I find that at night, I have to urinate more often than during the day, which isn't unusual for me. What is unusual is suddenly the last week or so, I've been standing in front of the toilet waiting to urinate for minutes, sometimes many minutes. I push, I turn the water on, I think relaxing thoughts, and nothing.
I'm sure many of you men (and women) have run into this problem, but I just need comforting.
I've been bombarding my Lyme Disease and co-infections with an onslaught of treatment this last month or so, and I have been absolutely destroyed by the Herxheimer reactions. Plus I've been detoxing visciously. I can handle it, but it's abusive.
Anyone else just stand there (Or sit ladies...) and just can't go? It goes away during the day. In the morning I go like a race horse just fine.
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
While I've never had the waterworks turn off, I've noticed weaker flow after I've taken certain pain killers. Also, it would not surprise me if lyme can impact the prostate.
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
I'm not a guy, but yes, I've had this too. I sometimes have to urinate frequently and sometimes I try to go and cannot. And then sometimes I feel like I have to pee badly, so I go to the bathroom and only go a little... It's weird, I feel like I have to pee like a race horse and yet barely anything comes out. LOL.
I've also had the problem where I'll go pee, flush, wash hands, and then I'll have to pee again... like I didn't get it all out like 10 seconds ago when I JUST went.
It's really crazy. But it has gotten better for me with continued treatment.
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
How ironic, I was JUST going to post this SAME question. This same issue began last night for me.
Usually I have the opposite issue- I pee way more than I drink (every 45 minutes or so, on the dot!). Last night though in the middle of the night, my bladder felt so full that it was painful, but I can't seem to empty it. I thought it was intestinal pain at first, but now I realize that it's my bladder.
I really don't have any advice to give, since I'm trying to figure out what to do myself. My bladder is my main means of detox since my intestines are so unreliable, so I've got to get the flow going!
I did look up "foot reflexology" and found that there are points for the bladder. If you google "reflexology bladder" you should get a link to an "eHow" website that explains how to do bladder reflexology on your hands and feet. I'm working on it right now!
Good luck...I'll check in later to see how it's going (and hopefully it's doing just that...GOING...)!
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I have days when I pee constantly, sometimes every 15 or 20 minutes. Then some days it will be more of a normal amount. A couple of times I did experience having a hard time getting the pee to flow. I wonder if the spirochetes get into our bladder or perhaps this is inflammation in the bladder. Both makes sense.
Posted by DebAz (Member # 18039) on :
Yes I have urinary problems and getting up all night to go even if it is a dribble and as well what you described It feels as if I need to go but have to work at it.. My doc is sending me to a urologist for more testing but I have not gone yet.. It is interfering with my daily life and my road to wellness ..but is not the worse one.. I am in severe pain and take pain killers and that may be part of the issue. As well yes if you have increased inflamation for any reason and it sounds like since yours is so sudden you may look into seeing if that is part of it with your diagnosis which it typically is as the body tries to set itself up to defend itself. When I was first sick my SED rate was out the roof.. Check that out.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Oh ok, the problem isn't serious for me. I know that I'll just lighten up at night on fluids. The problem starts around the same time every night, about 10 p.m. which is when my symptoms begin acting up if I've been awake for more than 12 hours. It's an immune system thing I think. My immune system acts up, then nerves and muscles become inflamed.
It's probably a nervous system issues, causing interruptions to the Bladder I suspect.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I know bladder infections can cause issues like this. Considering the abx you are on, you probably have that covered.
I had some of those issues, and they did get better with treatment.
Maybe try some cranberry juice. If you get the real stuff with no sugar, it tastes bad, but it's supposed to help.
Posted by jenny76 (Member # 18205) on :
I have Interstitial Cystitis which causes a lot of these symptoms. I have just learned that Lyme can cause IC.
Hope it gets better, I know it is frustrating.
Jenny
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
I remember this happening a bit before my lyme diagnosis and it always got chalked up to a bladder infection.
But after 2 years into treatment of lyme and co's....(I'm on IV treatmnet now) a lot of neurological symptoms have happened.
If I'm having even a little bit of jerking or twitching, I find I really have trouble getting the urine to even start. You don't want to know how long I have sat there when I KNOW my bladder feels like it's going to burst.
It does eventually come and my Visiting nurse tells me if it gets too bad, that they can catherize me, but that will be my personal last resort.
In my case, I definitely think it' related to neuro and sometimes I don't even notice the symptoms until later in the day, so it can be that minor.
Good luck.
Cathy
Posted by Tiramisu (Member # 15082) on :
A few years ago when I was having nighttime false alarms, I went for therapy for pelvic floor. That basically showed me how to correctly perform the KEGEL exercises.
I was told this sends a message to the bladder to chill out if it is a false nerve signal. It also helps you distinguish if your muscles are tensing up and not relaxing when they are supposed to, to let you pee.
You need to do sets of them holding for 1-2 seconds, and also holding for 5 seconds. This will also help with incontinence.
As for meds, I thought trouble peeing was a side effect for some abx that you need to contact your doctor about.
Posted by listenswithcare (Member # 10719) on :
I second the opinion on using Cranberry juice. I usually have to go more at night and my bladder often wants to be emptied at night even though it is not that full. When I use cranberry juice, my bladder is much happier.
On another note for men - please consider getting a PSA blood test for your prostate. Trouble with and frequent urination is also a sign of prostate trouble. Prostate cancer is treatable if caught in time.
Robin
Posted by Tiramisu (Member # 15082) on :
I'm sorry, I should have stated yesterday that I am a woman, and that's who my advice was geared toward.
But if you google pelvic floor exercises, maybe they do help men also.
Posted by chicago_bird (Member # 9301) on :
I am reviving this old thread, because I have been having some of the same problems other people described: (by the way, I am a woman)
- urinating frequently, probably 20x throughout the day (and night) - difficulty starting the flow, and when I finally get it started, barely anything comes out - turning on the faucet and hearing the water noise sometimes helps - abdominal pain, lower back pain on my left side
I went to see a urologist today because after a year or more of these symptoms, it is making life very difficult. At the doctor's office, after I had emptied my bladder (so I thought!), they inserted a catheter and a LOT more urine came out -- more than I can ever get to come out at one time.
So now I am supposed to get an ultrasound of my pelvis and kidneys, plus the doctor wants to scope my urethra.
He says there could be something in there blocking things, or the problem could be neurological.
After reading that so many other people have experienced these same symptoms, I wonder if it's just another manifestation of my Lyme infection.
So I wonder if all these tests are going to be helpful at all... I guess it is good to make sure it's not cancer??
Anyone else want to vent about urination problems? Let it fly! Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
Years ago when I was very ill and bedridden 24/7 I had what was called a "neurogenic" bladder. It just didn't work right and I could not empty it completely or even very much at all. My smptoms were as you describe.
Soooo I learned to self catherize. I got very good at it.
After my stint in the hospital on the IV antibiotics, I did not need to do it anymore! It was wonderful.
Now that I have relapsed, I again have the urinating problems...but not as badly. I live on water and diet (sweetened with Splenda) cranberry juice. It really does help.
The Bicillin shots are helping, too. After 7 months on them I can say that my bladder behaves better...still a problem, but not as bad as it had been.
I agree with whoever suggested a prostate check..just to be safe. And keep drinking water...lots of it! I dilute mine with cranberry juice and that helps me to keep drinking it all day!
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
Chicago - Let us know how those tests go. I would like to see urologist because I have the same issues. I have sometimes wondered if the medicine is effecting the kidneys. I also have considered that there could be a blockage because I have pain sometimes.
I did not have this problem until after treating Lyme for almost one year. So, for me I don't think it is Lyme related but possibly all the meds that caused it.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
This is one of the predominant symptoms of Small Fiber Neuropathy....an autoimmune disease caused by Lyme and Bartonella. It is only diagnosed by a punch skin biospy.
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