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  • #1

    Difficulty urinating

    I had a rough time with this today. Generally if I hold it in or if I SUDDENLY have to pee really badly (either from drinking a lot of water or drinking coffee or something), I have a lot of trouble actually peeing and generally have a start-and-stop stream. Today it was to the extent where I was doubled over (from pain) and had to push my hands into my abdomen to force the urine out. It's like I get bladder constipation!

    Does anyone else have this? If so, how do you deal with it? I don't know if it's my muscles tensing up or some physiological manifestation of the IC, but it is so painful and also frustrating/embarrassing (as when this happens it can take me almost five minutes to "fully" empty my bladder).
    Tags: None
  • #2
    First Call your Dr and let them know the extent of your problem.

    It is called retention and it can happen from medications we take or something you may have eaten and caused a flare. DON'T PUSH to urinate it is very harmful to your pelvic muscles and you will cause yourself more harm.

    This is going to sound gross, but believe me, many have done this. Sometimes if you sit in a warm bath and just lay back and if you go, just let yourself go. Urine is sterile, so it won't hurt you and you can wash off after you have gotten your muscles more relaxed. Obviously you can't do this when you aren't at home!

    You need to call your Dr asap and let them know what is happening. It could be one of many meds, it is a side effect of a lot of medications. It shouldn't happen.

    I hope this helps, keep us updated.

    Sandra
    Link to the patient information, everything from What is IC? to Disability
    http://www.ic-network.com/patientlinks.html

    American Urological Association Clinical Guideline
    Diagnosis and Treatment of Intersitial Cysitis/Painful Bladder Syndrom
    http://www.auanet.org/content/guidel...ent_ic-bps.pdf

    Comment

    • #3
      I don't think it's a side effect of the meds, because I've had this happen before I was diagnosed. It's something I discussed with my doctor the day he ordered my cystoscopy, so he is aware of it. It doesn't happen often (THANK GOD), but when it does it is awful. Today was the first time that my muscles actually felt sore afterwards (which may be from pushing on them).

      Comment

      • #4
        It's better if you can sit in warm water to help relax so you can urinate. Sometimes just holding a very warm wet towel between your legs can help. Or even take a book to the bathroom with you to help you relax.

        Donna
        Stay safe


        Elmiron Eye Disease Information Center - https://www.ic-network.com/elmiron-p...mation-center/
        Elmiron Eye Disease Fact Sheet (Downloadable) - https://www.ic-network.com/wp-conten...nFactSheet.pdf

        Have you checked the ICN Shop?
        Click on ICN Shop at the top of this page. You'll find Bladder Builder and Bladder Rest, both of which we are finding have excellent results.

        Patient Help: http://www.ic-network.com/patientlinks.html

        Sub-types https://www.ic-network.com/five-pote...markably-well/

        Diet list: https://www.ic-network.com/interstitial-cystitis-diet/

        AUA Guidelines: https://www.ic-network.com/aua-guide...tial-cystitis/

        I am not a medical authority nor do I offer medical advice. In all cases, I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.         [3MG]

        Anyone who says something is foolproof hasn't met a determined fool

        Comment

        • #5
          Glad that it doesn't happen often. I have seen some post that is a symptom of a flare for them. I would do the warm bath tub some to help the muscles stay relaxed.

          Sandra
          Link to the patient information, everything from What is IC? to Disability
          http://www.ic-network.com/patientlinks.html

          American Urological Association Clinical Guideline
          Diagnosis and Treatment of Intersitial Cysitis/Painful Bladder Syndrom
          http://www.auanet.org/content/guidel...ent_ic-bps.pdf

          Comment

          • #6
            This happens to me during my period. I have the worst time peeing, I have to push so hard and it feels like I'm going to bust a vein in my head. I don't take any meds so it's not a medical side effect. I was reading on the other sub topics that it's the urethra swelling from inflammation and that perhaps muscle relaxers help?

            Comment

            • #7
              Endogirl,

              I am not sure about the urethra swelling, haven't heard that before. Why would your urethra swell during your period?

              Usually when we have retention it is with our bladder and the muscles not behaving as they should. Have you thought of talking to your Dr about physical therapy. I wonder if that could be the issue. Sometimes muscle relaxers can cause retention. Not always but they can.

              I hope you find an answer to the problem, don't settle with pushing it isn't good at all. You shouldn't have to "live" with that.

              Sandra
              Link to the patient information, everything from What is IC? to Disability
              http://www.ic-network.com/patientlinks.html

              American Urological Association Clinical Guideline
              Diagnosis and Treatment of Intersitial Cysitis/Painful Bladder Syndrom
              http://www.auanet.org/content/guidel...ent_ic-bps.pdf

              Comment

              • #8
                Well, I'm not sure. I have mentioned this to my gyno and my regular dr. and they can't figure it out. I also saw 1 urologist but that was when he found out I had a bladder infection but now I don't have a bladder infection and this still only happens during my period. I got the idea for the urethra swelling from another post on this board - I have no idea but I'll ask today. I'm seeing a pelvic pain specialist who knows alot about endometriosis, IC etc so I'm hoping he'll have some good words of advice. I agree, this isn't normal and it only happens during my period. I am also asking for a referral to a really good womens pelvic physical theapist in my area - will go to them next once he gives me the OK. I assume today he will go an exam to check for pelvic floor problems as well.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Just a quick update. I saw the pelvic pain dr. last week. He did an exam and said everything seemed normal. He's not sure why I have the problem peeing during my period. I gave me an RX for vaginal valium suppositories 5mg Diazapam ( sp ). He said if that doesn't work I can try flomax as well. I had a bad episode of spotting on Sunday and took the valium suppository because I was having some peeing problems, it didn't really help. I called the dr. back and he said I could use 2 suppositories so I've been doing that at night. Not sure if it's helping much or not. My symptoms seem to come and go so I'm unsure if I'm just in a window where things are "normal" or if the valium has helped to relax the muscles and that's why I feel ok. I see the pelvic physical therapist on Monday April 18th. I fell/slipped down the last 4 stairs of my house in August 2010 and since then I've developed this peeing problem so he's not sure if it's a muscle/skeletal issue that flares only during my period or if it's something else. He knows alot about IC and never mentioned it at all when he did the exam, nothing hurt when he was checking inside. He said my pelvic floor felt fine at the time but that the physical therapy might still help me alot. I'm willing to try just about anything to get rid of the problem peeing during my period - I totally relate to the urinary constipation comment.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Endogirl, (or any other women who use or have used flomax)

                    Did you try the Flomax? How did it work for you?
                    I have retention problems too. My uro has prescribed Flomax for me and I filled the prescription but haven't taken it yet. I was a bit surprised because I read that it is prescribed for men for prostate problems and is not supposed to be taken by women. Are there any other women on this? Did it work for your retention problems? Did it cause side effects?

                    Sorry for all the questions!! Hope someone will respond.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by healingthoughts View Post
                      Endogirl, (or any other women who use or have used flomax)

                      Did you try the Flomax? How did it work for you?
                      I was on Rapaflo for several weeks, which is an alpha blocker similar to Flomax. Uro prescribed it for me to relax the bladder neck (which it did) and also to help push a stone through if that was what was causing my urgency and frequency (it wasn't). I don't know if it had a placebo effect for me in terms of calming the bladder down or not but it seemed to work for a while. I was clinging to the possibility that my problems were caused by a stone and not IC so I may have "willed" the medicine to give me some relief but it seemed to for a bit. In terms of retention, it definitely helped. I took Sanctura XR for a while and it started causing me to push, which I know is bad. The day the uro prescribed Rapaflo, I felt like I had the strongest void I'd had in weeks. My problem is frequency so the full bladder feeling still stayed there for me, but there was definitely a noticeable improvement in the stream and amount of urine while I was on it. I was a bit freaked out by it though because I kept reading that women are not supposed to take it. The whole idea was for me to only be on it temporarily so I'm not sure what the long-term success or risks would be. Definitely worth asking your dr about it though if you are having retention issues.
                      Diagnosed with IC in April 2011. Medications and IC treatments did not help, diagnosed with PFD in September of 2013. Still searching for answers as to why I have never-ending frequency/urgency issues.

                      Current medications/treatments:
                      Pelvic physical therapy, valium suppositories, b and o suppositories, acupuncture, probiotics, magnesium, epsom salt baths

                      Previous medications/treatments:
                      Elmiron, Hydroxizine, Elavil, VESIcare, Series of rescue instillations using Elmiron, water, lidocaine, & sodium bicarb and self-cathing with instills as needed, D-mannose, Glucosamine, Hyophen (generic Prosed), Colostrum, IC diet, PTNS, chiropractic treatments, Desert Harvest Aloe Vera, CystoProtek

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        The issue with a start and stop urine stream tends to be a symptom of pelvic floor issues. The worst thing you can do when it happens is force the urine out. This is not good for the pelvic muscles and can eventually possibly lead to damage. You need to explain this symptom to your Dr and inquire if pelvic floor issues could be causing this. Its generally relieved by a bit of physical therapy. This is (or was) a big problem for me, and still can be at times. For me, doing a few Kegel exercises helps my bladder to relax enough to allow the urine to flow out naturally.

                        To the Flomax inquiry--I've used it briefly. Had to stop as it caused my BP to drop too low. I'm already on BP meds so this med was just a bit too much for me. Its perfectly safe for women to take. Do watch your BP and get up slowly when standing or rising in the morning as it could cause dizziness.

                        Wishing you well.
                        (\__/)
                        (o.O )
                        (> < ) This is Bunny. He's on his way to world domination.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by healingthoughts View Post
                          Endogirl, (or any other women who use or have used flomax)

                          Did you try the Flomax? How did it work for you?
                          I have retention problems too. My uro has prescribed Flomax for me and I filled the prescription but haven't taken it yet. I was a bit surprised because I read that it is prescribed for men for prostate problems and is not supposed to be taken by women. Are there any other women on this? Did it work for your retention problems? Did it cause side effects?

                          Sorry for all the questions!! Hope someone will respond.
                          No I didn't end up trying it. My pelvic pain dr. wanted me to try the vaginal valium 5mg suppository first to see if that made any difference and it didn't. He said I could use 2 inserted at the same time and that didn't help either. I started my period yesterday and saw the pelvic physical therapist. She said the muscles inside were definately more taught than last week. I'm having so much rectal area pain ( more of the sit bone area, not the actual rectum ). Peeing is reallly hard. I think I'm going to go back on the birth control pill. I can't do this to my body anymore. We were hoping to get pregnant but after 1.5 years, 1 miscarriage and 8 months of horrible peeing during my period is more than I can take. No period = no more peeing problems hopefully. Also, when i told my PP Dr. that the valium didn't work he said he wanted me to continue with the pelvic physical therapy for awhile first before we'd talk about flomax. He said that there were alot of side effects from flo max ( I think I read about dizzy when you stand ).

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            There are definitely women who take flomax (and other meds for the same problem) --- they work by relaxing the muscles that can cause retention.

                            Donna
                            Stay safe


                            Elmiron Eye Disease Information Center - https://www.ic-network.com/elmiron-p...mation-center/
                            Elmiron Eye Disease Fact Sheet (Downloadable) - https://www.ic-network.com/wp-conten...nFactSheet.pdf

                            Have you checked the ICN Shop?
                            Click on ICN Shop at the top of this page. You'll find Bladder Builder and Bladder Rest, both of which we are finding have excellent results.

                            Patient Help: http://www.ic-network.com/patientlinks.html

                            Sub-types https://www.ic-network.com/five-pote...markably-well/

                            Diet list: https://www.ic-network.com/interstitial-cystitis-diet/

                            AUA Guidelines: https://www.ic-network.com/aua-guide...tial-cystitis/

                            I am not a medical authority nor do I offer medical advice. In all cases, I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.                             [3MG]

                            Anyone who says something is foolproof hasn't met a determined fool

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Difficulty urinating

                              Did any of u find out what the start stop was x

                              Comment

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