Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[ancient runner]

Hello all - I was up four times in the night last night as I needed a wee - three on previous nights. It's not just a thimbleful either - I really do need a wee, but perhaps not enormous amounts. Is this a usual meno thing? I've had it on and off for months and currently it's really disturbing my sleep. All my other problems are VA related and am using local oestrogen only.

Oh, and I've got spots!!

[coldethyl]

I'd have a urine test and a sugar test done just in case you've  an infection or are becoming diabetic. Most likely it's just irritation but better to get checked out.
I was a spotty teenager and am finding I'm going to be a spotty old lady as I'm always brewing a lump or bump on my cheek these days.

[Dancinggirl]

ancient runner
I think it is pretty common in meno to get this problem - I think it is to do with our bodies not producing the hormone that shuts down our kidneys when we sleep. Lack of oestrogen really does effect bladder function. I haven't had a full nights sleep without getting up to wee since I had my babies but now I feel lucky if I get up only twice in the night.
I do as much of my fluid intake in the morning and avoid tea and coffee from midday onwards.  I tend to have small drinks of water though the afternoon and evening and this will reduce the amount of times I get up. Of course with our problems with the burning urethra etc, one needs to drink enough as well so it is tricky.  When I was on systemic HRT (I am having another break at the moment and just using Vagifem) I did find the bladder was better.
I get spots in winter but they have been really bad in the last few weeks - I invested in some expensive stuff from a well known brand which seems to have cleared things up really well in just 3 days!!! Many women find they get strange spots when they are menopausal - the skin is often the barometer for what our bodies are deficient in and lack of oestrogen seems to effect so much!!!  After all 100 years ago we were lucky to get to 50 so the menopause wasn't really an issue.  DG x

[Artmouse]

Hi

I have the same thing - up 4 to 6 times a night, drives me crazy.  Definitely a common symptom!

[Sweetscarlett]

Hi AR , I have had such toilet yearnings too , I found it really felt stingy inside if I didn't go almost, as if I had a water infection 

This hasn't been so bad since Hrt , but I have tried to cut down my toilet habits , I read that if you go too many times your bladder gets use to going and can feel quite full even when it is not ! So training your bladder to wait a bit does help to strengthen it . Im not sure how this works with Va ' cos I found I was weeing up to 4 times a night.
 
 I found that the reassurance of not having a urine infection helped me to not be so obsessed wh weeing


 xx Ss

[Ms Saucy]

Hello ladies.
Are you drinking caffeinated drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fizzies? The caffeine acts as a diuretic....makes you p' more....will help if you cut them out. I never get up in the night...drink green tea xxx

[CLKD]

When my VA was problematic a couple of weeks ago I had to lay on a thick towel or sat on the loo for several hours as I couldn't get comfy otherwise  .  I had a heavy feeling around my belly button which was relieved whilst allowing my lower half to relax on the loo  .  Like you, it was a large amount passed each time.

I also pass copious amounts of urine after an anxiety attack.

[ancient runner]

All interesting stuff - I did wonder a bit about sugar or an infection and might go and ask for a check but I feel like I've lived in the doctor's recently and I don't want to get a reputation for being a hypochondriac. I agree about the trade off between drinking enough to not sting and not have to get up in the night - and I did wonder about the kidneys-at-night hormone - remember that from my daughter's bedwetting days. You can get it prescribed for children - can adults get it I wonder?
And Ms Saucy (great name!) I do drink caffeiny stuff but much less than I used to and mostly limited to mornings now.
Perhaps I need a guzunder to save me falling over husband's trousers 3 times a night.

[CLKD]

……. or get him to hang up his trousers  ……… how about a Shewee? I've yet to practice with mine  but it would have been useful recently.

My VA affects the bladder 24/7.  Until I begin treatment.  Nurofen helps ease symptoms of needing to pee too often. 

[ancient runner]

I've got a SheWee CLKD but you've still got to point it somewhere, but I could at least pull out my china pot from under the bed and push it back after use.
Anyone on full HRT - does the all night long weeing improve?

[Sweetscarlett]

 I try not to drink after 9 pm which helps and as I said I'm trying not to wee too much . It's a viscous circle  because with the impending threat of the dreaded uti,  which VA  can cause you really feel you ought to be drinking copious amounts to make sure you are flushing yourself out , which in turn makes you wee more !
 
 I can say that on Hrt the worry of uti goes slightly therefore I wee less , so I must say that it has improved , yes
 
 Hope this mixed up logic helps you AR
   
xx Ss

[CLKD]

I don't think that VA is the cause of urinary tract infections - they mimic each other in symptoms though which is why GPs don't' always recognise VA for what it is!

This afternoon I can feel VA returning  - heaviness around my lower belly, the feeling that I need to wee more often.  It is advised not to restrict liquid intake at any time of day because it makes the kidneys work harder! therefore the need to express (?) urine becomes more necessary.

When I'm in bed though I seem to need to 'go' more often 

[Dancinggirl]

I also have this theory that when we are lying down the bladder is less squashed so can fill more easily and then of course one needs to pee more?!!! My GP did give my diuretics to take early evening on the basis that I was retaining fluid in my legs which then drained when I lay down at night.  This wasn't any help as I clearly wasn't retaining fluid in my legs - they weren't in any way swollen or showing signs of retention - so taking these diuretics made me pee a lot through evening and then I was desperately thirsty through the night and I still felt like peeing several times.
I think the drug or hormone that can be offered to help with nocturia ( peeing too often at tight) has nasty side effects so I'm not keen on the idea of using these.  Taking an antihistamine can help so you could try some Piriton or Nytol??
I believe peeing twice at night is still deemed within the norm!!!!  Dg xxx

[CLKD]

Dancinggirl: Did your GP not do the press test on your legs before prescribing  - odema is easily seen if fluid is retained  .

Peeing in the night is 'usual' as we age, for men it can be a warning symptom.  I think that the issue is not getting back to sleep if one has to walk across the landing at night - sometimes I can sleep throughout, others I'm up a couple of times.  Nights when I don't go to sleep easily see me in and out of the bathroom lots 

[Ms Saucy]

Think of your bladder like a balloon...lots of daytime drinking to increase capacity....avoid caffeine and booze......and when by day you drink enough...capacity at night is better. Never restrict day time drinking as it  makes your urine more concentrated...make the bladder p' more.....oh and no milk before bed xxxx