Hi ,

I've had this bladder problem off and on the last four or five mths. where I couldn't urinate. before it happened one time in Nov. and then one time again in Feb. but I was able to urinate three hours later after drinking cranberry juice. well it came back on me on Monday and I tried drinking cranberry juice but I still could not urinate all afternoon so finally I went to the ER. I got a catheter put in me finally and the ER dr. did a urine test and kidney function test blood work and the nuurse came back later about two hours or more later and said I had a infection and urinary rentention she showed me the paper where it explained it but yet the urine test showed okay. All the nurse said when I questioned her if I did have a bladder infection or not , she just pointed to the paper again and said what i said about that the most common thing of urinary retention was bladder infection, that both men and women get it and that on the kidney function test it showed high where it said WBC. The nurse gave me a prescription too that the dr. wrote for the antibiotic Cipro. I've been taking it for two days now.

So I"m for a loop what is going on, the dr. didn't come back just the nurse so I couldn't talk to the dr.. And I went to the urologist today and not much help there either. And a urine test I had done too in Nov. at the gyn's office showed normal, no infection. The urologist today ordered a bladder ultrasound and did check , took the portable catherter off me and I was able to urinate there in the restroom in their office. And I've been able to urinate regularly at home today, thank goodness! But still I have this problem, where I don't know , dont' have any clear answers what the problem is. Cause the urine test didn't show , said negative , so was okay the urine test at the ER but the Urologist said that urine tests is where the infection shows up, he wasn't concerned said the bloodwork was high but that wouldn't be from a infection. I asked the nurse too at the urologist office today but she wasn't clear either. I hate this getting no answers straight, so worried. Also the Urologist just put on the paper after my appt. he still checked UTI , on there and backteria something, and put urinary rentention and something else. I did tell him too that I had fibroids and he said that can cause blockage too. My gyn dr. in Nov. had suggested a ultrasound then but I was waiting till our heath ins. kicks in but I'll have to go in sooner and get the ultrasound now it looks like to check on the fibroids. I know I have two large fibroids. The urolgoist said he could order a ultrasound or I could have it done through the gyneclogist. Does anyone know if gynecologist deal with bladder problems too ? I wondered cause when I was there last at my gyn, or the dr. assistan there, she wasn't very helpful when I asked a few questions about the bladder. Think I'm having bladder spasms too I had told her too and I told her about the incident where I couldnl't go urinate in Nov. a few weeks before.

But if anyone would please let me know if you had this problem where you couldn't urinate and any info about thet bladder would help me/ I'm really worrying.

I had copied on another thread about this but added more so Ill post more tomorrow abit more, it's late here and I gotta get to bed now.


Thanks,

Noreen

Noreen, I had this a couple of years ago, and had an emergency visit to the urologist. He scoped the bladder and found that it was "pristine." He stretched the urethra, I guess, and I've been fine ever since. They did give me a drug called Cardura, that is supposed to help relax the area and help the flow. Fortunately, I haven't had to take it at all. I was also told it is a fairly common problem in women. Hope this helps. It is very frightening when it happens.

P.S. Yes, there are gynecologists that specialize in urinary problems.

Hi Noreen.

Have you tried bending over when urinating. Everything seems to fall forward and not block anything. I have pelvic prolapses and this works for me.

Hi,

You may have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. With this condition, the muscles of the pelvic floor can't "relax" as needed to let the bladder empty. There are other symptoms, too - spasming, lower back pain, etc.

I have Interstitial Cystitis (it doesn't sound like you have this, if you don't have frequent urination or pain in the bladder).

My recommendation is to see a uro-gynocologist, if there is one in your area, or even your usual gynocologist, and specifically mention Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.

Here's an article about it in relationship to Interstitial Cystitis - the symptoms are effectively the same: http://www.ic-network.com/iclifestyles/june02.html

Good luck - I feel for you. You might find hot baths helpful to relax that area. I've also gotten some help working with a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor work.

BTW, I had the "rods" inserted into the urethra to help with urine flow, and it did nothing, and hurt like hell!

(((HUGS)))

JJ

[
Hi Meryl,

Sorry getting back later I had been sick with a cold.

Thanks so much for the info. So your dr. scoped your bladder and stretched your uretha. You said he found that your bladder was 'pristine". What do you mean by "Pristine"? The urolgist I had went to a few days after my ER visit, never examined me. And at the ER , they never examined me either. I thought they would have but didn't.

And wondering how did you get into a emergency visit to a urologist? Had you gone to him before so you were able to get in sooner? Cause I've never heard where drs. will take a emergency visit to their office. I'm glad you got in though to the urologist right away. Glad you''re doing fine.

Thanks for the info too on the drug, Cardura, the Urologist never said about meds either to me. All he did was a bladder scan on me to see how much urine was left after I went to the bathroom after the catheter bag was taken out. And just a tiny bit was left the nurse said, was okay. So they do have meds then to relax the area and help the flow, that's good. I did get a few meds samples from the nurse for bladder spasms, I had asked the nurse told her I thought I may have bladder spasms too. Yes it sure is frightening, sorry you had that experience too had that Emergency , glad you're doing okay since then. I go to my gyn dr. on Friday and I had a ultrasound to check on my fibroids last week so will discuss with her, they say fibroids can grow close or by the bladder and cause problems. Thanks again for the helpful info and thanks too for letting me know that there are gynecologists that specialize in urinary problems. Appreciate your help!

Noreen


quote name='Meryl' date='Mar 27 2008, 08:30 AM' post='216116']
Noreen, I had this a couple of years ago, and had an emergency visit to the urologist. He scoped the bladder and found that it was "pristine." He stretched the urethra, I guess, and I've been fine ever since. They did give me a drug called Cardura, that is supposed to help relax the area and help the flow. Fortunately, I haven't had to take it at all. I was also told it is a fairly common problem in women. Hope this helps. It is very frightening when it happens.
[/quote]

Hi sybilleruth,

Thanks for the info. No I never tried bending over. I'll keep that in mind though. I didn't know that before that it helps with prolapses. I'm not sure if I have that but is good to know in case.

Noreen

Just a quick note make sure your water intake is real good, drink the cranberry juice I had something similar its almost as if something was inflamed in there I have had alot of inflammed issues with peri.

I would start the ativia yogurt I put calendula ointment up the ol genie to keep it soothed and it also is a healing agent.

I have read that sometimes its the uretha that gets a bit smaller but I wouldnt go for strecthing it because I read horror stories and am now fine with my ointment.

Drink teas they are healing cornsilk , uva ursi are great pee makers google and see what you think,

Gotta run

Tinkybug

Hi JJ,

Thanks for all the info on Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. I hadn't known this before so I appreciate the info. yes that's a good idea, I'll ask the gyn about the pelvic floor too and check into if there is a uro-gyn in our area. Ask that just in case. I have a feeling more it's my large fibroids but it could be the pelvic thing too you mentioned, my fibroids are large a few of them so maybe they're causing the pelvic thing too besides pressing on my bladder.

I do have frequent urination too. Not sure about pain in the bladder ,don't think I have that. How does that feel when you have pain in your bladder , how can you tell it's bladder pain?

Sorry to hear you had so much pain when you had the rods inserted into the uretha. Sounds awful.

I feel for you too. Sorry to hear you are going through alot too. Thanks for the article too on Interstitial Cystitis.


Thanks for your good luck wishes and hugs, kind of you and I appreciate you taking the time posting the info for me, so nice of you.


(((((Hugs))))))


Noreen