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[Ljp]

To be honest, how much I drink has little relevance on how much I pee, I can pee lots of times in quick succession first thing in the morning, when I've had nothing other than a glass of water or a redbush tea.

Mine is very much urgency and overactive, I do struggle to hold it when the urgency takes me, it's like my urethra can't stop it, yet my pelvic floor is capable of holiding my aquaflex weighted cones without any problem.

It's not bad all the time, but guess that it's not just oestrigen related as I'm using both estring and oestrogel, so now feeling awful, like do I really need to be using HRT if it's not helping my most distressing symptom?
I know it's helped my hot flushes and brain fog and anxiety, but the bladder and frequency problem is awful.

[Ljp]

Also to add I'm always worse in the morning, as the day goes on it improves

[Taz2]

Have you been referred for any help with this problem Ljp. I think it's important that you address this now rather than wait as it can get worse as you age and oestrogen levels drop. There should be a continence clinic/ pelvic floor specialist nurse in your local hospital which will assess you and give you the appropriate exercises to re-educate the bladder.

Taz x

[Janice68]

Good thread here!! I'm now going to ask for referral to bladder specialist and bowels I've been patient enough it just gets worse!!
Good link Tax2

[Taz2]

Glad it's been useful Janice! My brilliant pelvic floor specialist nuse (now sadly retired) had a sign on her desk reading "It's every woman's right to be dry" something that she felt passionately about and spent all of her holidays out in Africa helping to diagnose and treat women who had been left incontinent following childbirth and who had to live isolated from the community in huts on the edge of the villages. A fantastic woman with a really great sense of humour.

Taz x

[CLKD]

I agree with Taz - also, apparently, we can do our Kegle exercises 'wrong' 

[Janice68]

Glad it's been useful Janice! My brilliant pelvic floor specialist nuse (now sadly retired) had a sign on her desk reading "It's every woman's right to be dry" something that she felt passionately about and spent all of her holidays out in Africa helping to diagnose and treat women who had been left incontinent following childbirth and who had to live isolated from the community in huts on the edge of the villages. A fantastic woman with a really great sense of humour.

Taz x

She's sounds a great lady Taz2.

[Ljp]

No I've not really discussed with my GP, only mentioned it initially and after talking decided to try estriol cream, which dud help,then had a post meno bleed resulting in hysteroscopy, and mirena, estring  and then started using oestrogel too.
It's not bad all the time, and I really felt the HRT was helping, but just recently I'm having bad days again.
I've just bought some herbal tablets from boots which I read up about
http://www.urostemol.co.uk/uk/urostemol/for-women/urostemol-femina.php
So going to give them a try.

I will go to see my GP but the thought of bladder training regime, which I have read up on before, it really doesn't appeal!

[Taz2]

It's really not as bad as it sounds Ljp. I had really good results for quite a few years following my "training". I particularly enjoyed the bio-feedback    This link explains what's happening http://patient.info/health/urge-incontinence.

Are the tablets for short-term use? A work colleague tried them after she had a bout of cystitis and it made her more comfy but I thought she said that she was only allowed them for four weeks? I don't think they will help the overall problem but may make you feel better in the short term? I would say go and get a bladder assessment if your doc will refer you. I wish I had tackled my problem earlier.

Taz x

[Ljp]

It says they can be used long term on advise from doctor.
I'm hoping they have an effect

[Taz2]

As long as your GP has advised then that's obviously ok although it's a shame you haven't been given a referral to deal with the underlying problem. It's a bit like putting a plaster on a deep cut to stop the bleeding but never having it stitched if you know what I mean?  Oxybutynin is usually prescribed for overactive bladder or urge incontinence especially if you are not suitable for bladder training or eventual surgery. Worth bearing in mind if the herbal remedy isn't suitable.

Taz x 

[Ljp]

Thanks Taz, I have booked to see my GP in two weeks time so I can discuss both my HRT needs/or not, and my bladder, and by then I will know if the urostemol,are taking effect, must say I wasn't up at all last night though!

Reading about the effects of the 'Fink' from pumpkin seed, it has a tissue building effect, so can't see that it's just masking the problem (if it works)

I am also using my pelvic floor cones daily, and can hold the smallest cone with all the weights without any problem, even in the shower! I can hold it easily for ages, another reason I struggle to understand my bladder issue 🤔🤔
I will see what Dr has to say, my lovely Dr retired recently and this will be the first time with new one, there seems to be two lady Dr's that job share, so never sure who will be available

[Taz2]

Yes it does seem strange that your pelvic floor appears strong but the bladder is misbehaving. I've read that low oestrogen levels can lead to urge incontinence and bladder instability even with a strong pelvic floor so hopefully HRT would sort this out for you. The other possibility is of a bladder stone or polyp within the bladder which can irritate it. I had a cystoscopy to rule this out some years ago as I had a strong pelvic floor (thanks to the clinic!) but still had stress incontinence and the consultant wanted to check that my bladder was healthy. It was and after starting on HRT things were much better for quite some years.   Let us know how you get on.

Taz x

[Dancinggirl]

Ljp - this may sound odd but I actually think we can overdo the pelvic exercise thing.  When I do too much of the pelvic exercises I get burning and need to pee more often as a result.  I have actually learned to relax my pelvic floor better - especially when I pee - as I now realise my urethra is getting squashed (probably due to gravity) so possibly don't empty the bladder as well as I used to - this will result in urine retention which will inevitably cause irritation and the need to pee more. I think this is where the continence clinic comes in - they will assess you properly and advice accordingly.
I know you have resisted the whole HRT thing but I'm pretty sure if you ask your GP whether you still need it they will simply say you should stop HRT if you are not happy - they won't necessarily go through the dos and don'ts or indeed the benefits.  Your need for HRT is entirely up to you - try to remember how you felt before you started HRT and how you feel now and then make a list of the pros and cons for you.  If you simply feel you are being a failure because you are using HRT, well this is really not a good enough reason to stop HRT and reduce your quality of life - you do also need to consider your work life and those close to you as well.
As someone who teaches keep fit etc. - so really active - I also think the pressure on you to be an example of true fitness is great - I suspect you don't want anyone to think you are looking and feeling good because you are on HRT?
HRT is probably enabling you to continue working and doing your fitness classes.
I had a nurse at our GP practise comment to me, when I had my yearly check up, that women only took HRT to stay looking young!!!!! When she weighted me I was horrified to discover I had put on 3-4 pounds and she then proceeded to tell me how to loose weight - she herself needed to loose at least 3 stone!!!!

I would ask to be referred for the overactive bladder problems - it could be really helpful.  However, I do think we need to accept that bladder issues are all part of the ageing process especially if we lack oestrogen.
Dg x

[Ms Saucy]

Hi ladies.
I just saw this thread, the doctors can prescription a drug called Oxybutanin for an overactive bladder. This drug helps with the muscle tone of the bladder thus avoiding the jittery times it makes tmyou need to pee all the time, can be given long-term too.
Hope it helps.
Ms Saucy ....xx