Incontinence and digestive system issues

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Hello. I'm Jane and am new to this forum. I am a 25 year old female and have had off and on incontinence for about a year. Lately I have been peeing the bed at night and I don't even wake up. I can't get a family doctor in my area so will have to go back to a walk in clinic...again. The doctors there just keep thinking I have UTIs (but I take the meds and they don't help). I also get abdominal pain, bloating and nausea. Not sure if these are all related but wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, or been diagnosed with a digestive system condition of some kind contributing to the incontinence? Any advice? Thank you!

 

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Hi there Jane I've been having urinary retention for almost 3 years now. I'm a 42yo male. I've been having to use intermittent catheters when I have to go. Now here's a twist at times I have bouts of incontinence it varies from tiny amounts at a time to full on bladder emptying with no control. So I wear adult diapers to catch any drainage.

I have a slew of gi issues from gerd to gastroparises. And I have chronic bloating , which makes me look 9mos pregnant.

I also have a slew of spinal issues from top to bottom,there's nerve damage in my spine in multiple places. I have numerous neurologic symptoms
Which is believed to be caused by the spinal issues that I have along with the gi and bladder issues which is called neurogenic bladder.

Now my question to you is do you have any spinal issues? Which could be causing the urinary incontinence your having.

As of late my spine has gotten worse in my cspine/neck to the point that I need another surgery. Also I'm having neurological problems in all of my extremities and the urinary retention is to the point that I can't urinate on my own much now i.e. I'm relying on the catheters to drain my bladder.

2 years ago I had M a l s surgery it's an acronym. During the surgery the surgeon noticed that none of my organs are in the correct places and didn't give a reason why.

Also myo diaphragm is nearly paralyzed on the right side and completely paralyzed on the left side. My left lung is partially collapsed from the diaphragm not working on the the left side. My pulmonologist and neurologist seem to believe my bloating and or a mixture of nerve damage is causing it all including the neurogenic bladder.

 

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That "disinterest" from doctors concerning incontinence is a constant on this forum. You need a urologist, and one you can trust - not one who just passes it off as a UTI and sends you out the door. Don't even hesitate to change doctors. Don't hesitate to ask for an explanation of a med, and don't hesitate to tell the doctor that the UTI issue has been "treated" and you don't need to take meds for that if you haven't got a current diagnosis of infection. Are they actually doing the lab work?
You don't say what the meds are. Antibiotics? For incontinence? Did you test positive for a UTI when you first went to a doctor?
In my opinion, you should be writing "reviews" of those doctors, not only for others to read, but for whomever the doctor works for.
Not sure why you can't get into a family practice, but you need a referral to a urologist, and "walk-in clinic doctor can sure do that?
Hunt around on this website for ideas.
Mine has been decreasing slowly. I did go through all the tests, and do take one for urinary spasms and it seems to work, but it isn't a magic bullet.
Good luck

 

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Thank you! Great advice. Glad to hear your issues are improving.
I will be looking for another doctor for sure. Hopefully I'll have better luck soon. Thanks again.

 

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Hi there Jane I've been having urinary retention for almost 3 years now. I'm a 42yo male. I've been having to use intermittent catheters when I have to go. Now here's a twist at times I have bouts of incontinence it varies from tiny amounts at a time to full on bladder emptying with no control. So I wear adult diapers to catch any drainage.

I have a slew of gi issues from gerd to gastroparises. And I have chronic bloating , which makes me look 9mos pregnant.

I also have a slew of spinal issues from top to bottom,there's nerve damage in my spine in multiple places. I have numerous neurologic symptoms
Which is believed to be caused by the spinal issues that I have along with the gi and bladder issues which is called neurogenic bladder.

Now my question to you is do you have any spinal issues? Which could be causing the urinary incontinence your having.

As of late my spine has gotten worse in my cspine/neck to the point that I need another surgery. Also I'm having neurological problems in all of my extremities and the urinary retention is to the point that I can't urinate on my own much now i.e. I'm relying on the catheters to drain my bladder.

2 years ago I had M a l s surgery it's an acronym. During the surgery the surgeon noticed that none of my organs are in the correct places and didn't give a reason why.

Also myo diaphragm is nearly paralyzed on the right side and completely paralyzed on the left side. My left lung is partially collapsed from the diaphragm not working on the the left side. My pulmonologist and neurologist seem to believe my bloating and or a mixture of nerve damage is causing it all including the neurogenic bladder.

 

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Thank you for your reply. So sorry to hear about your troubles. I appreciate you sharing.
I don't have any spinal issues as far as I know but something to think about.
Hope things get better for you. Take care.

 

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Totally agree with AlasSOuth. You need to find a good urologist. Family doctors and walk-in clinics do not have doctors trained to deal with your issues. Good luck in your search, and hope you find someone who can help you.

 

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I have ulcerative colitis, and it does impact my interstitial cystitis. When my UC flares, my pain from IC increases. When the UC calms down, the IC moderates.

As others have said, finding a good urologist who's willing to listen to you and work with you is key. I put up with years of pain from interstitial cystitis because my first urologist was brusque, dismissive, and didn't want to listen to all of my symptoms and have a discussion about the whole picture. My current one makes me feel like she's got so the time in the world to talk about my symptoms and discuss treatment options with me, and that's made all the difference.

I'm sorry you're having these issues, but I'm glad you found your way here!

 

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Hi @Jh2025, I, too, agree with the others that getting yourself to a urologist is imperative! It may take some doing to find one or to actually get to one if travel is necessary but it will be well worth the effort. I hope you have good luck finding a qualified urologist quickly and treatment can be begun. And please check in with us whenever you can to let us know how things are going or even just to say hello! You will find this is indeed the "go-to" forum of forums!!!

 

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@stuart thank you!

 

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@billliveshere thank you!

 

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@ltapilot thank you!

 

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Hi Jane and welcome to the forum. Hope you will find some help soon.

I have spinal issues and when I get a flare up, it does affect me leaking more. Also worth considering diet and constipation, do you mind me asking if you might be constipated as that might have an effect on bladder emptying?

 

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Thank you @laalaauk! Yes, I do have constipation at times. How does that affect my bladder?

 

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I think women are the same as men in that the tubes carrying urine to the urethra are very close to the rectum where the stools are stored and the harder and bigger stool, the more it presses against the bladder and tubes and makes for incomplete bladder emptying?