Silly question about the difference between urgency & frequency?!

[Shelka]

Hello to all!

I have a few questions about symptoms since I've started reading the message boards (I'm quite new to the boards), and at the risk of sounding like a complete fool:jester: , I'm going to ask anyway ...

What is the difference between 'urgency' and 'frequency'? I DO understand that frequency means the amount of times & urgency is the strong need to go RIGHT AWAY. Still, I don't see the difference in my case in that I have to go all the time now (every 10-15 minutes), so if one is having really bad frequency, wouldn't it mean that they necessarily are experiencing urgency as well?? (i.e., I know you can have urgency without frequency but can you have frquency without urgency?)...gee, I do hope this makes sense!

Another question I have is with regards to the symptom that is causing me the most distress now: the feeling of having to go ALL THE TIME (even when I've JUST emptied my bladder). Is there a name for this? Is this typical of most people with IC from what you know? I suppose if frequency was the only problem then I could wear a catheter with a leg bag during the day and that would be that, but I was given one on Thursday & despite the fact that my bladder was obviously empty, I still felt the strong urge to go
Is this a common symptom with IC?

Finally, a question for those who have had the type of symptom I've described above, How do you describe this type of sensation? I've been reading a lot about pain, and I wouldn't describe this as typical "pain" in the sense of a migraine or something like that, however, it is an AWFUL, AWFUL feeling. I guess I want to know b/c my nurse asked me if pain meds would help, and I said "well, it's not really 'pain' per se..." but now I'm thinking maye this is what is meant by pain in some cases,and maybe pain meds would help this feeling. All I can say is even though it's not typical pain like I've had with severe menstrual cramps or a migraine, it is a very unnerving, uncomfortable & miserable sensation that to me is more hard to deal with than any migraine or other type of pain I've ever experienced...

Well thanks to all,I appreciate your patience & support, it's a great board you have here...
Hugs,
Shelley

[Sarojini]

Hi Shelka,

Funny you should ask the question about the pain meds! I had been having a near constant urge to go pee for about two months, and just switched urologists... last night the new uro phoned in a prescription for Darvocet, a pain med. He kind of talked me into taking it, saying it, in combination with the Detrol LA I already have, may deaden the sensation enough for me to be comfy this weekend until I can see him on Monday morning. I was a bit wary, but I took the combination last night for the first time... and for the first time in 2 months I only got up ONCE to pee in the night! Today things are going pretty well too, the sensation of always needing to empty my bladder is definitely better. It is still there some, but the "urgency" is not nearly as bad.

In addition the pain med is helping with the back pain and pelvic pressure/pain I've been having. It is still here, but the edge is off and I have actually been able to enjoy part of my day

I do not know if this would be right for you, but it has helped me as a temporary solution until I can get to my uro's office on Monday

Sending hugs and healing thoughts! grouphug grouphug

Jen

[Kathi]

Hi & welcome to ICN. Not everyone has to go every 15-20 mins, that really is frequency. Some just feel like they have to go "now" and only a dribble comes out. That would be urgency.
It sounds like you have both frequency & urgency, but not everyone does. Most people without IC go about 6-8 times a day, so any more then that is frequency. I hope I made it understandable for you. blah Hugs, Kathi grouphug

[ICNJess]

Hi Shelka,

Before I started my treatment, I was voiding 40 times a day, and 10 a night--and it was the exact same thing you described. I'd urinate, then 5 minutes later feel like I needed to go again. You are not alone with this my friend!

Hugs and love,
Jess

[Sarojini]

Oh, I just wanted to add that I think frequency and urgency can be separate... basically, I always feel like I have to go and I urinate, on average, 27-30 times a day (sometimes less, sometimes a lot more!).

However, sometimes the urgency gets SO bad that, for example, I'll be driving to work and the desire to urinate gets so intense and painful that I sit there yelling at other cars to hurry up (and in between the yelling I'll do Lamaze-type breathing and/or bang my head on the steering wheel) because I am terrified I am going to pee my pants even though I just went pee 10 minutes ago.

And on other days, it is really darn uncomfortable, and the first thing I do when I get to work is pee (and have to pee again 30 min later), but it isn't quite that desperate.

So basically, I always have frequency, but my urgency is variable...

See what I mean? Am I making any kind of sense?

Regardless, I HOPE you are feeling better, I have been there and I know how horrible it feels....

grouphug

All my support,
Jen

[arcticfox]

I know how your feel Sorojini! I often have mornings where I only drink a little bit of water or milk and then I have to go constantly, like every 5 or 10 minutes! It is very, very frustrating. I often do deep breathing, because if I feel that I am getting anxious I might have a panic attack and then things get worse. So I try to do the deep breathing to help me relax.
This disease is darn frustrating and people who do not have this disease just don't understand.

Arcticfox hi

[Katrina]

I am with Sarojini as how to tell the difference. I always feel like I have to go...but when things are bad I will have to go that instant really really really bad sometimes. That is what I call urgency.

[dyno]

For me the frequency is going often, urgency is that feeling I have to go now. I usually feel more pain with urgency than frequency. I think it is being summed up pretty good with the other posts. I have more frequency than I do urgency.

[Dixiefireball]

welcome to the icn board.
sounds like these guys has already gave you some good advice but i wanted to welcome you. grouphug

[Iris]

Hi and welcome to the boards and the IC family, the gals posts have really said it all. You are not alone in the feeling, sometimes I get both, sometimes I get only one of the symptoms. I do have pain meds for pain, and that helps with my back pain, and the pressure feeling and ache in the whole pelvic area. Glad that you have found us, and any thing I can help with, will be happy to do so, welcoming hugs Iris. grouphug hat

[kmmk]

my bladder symptoms have been pretty calm for the last few weeks..i have not had sex .lol.
but today...i had been out all day shopping and almost six hours went by since i had to go to the bathroom. then it seemed by hour six..it hit me..i needed to pee...and it felt pretty urgent...when i finally got to go...it feels like my urinary tract feels upset and irritated again..sort of burning and pressure...and feeling like i still need to pee.
if i dont get to pee when i get the urge..and have to hold it a bit..it seems to make these symptoms flare up...
before today..i was feeling great.
anyone relate to this?
thanks!

[Cheries]

I can definately relate to this! I think it has something to do with stretching the bladder and the nerves maybe? I will be busy and a few hours will go by and I will think...WOW! What a great day I am having...then I will feel an URGENT need to go and go and afterwards I will get the overwhelming inflamatory pain that just fills my bladder and hurts so bad that after I go and am washing my hands I feel like I never went and even though I feel some relief, it si almost worse. After about 5-10 minutes it will abate somewhat. I guess we just never know what a day is going to be like. Although I am on a Duragesic Patch and Ultram I still get that kind of pain. Does anyone else also experience this?

[Dojakitty]

Frequency and urgency pretty much sums up my whole day, everyday! Welcome to the network! I have leanred more here than I would from any Dr.!

[Tuckersmom]

my bladder symptoms have been pretty calm for the last few weeks..i have not had sex .lol.
but today...i had been out all day shopping and almost six hours went by since i had to go to the bathroom. then it seemed by hour six..it hit me..i needed to pee...and it felt pretty urgent...when i finally got to go...it feels like my urinary tract feels upset and irritated again..sort of burning and pressure...and feeling like i still need to pee.
if i dont get to pee when i get the urge..and have to hold it a bit..it seems to make these symptoms flare up...
before today..i was feeling great.
anyone relate to this?
thanks!

My uro said that when you hold your urine for that long, it irritates the bladder of IC patients. He recommended voiding at least once every 3 hours, whether you feel urgency or not. If you wait overly long to void in the daytime, an irritated bladder will wake you more often at night.

[Cath W]

Hi Shelley - I have continual pain, but no urgency. As my bladder fills, it hurts more, but I don't 'have' to go to the loo. That's the difference for me..!
Movement aggravates my bladder - I can sit for hours, put up with the pain, but if I walk 100 yards I need to go to the loo to relieve the pain.
Re description of the pain - I agree 100% with you here. The pain is not like a broken arm, but is a continuous nagging irritation that your body is trained NOT to ignore becuase you are supposed to recognise that signal as a sign to go to the loo.
I just call it pain when any of the nurses or doctors ask me.
I have never found a pain med that helps.
Bye