Frequent urination & not void feeling symptoms (recurring) - please advise.

[george_roger]

Dear Doc,

Please pardon me for the long post, but I feel the need to share whats going on:

I'm about 42 yrs old.  For the last 8 months or so, i have been recurring symptoms of either frequent urination,  feeling of not having voided, or both.  

It all started initially with frequent urination for which my primary care physician put me on a dose of Vesicare (Solifenacin).  I took it for about a week, and was fine for few days, but then the symptoms again showed up.   In the meantime, he had me take urine culture tests, blood tests, and a did a physical exam of my prostate.  They all seemed to be normal.

I was referred to a urologist who then told it may be a case of non bacterial prostatitis, although I did not have any pain.  I was just asked to take ibuprofen for a week, and then have warm water baths.  I did this, but it did not help, and the symptoms continued.

When i followed up with my urologist, he performed three tests - an ultrasound,  a cystoscopy,  and a cytometry (flow tests).  The ultrasound and cystocopy results were normal,  but on the flow tests,  it was seen that i had a residual volume left of 117 cc (input 500 and output 383 cc).  The doc then told it may be a mild case of BPH and put me on a dose of Rapaflo (Silodosin).  I took it for about a month and a half (in combination with the vesicare),  but i dont see any changes.  

In parallel,  I also took a saccral lumbar MRI test which seemed to show normal results.   This was recommended by my physical therapist, whom i see occasionally for neck pain issues.

I was extremely stressed out mainly due to what was happening, and the fact i was away from my family for an extended period alone.  After these tests were done, a month later, I took a two week break and went to be with my family.  I was a little de-stressed at that point, and not sure if it is co-incidental,  all my symptoms seemed to have receded.  At the most, only 1 or 2 days, i might have felt a little, but overall it seemed to be normal.  I also consulted a doctor during my vacation, and he had me repeat the ultrasound and flow tests, and a physical prostate exam.  Both came out normal, and the residual flow was about 5 cc.   He then advised me to continue taking the Rapaflow along with Roliten (tolterodine).

I came back after my vacation, and immediately the next day onwards, the same old symptoms were back.  And its been the same so far.
What normally happens now is when i have a bowel movement in the morning,  I feel very relieved, and i dont experience the not voided symptom nor the urge immediately.  I am usually fine for about three hours or so, and then the symptoms naggingly start - first with the urge, followed by a non-voided feeling, then an urge, and so on till the night.   I can feel the uncomfortability both in my bladder and my prostate area.   The uncomfortability that i go through also depends on other factors such as sitting / standing / sleeping positions.  

Fortunately, I can sleep through the night without having to wake up.

Just for my personal satisfaction, I have been taking some extra Vitamin D & B12 supplements and a prostate supplement (available over the counter) without being told by my doc.

Please help or advise me what to do further, and how to rectify this.

Appreciate your response.

Sincere Thanks
Roger

[vicdon]

I am that guy with the similar story. Basically, I have had the same symtoms as you guys. For me, I know the visible veins come back when I am very stressed or havent slept well. Other than that I think whatever it is normal. The only thing I am worried about really is bacterial infection, but I doubt that it can last so long that it's been 7 months since the encounter. Please advise? I am actually having erectile problems a little now, which I also believe is anxiety but don't know. Will go to a urologist for that!

I get all the circulation problems because when we are very stressed, the blood flow becomes less in our body so we need to exercise in order to get the flow going again and drink lots of water.

I really wish I could travel back in time and change all this! :(

[mark1122]

Hi Roger,

Thanks for your reply, hormone imbalances can be caused by stress and anxiety which I believe we both have suffered before. I know another guy who had similar story (anxiety, visible veins, muscle spasm) and both of us are STD free which I believe you are as well. I'm not sure if hormonal problems can cause your urinary symptoms, but I believe that your symptoms are not due to bacteria infection. And stress and anxiety can cause frequent urination. And for the uncomfortable feeling that you said for your my bladder and my prostate area, it may due to IBS (always caused by stress and anxiety) the bowel movement is irregular. I have IBS, and have done a surgery to inspect my bowel 3 years ago. My doctor said my bowel was too tight (narrow) sometimes which may cause discomfort of lower abdomen. Low medicine for that, he just told me to consume more fiber and probiotic and more exercise. It will fix itself in a long term period

Mark

[george_roger]

Hi Mark,

Sorry for the late response.  The visible veins symptoms are not there now.  I would have it say,  very minimal or insignificant compared to how it was back then.  Do you think hormonal imbalances could also be causing these urinary related symptoms.

Thanks
Roger

[mark1122]

Hi Roger,

I have read all your posts since 2006, and in 2007 you mentioned the visible veins symptom on your chests, arms and hands, do you still have the visible veins now? do they go away, get worse or just stay the same? I found out that it may due to the hormone imbalance problem which may also cause other undiagnosed symptoms that cannot be answered by the doctors, pls reply so i can have more research