“Possible Neurogenic Bladder.”
Hi, I am a woman of 60 years old. I was diagnosed with vaginal atrophy in the autumn of 2014. Symptoms were vaginal burning and soreness, bladder soreness and pressure and frequency.
So of course I'm on HRT, (Vagifem pessaries) probably permanently.
In April 2016 I had my 2nd hip replacement. I got back home on 1st May and in the early hours of May 2nd I was struggling to get to loo and ended up having an accident so I was shocked and upset by this. It was this same day that I noticed I had had no urge to wee all day. However I always totally emptied my bladder in the early hours. This went on for a few weeks so I eventually saw Doctor once I was able to drive again following the hip surgery. Doc said I wasn't drinking enough. So on one of the hottest days of the year, with the docs words ringing in my ears, I drank loads of water before heading into town.
I ended up having the most shocking, sudden, painful, terrifying and overwhelming urgency episode in the town centre. The 3 minute walk to the ladies felt more like 300 miles. I could barely put one foot in front of the other. The pain was really bad and I felt like even a slight move would result in me wetting myself in the crowded town centre! Was heading for a panic attack but got to the ladies without having an accident. It was a total and complete miracle. I was very badly shaken up though. Think it impacted on me subconsciously as I have suffered urgency and anxiety ever since BUT the urgency feelings have been in my urethra, or at least that's how it felt because my bladder has been numb either as a result of the hip replacement (But I hadn't realised during those weeks afterwards when I didn't want to wee all day, I just considered it was because I hadn't been drinking enough) or the awful urgency episode I had in town that day. Whichever it was, with my bladder being numb, the bladder soreness and pressure I suffered with vaginal atrophy and also the frequency, disappeared. I was left with the vaginal burning and the urethral sensations of urgency and burning though interestingly I discovered that the urgency sensations could still happen when my bladder was empty. I only found that out of course when I responded to the urgency feelings and nothing happened.
Thing is because my bladder is numb, I cant tell if its full and I never get the urge to wee from my bladder either so I have to keep a rough check on how much I am drinking and the time so I have a rough idea of when to go to the bathroom.
I drink about 1750ml per day. I only visit the bathroom 4 or 5 times a day. I have one huge wee first thing in a morning - 800ml being the biggest all in one go but its more usually 500ml or 600ml. I can't feel it in my bladder, not even when its 800ml. However I can feel what seems like pressure in my urethra or at the entrance to it. I've not had the bladder urges to wee since getting on for 2 years ago.
Usually my typical day is;
Big wee at 8am. Have 3 drinks between 8am and 1pm (750ml approx). No desire to wee but I go anyway at 1pm - ish (I rarely go to the bathroom in a morning after my 8am wee) and often the 1pm wee is just a trickle (100ml at the most at a guess). Then another 2 drinks (500ml) by 5pm and another loo visit. Then a drink at 6pm and approx 8pm and another bathroom visit at 8pm or 9pm. I may go to the bathroom once in between times if I am lucky but no bladder feelings of fullness or urges to wee.
So, 1) In your opinion have I got a neurogenic bladder?
2) Am I drinking enough when you consider my small voids at 1pm or should I be drinking more?
3) Do you think my numb bladder was a result of the hip replacement or the urgency episode in town that day and the pain in my bladder.
I have seen Doc, bladder nurse, urologist and gynaecologist about all this. But nobody has taken much notice of my numb bladder and really that has contributed to my urgency anxiety as you can imagine. The urgency anxiety has really upset me as my life has been controlled by being near to public loos. However it may just be starting to improve so thats one good thing. But that doesnt take away my numb bladder of course. Also, could the fact that I csn hold 800ml at night be anything to do with me not feeling the urge during the day?
Thanks for listening. I await your reply with interest.
So of course I'm on HRT, (Vagifem pessaries) probably permanently.
In April 2016 I had my 2nd hip replacement. I got back home on 1st May and in the early hours of May 2nd I was struggling to get to loo and ended up having an accident so I was shocked and upset by this. It was this same day that I noticed I had had no urge to wee all day. However I always totally emptied my bladder in the early hours. This went on for a few weeks so I eventually saw Doctor once I was able to drive again following the hip surgery. Doc said I wasn't drinking enough. So on one of the hottest days of the year, with the docs words ringing in my ears, I drank loads of water before heading into town.
I ended up having the most shocking, sudden, painful, terrifying and overwhelming urgency episode in the town centre. The 3 minute walk to the ladies felt more like 300 miles. I could barely put one foot in front of the other. The pain was really bad and I felt like even a slight move would result in me wetting myself in the crowded town centre! Was heading for a panic attack but got to the ladies without having an accident. It was a total and complete miracle. I was very badly shaken up though. Think it impacted on me subconsciously as I have suffered urgency and anxiety ever since BUT the urgency feelings have been in my urethra, or at least that's how it felt because my bladder has been numb either as a result of the hip replacement (But I hadn't realised during those weeks afterwards when I didn't want to wee all day, I just considered it was because I hadn't been drinking enough) or the awful urgency episode I had in town that day. Whichever it was, with my bladder being numb, the bladder soreness and pressure I suffered with vaginal atrophy and also the frequency, disappeared. I was left with the vaginal burning and the urethral sensations of urgency and burning though interestingly I discovered that the urgency sensations could still happen when my bladder was empty. I only found that out of course when I responded to the urgency feelings and nothing happened.
Thing is because my bladder is numb, I cant tell if its full and I never get the urge to wee from my bladder either so I have to keep a rough check on how much I am drinking and the time so I have a rough idea of when to go to the bathroom.
I drink about 1750ml per day. I only visit the bathroom 4 or 5 times a day. I have one huge wee first thing in a morning - 800ml being the biggest all in one go but its more usually 500ml or 600ml. I can't feel it in my bladder, not even when its 800ml. However I can feel what seems like pressure in my urethra or at the entrance to it. I've not had the bladder urges to wee since getting on for 2 years ago.
Usually my typical day is;
Big wee at 8am. Have 3 drinks between 8am and 1pm (750ml approx). No desire to wee but I go anyway at 1pm - ish (I rarely go to the bathroom in a morning after my 8am wee) and often the 1pm wee is just a trickle (100ml at the most at a guess). Then another 2 drinks (500ml) by 5pm and another loo visit. Then a drink at 6pm and approx 8pm and another bathroom visit at 8pm or 9pm. I may go to the bathroom once in between times if I am lucky but no bladder feelings of fullness or urges to wee.
So, 1) In your opinion have I got a neurogenic bladder?
2) Am I drinking enough when you consider my small voids at 1pm or should I be drinking more?
3) Do you think my numb bladder was a result of the hip replacement or the urgency episode in town that day and the pain in my bladder.
I have seen Doc, bladder nurse, urologist and gynaecologist about all this. But nobody has taken much notice of my numb bladder and really that has contributed to my urgency anxiety as you can imagine. The urgency anxiety has really upset me as my life has been controlled by being near to public loos. However it may just be starting to improve so thats one good thing. But that doesnt take away my numb bladder of course. Also, could the fact that I csn hold 800ml at night be anything to do with me not feeling the urge during the day?
Thanks for listening. I await your reply with interest.
Female | 60 years old
Complaint duration: 6 months
Medications: Vagifem and YES plant oil based lubricant.
Conditions: Vaginal Atrophy
2 Answers
Have you tried vesicare 5mg medication
I recommend you get a test called urodynamics which will guide further evaluation and management
