Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Elena on September 19, 2012, 08:06:51 PM
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Sorry for the title of this topic, I really didnt know how best to phrase it ::)
This isnt something that I was aware that I was doing but since my partner has commented on it a few times now i thought I would ask on here. Does anybody else, when they are urinating, have to actually push out the urine with their pelvic muscles? I find the flow stops and I have to push a bit. As I say I hadnt actually noticed that I did it but now I am wondering whether it is normal or whether something is "getting in the way".
I have been on Vagifem for some years now and that helped to clear up my problems with frequency of needing to go for a wee.
The other problem I have is that sometimes during intercourse I feel as if my partner is hitting something. I also notice this sometimes when I insert the Vagifem pessary so I guess that whatever "it" is, is about 4 inches inside me. Anybody else had this? It's not very pleasant as it HURTS :(
thanks for listening
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Hi Elena,
Maybe you should go and see a lady GP and just have an 'internal' just to get it checked out. May be nothing serious, but would put your mind at rest? ;)
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Would be a good idea to check for prolapse although your ? Seems a bit high for prolapse. Definitely advise a gynae check.
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Hi Elena
I kind of know what you mean on both of these things - when I get near the end of my wee, I feel like I have to keep bearing down to see if I'm all done and the hitting something - sometimes the cervix can sit a bit low at different times of the month, could it be that? In the bath, you can usually feel your cervix if you try to and I've noticed it lower sometimes. But as the others say maybe best to get it all checked out - let us know the outcome.
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Go see GP
It could be a prolapse best to get these things checked
And no Ive never heard of that myself sorry xxxxxxxxx
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It does sound like a prolapse. If it is higher up then it may well be a prolapsed uterus where the womb has dropped down a little into the vagina. You could also have a slight bladder prolapse too so that the urine can't escape as easily and you have to use pressure. You can find out a bit more here http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Prolapse-of-the-uterus/Pages/Introduction.aspx You can also examine yourself with a mirror - you need to be sitting up though as when you lie down everything "goes back up" and is difficult to see.
I agree that it would be a good idea to get it checked out. If you catch it fairly early on then a proper programme of pelvic floor exercises - give to you by a pelvic floor specialist nurse - can stop things worsening. HRT is also good as it keeps all the tissues and ligaments in a better condition although it can't be prescribed purely to help with a prolapse.
Taz x
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Thank you everyone. I did wonder about a prolapse as it seemed most likely cause. It's not even when I am at the end of a wee either, it's throughout the weeing procedure! ::)
I do have a kegel device, has been sat in bedside cabinet for aons. I will start again today, certainly that did perk up my sex life when I used to use it but these days my libido has buggared off who knows where :-\
I rang for an appt with my GP last week, earliest I could see her was 22nd October :( but hey ho it's been going on long enough that I can put up with it a few more weeks and I am off to cumbria this weekend for a week anyway. Euww, the weather looks DIRE!
Anyway, I really do appreciate your feedback. I dont get on here much these days, life v stressful atm as I am sure a lot of you find.
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I'm same!! thank goodness someone else has it too, i've been having this for a good few months now...its like i havent finished my wee and i tend to wait a second or so and need to push it out!! and at times i can go rather quickly after going 5 mins before, let me know how you get on please xx
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Hi Elena
I have a prolapsed bladder and definitely have to "push" my urine out. Frequently, I find that even that is not enough and urine is left in my bladder which tends to lead to a UTI infection. The last infection I had was incredibly painful and affected my urethra as well. (Hope I've spelt that correctly!)
I'm not convinced that any exercises will help a prolapsed bladder - I've had some really conflicting reports from 2 GP's :o Not really surprised at that though because one of them was totally inept and the other was superb!!
Hope you find an answer to your problem :)
Val
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ah, so I am not alone :(
Well I've been working on the kegels since I last posted but nothing has changed. I have a few more weeks to keep trying till my GP appt.
Sorry to hear of your experience Val. Is there nothing to be done for the problem of prolapsed bladder?
Ellie
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Hi Elena - if exercises fail then surgery can help although if it is not causing you any real problems then it is ok to leave it http://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/bladder/bladder-problems/prolapse.asp
Taz x
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After you void lean way over and let your abdomen relax and you will be able to go more. It is this left over urine that is thought to lead to infections.
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After you void lean way over and let your abdomen relax and you will be able to go more. It is this left over urine that is thought to lead to infections.
Ahh I do that! :)
I don't know where the second bit hides but there's always a bit more to come if I lean forward when I think I'm done!
Catweazle x
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Glad to hear that "leaning forwards" brings more out for someone else ;) I was beginning to think I was unique in this!
Honestly don't know what to do about the surgery - have read so many conflicting reports about the "mesh" involved with the op. I've noticed that nocturnal peeing is now more frequent of late. But that could be down to stopping HRT a few months ago... I'm still on Duloxetine which is recommended for this problem but as I'm on about a third of the necessary dose I'm not convinced it's helping now...
Valxx
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Well I dont know what to think anymore about this; am I making a fuss about nothing? It doesnt cause me any problems, it's just that according to my partner it's not normal. He's a bloke, what does he know?! Apart from listening in public toilets to other women weeing I have no way of knowing how abnormal I am. I'm not exactly bearing down to push the wee out, it's more a sort of push around the urethra I suppose. A gentle push. I dont want to be telling the GP all this if it's ok. I dont get UTIs because there is still urine left in my bladder after I finish.
All this talk of weeing is making me want to go all the more! :-\
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If it's not causing you any problems then I would just leave well alone - does your partner feel that anything is different during sex? If you have a prolapse it can sometimes be felt during lovemaking especially in some positions.
Taz x
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He's not said as much but I will check. It was me who sometimes felt that he was "hitting" something :(
Ellie
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If you can feel it then he will be able to as well. Maybe he will think that he has grown! ;D
Taz x
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;D I dont think so Taz! ;D
Ellie x
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:lol:
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Well, I asked: he said it felt TIGHTER ;), all that effort with the kegelmaster must be paying off :)
He also said that he didnt feel he was hitting anything. Hmm maybe I need a second opinion ::)
I have ordered some progesterone cream, I found it on Amazon while googling Serenity cream which somebody on here mentioned was good for improving the libido... I await the results with interest but wonder where exactly it should be applied on the body! ;D
Ellie
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Are you using progesterone cream purely to up your libido Elena? That seems a strange use for it....
Taz x :-\
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Um, I read about it on here Taz................on an old thread ??? oh dear, my confusion knows no bounds does it?
What else would you use it for ?
Ellie
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It's normally used as a contraceptive or part of your HRT regime. It's not something I would firstly buy online and secondly use without advice. It is used quite often when you are oestrogen dominant to balance your hormones. Do you know if you are oestrogen dominant?
Taz x :)
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No, I dont know :(
As I said, I was reading an old thread on here about lack of libido and somebody mentioned Serenity cream as being helpful so I looked on amazon and found progesterone cream being sold alongside Serenity.....
Eeek!
Elena
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I think that Serenity cream is a type of progesterone cream, Elena. ??? I've not heard of it being particularly good for libido problems although those marketing it would probably say that it's great for everything. ::)
Bette x
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It was somebody on here who said that Bette!
Ellie
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Must have missed that - sorry! Don't suppose you can remember where/when/who it was? ???
Bette x
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I think it must have been on this thread somewhere http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6639.msg300754.html#msg300754
Taz x
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I can only see ladies saying that they were going to try it, not that it had helped. :-\ It's testosterone which seems to really help but that can only be prescribed in certain forms:-
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/testosterone.php
Bette x
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Yes it was Taz. Page 2 half way down. Do you think I got confused a bit?! lol
oh well, I now have a tube of progesterone should I ever need it in future. Meanwhile I'll just carry on reducing the citalopram very slowwwwwwwly.
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Well today was the day of my gynae appt re. the "having to push my wee out" problem.
Firstly I was seen by a young lady doctor who was in training I would imagine. She asked a lot of questions and some of them she repeated (?) which made me wonder which of us had the memory problem ;D
I also decided to mention the recent bout of soreness in the perineal area since when I at last got round to looking at it in a magnifying mirror yesterday I noticed 2 red lesions which, with my history of lichen sclerosis, made me a bit uneasy. I explained that I had started to apply Ovestin to the area to help with the sensitive urethra prob and this new soreness. She asked what Ovestin was :o so I explained.
After this she examined me and said she couldnt see the lesions. Luckily the nurse who was assisting her could ???
Then the Gynae came in, saw her a couple of years back and she is very nice. She also examined me and then we had a chat. It seems that the small prolapse that I have is not the cause of the bladder problem. She is referring me to a Urologist as she says it sounds as if I have a blockage in the neck of my bladder. Either he will then operate or he will refer her back to me. Meanwhile I have to carry on using the Ovestin for the soreness. Firstly each day for a fortnight and then twice weekly. I've decided I will also use Diprobase moisturiser during the day to ward off the soreness. I have follow up appt with her in 3 months time.
So, there we have it. Not exactly straightforward but I guess once I see Bladder Man I will know more..
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The bladder often kinks from prolapse alone. Lots of non surgical things can help. Urodynamics will be helpful. Does leaning forward help. Usually with prolapse one starts off ok, just doesn't empty well, so yours could very well be unrelated. Hope it gets figured out.
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Millimoo, please Google Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Pelvic muscles in spasm will cause some of what your describe and it solved by experienced physical therapist, not surgery. Worth a look.
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How old is 'old'? To have surgery, I mean ;)
Libby
x
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It depends on your overall health I reckon as to when you are too old for surgery.
Taz x :)
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That's the position I'm in at the moment re a hyster for prolapse followed at a later date by a TVT for bladder prolapse. I have put it off for a year but as the gynae said "You're not getting any younger and you may find that other health problems will crop up which means you can't have surgery".
Or course an upside of the hyster would be oestrogen only HRT - yay!
Taz x
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Thanks Trey, I;ll have a look at that. Just wondering what the blockage could be, and whether it's connected to the blood in the urine problem.
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Hi Trey
I had a look at Pelvic Floor Dysfunction; what I read implies that incontinence is involved but i dont have that problem, thank goodness. I only have a small prolapse and gynae didnt think that was the cause of the problem. The word "blockage" combined with the several instances of blood in my urine is ringing alarm bells but I am trying not to ponder on that too much. Too busy anyway to be honest, trying to sort out other people's problems as usual :(
Re your suggestion of leaning forwards - yes, that definitely helps to empty bladder.
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I had a recent CT scan for pain and the doctor was looking for bladder stones. Wonder if that could be it, Milliemoo. Certainly stones can cause occasional bleeding. I'd never heard of bladder stones before, just kidney stones.
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I dont have pain though, and bladder stones surely must be painful?:(
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A certain percent bleed occasionally for no apparent reason. Will be good to get it sorted. Kidney stones can cause bleeding with no pain, so I just don't know.
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Did they find that you had bladder stones in the end Trey?
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No, diverticulitis. Quite infected. Better now. I have too much time to dwell on negatives now with Don gone. So I have lots of new symptoms from stress. Annoying!
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:(
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Bumping for KAH who is having same problem.
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Bumping for KAH who is having same problem.
Thanks Snooze, shame it doesn't say what the problem turned out to be!! Very similar though, thank you x
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Hopefully Milliemoo may reply as she's still an active member..
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I have a similar problem. It sometimes takes me a couple minutes or more to get the stream of urine flowing. And it's nowhere near the "gush" that it used to be in my younger years, now it's more like a trickle some times and others a medium flow. I've never thought to mention it to my doctor but I was complaining recently of a "full" feeling like I have to go but when I do, the feeling doesn't go away. (it's not a UTI)
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I have a similar problem. It sometimes takes me a couple minutes or more to get the stream of urine flowing. And it's nowhere near the "gush" that it used to be in my younger years, now it's more like a trickle some times and others a medium flow. I've never thought to mention it to my doctor but I was complaining recently of a "full" feeling like I have to go but when I do, the feeling doesn't go away. (it's not a UTI)
I went to see my GP today (about something else!) and mentioned it whilst I was there, she didn't seem worried at all, in fact she didn't say much at all about it!
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I often have to do this when there isn't a lot in my bladder and I need to go and have never regarded it as a problem! Bound to happen with age. Also someone said once on here I think years ago that women with a retroverted uterus are more likely to do this eg sit forward on the loo seat and have to push some of it out? What is important is that symptoms of VA and other bladder issues are treated with local oestrogen and any other causes eg prolapses, or feelings of fullness etc identified and also treated - eg . Pelvic floor exercises are also important :) (I always forget to do them!).
Hurdity x
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I have a similar problem. It sometimes takes me a couple minutes or more to get the stream of urine flowing. And it's nowhere near the "gush" that it used to be in my younger years, now it's more like a trickle some times and others a medium flow. I've never thought to mention it to my doctor but I was complaining recently of a "full" feeling like I have to go but when I do, the feeling doesn't go away. (it's not a UTI)
I went to see my GP today (about something else!) and mentioned it whilst I was there, she didn't seem worried at all, in fact she didn't say much at all about it!
That is good!
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After you void lean way over and let your abdomen relax and you will be able to go more. It is this left over urine that is thought to lead to infections.
Thanks, I've had this for years, I have 'half a wee' or need to go a few times in a row.
I don't want surgery though as I am a recovered opiate addict and you need to be on opiate pain killers for at least a week after prolapse surgery, NO THANKS, i don't want to take another opiate in my life again after being clean for 16 months.
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After you void lean way over and let your abdomen relax and you will be able to go more. It is this left over urine that is thought to lead to infections.
Ahh I do that! :)
I don't know where the second bit hides but there's always a bit more to come if I lean forward when I think I'm done!
Catweazle x
It hides in the 'sac' formed when your bladder pops through your pelvic floor.
You can google images of it. I ddrink loads of water, and so far that has kept uti's at bay, last one was sept 16.