muscles just have spasms and that causes the frequent need to urinate.

Should I ask my GP to run certain tests before I give this medication a try?

I appreciate your information on the subject because I am embarrased talking to my Doc about it.

Lorri

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Infection and diabetes are two diseases you want to rule out first.  This can be done via a simple urinalysis to ensure there is no infection.  The urinalysis can also evaluate whether there is an abnormal amount of sugar in the urine - suggesting diabetes.  Blood tests can also be done to rule out the diagnosis.

If these two things have been evaluated for, you can consider the other myriad of causes for urinary incontinence.  These causes can be evaluated via urodynamic studies to see if it is mechanical or anatomic in nature.  These tests can be discussed with your urology referral.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[GlenAM]

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