Hello all....

Just wondering if people have noticed their bladders taking on a life of their own. Is this common? The urge to pee a lot more than usual has been one of my most annoying symptoms of peri--I'm 46. I have been to the GYN and the Uro and am on estrace vaginal cream as the area was low in estrogen which is helping. I guess there are lots of estrogen receptors in the bladder.

But I just wonder if other people have noticed changes in their bathroom trips as part of peri. Or maybe I have just been watching too many overactive bladder ads....

I had my first bout of this last spring and even went to the doctor because it was so upsetting. It went away on its own after a month or so. So now it is back again. Very annoying but I won't let it get to me this time. By the way, taking certain supplements can cause this too.

i use to be able to go all nite sleeping without having to get up, now at 3-4 am i get woke up having to go to the potty, urggggg i get so mad cause then i have a hard time getting back to sleep, i only have this problem at nite , thank goodness, but yes this is on the top 7 symtoms that really bother me......

Oh yes!!!! I've always had a weak bladder, then had three kids and it became worse. Now that I'm post, it has become a real pain.
I have to make a few trips to the loo before I go out to do anything or even go to bed.
I do drink a lot of water, but even on the days that I don't/can't it's still an issue for me.

sissy....you're using Estrace cream vaginally for this and it helps? Can you tell me what strength and how often you use it?

Oh yeah, am 46 too and I go all the damn time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss alot of sleep because of this problem....i have to pee but i'm too tired/lazy to get up and go so i lay there not being able to sleep cause i gotta pee..i finally get up and go...then go back to bed and it all starts again...

Yes, bladder issues are part of peri and meno. (yet another reason to supplement with b/hrt). I am in peri and use Estrace vaginal cream and now dont deal with urge incontinence anymore. But, if a woman suffers from stress incontinence the vag cream will have limited impact upon syptoms. (many time stress incontinence responds better to kegels and surgery.) A good uro gyn can diagnose and help treat this annoying problem.

And, yes there are lots of estrogen receptors in the bladder. The varying levels of estrogen causes the bladder (urethra) to "spasm" periodically and the urge to urinate ensues, After meno then the issue becomes more of a weakening/loss of muscle tone in those areas due to loss of ovarian hormones. The estradiol cream will help facilitate blood flood, strenghten tissues and muscle tone too. Kegels continue to be important too.

Hope you have good results too. Regards, JZZ

Ditto, ditto, ditto....I hate that in between sleep with an aching bladder!!!

I have to wear a pad AT ALL TIMES!!!

And ya know how you wake up needing to go to the bathroom.

Well...........I've been waking up AFTER I START!!

Good think they make depends for women!!!

No, I'm not wearing them yet, but.............oh well, the joys of life!!

In meno women, decreased testosterone levels weaken the pelvic floor and sphincter muscles, while an estrogen deficit induces atrophy of the urethra.

I have testosterone in my bio mix. It makes a difference. Now, I go only 500 times a day, instead of 1,ooo. It really has helped.

Now, for some fun stuff....

I read that American Indians used to "facilitate passage of urine" by using pumpkin seeds. In Europe, an old remedy for urinary problems was to use pumpkin seeds. Germany....approved pumpkin seeds as a treatment for irritable bladder...and Japanese scientist have found a way to make the pumpkin seeds water-soluble. That way they work better. Pumpkin seeds seem to help urinary problems in men and women.

(Ground up pumpkin seeds have been used to get rid of parasites and worms, too! LOL!)

Ethiopians chew pumpkin seeds (which contain fiber) as a natural laxative.



Although nobody really seems to know why pumpkin seeds help, they exhibit antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory properties My guess would be that they are high in zinc and other minerals.

Urinary incontinence seems to worsen after menopause. While menopausal problems are usually associated with estrogen deficit, low levels of testosterone and progesterone are also underlying culprits.

If you are on bios, you might want to ask for some testosterone in your mix (if you are on the low side) and eat a handful of pumpkin seeds. LOL! If anybody tries the pumpkin seeds, be sure to report back.

Shebee

THanks for all the great comments so far. At least I have lots of company in line for the ladies room! That must be why the line is always so long....

I am using Estrace cream, packet says "Estrace: estradiol vaginal cream" USP, .01%"...Not cheap! 70 bucks a tube and my insurance won't pay. But is does seem to calm down the area alot, tho not a total solution. My doc was vague about dose--said to rub some around down there twice a day.

And just for fun I am going to start to eat more pumpkin seeds--just in time for Halloween!

JZZ--how long did it take for the Estrace cream to show full results. I have been using it on and off a couple of months--has it done what it is going to do?

Hi Sissy. Thanks so much for starting this thread.

I'm not sure if I am dealing with IC or just menopausal crap. I am definately in peri, and I have pressure on my bladder a lot of the time. It isn't enough that I have to "go" - I am just aware of my bladder much more than I should be. I only pee about 5x a day, and once in a while I have to pee once during the night. I do not have pain upon urination. I sometimes have a bit of irritation in my pelvis, but not all the time. I am never incontinent, and I dont' have spasms. I don't ever have to rush to the b/r. It is just a nagging, annoying feeling all day long. It does not keep me up at night. (I actually have a few days a month where I don't have to think about my bladder which makes me think it is hormonal).

I have had 2 ultrasounds (one was trans-vag) as it was thought it was an enlarged uterus or fibroids. I have an ovarian cyst and a tiny (1 cm) fibroid. The doctor didn't seem to think these were an issue. I went to a urologist and he didn't think it was IC, and did not do any bladder testing. I also had a uterine biopsy.

About 4 months after these feelings began, I asked my dr. for an estrogen test, and my FSH was 105 - basically meaning I had no estrogen in my body! The dr. said that my bladder was probably all dried out as all the estrogen had been taken out of it. She put me on vagifem suppositories, which were a God send, but I have to take them every second day (recommended dose is 2x per week) or the pressure gets worse, but there is still NO incontinence, spasms, burning or frequency with no estrogen - just pressure.

Anyone else have these kinds of symptoms?

Hi sissy,

I think it took me around 6 months for full improvement. But, my dosing recomendations were being done by the uro gyn (not reg gyn). Seems like your doc isn't giving you any guidance other than "to rub some on 2 x per day". Another reason I would suggest a good uro gyn is that they commonly use the Estrace cream for post surgical patients (who are many times far post meno). These docs tend to have a better idea of dosing and timeline for improvement for bladder/vaginal tissues than most gyns. Also, have you been diagnosed with urge incontinence or stress incontinence? If its stress incontinence you won't find full improvement with just the Estrace cream. Regards, JZZ

Thanks Jzz--I haven't been diagnosed with anything official--just general vaginal/bladder burning and irritation that seems to be related to lowered estrogen. I have a grab bag of other symptoms of low estrogen, so I think we are on the right track, tho I'm not perfect.

I AM better than I was so don't want to offer myself up to more uro testing right now, but you are right a uro-gyn would be a good next step. My male uro seemed to brush off the idea that hormones could have any role in bladder function.

Hi Mary! I did read in Susan Love's Hormone book that estrogen cream can become less effective over time, but she is pretty anti-hormone so I take that with a grain of salt..

Hi Ladies!

What I am noticing is it's hard to get started??? Anyone have this problem? Do you know what I mean? I am sitting there and I have the sensation of wanting to go...but when I finally start everything is OK...

My Uro says it's irritable bladder...I wonder what I can do to help? I certainly don't want it to get worse...

HUGS

Maura

I just find it harder to hold it!!

Is "Irritable bladder" a recognized condition? Did your uro have any suggestions for you? Mine feels irritable, but then the rest of me is too .

I am experimenting with taking with aloe vera capsules which are supposedly very soothing to bladders...Seem to be helping a bit, tho maybe its the estrogen cream that is doing the trick. Still room for improvement tho...

Hi

Well he recongized it. I have also had digestive issues so he said sometimes when you have digetive problems you will have irritable bladder too. No he didn't suggest anything to help...he really wasn't that helpful. I asked about hormones he looked at me like I had just kicked him in the shin....

Maura