Botox has been used since the 1950s to aid those with crippling overactive muscles. The first treatment involved injections to the eyelids of those who have a disorder that makes their eyes constantly fly from side to side, and they also can’t stop blinking. Finally, after receiving some Botox in their eye muscles, they blinked almost normally, dramatically reducing their headaches and improving their interactions with society.
Eventually, doctors also tried Botox on the overactive bladder muscle, and for some people, it makes a huge difference (like me; my official diagnosis is Neurogenic Bladder which means bladder malfunction coming from the spinal nerves). Botox calms my nerves down as well as my bladder muscle.
Yes, people now have botox injected into their face muscles to temporarily, partially, paralyze their face muscles - then, they have less wrinkles. That’s cosmetic Botox. Botox in the bladder is medical Botox. Some people on the forum who have hyperactive bowels get bowel Botox. The only downside is you have to get it every 3-6 months but it’s sooooooo worth it.
If I go to see a movie in a theater without Botox in my bladder, I’m up and down every 5-20 minutes, without much warning, and often have accidents that make me have to go home before the movie is over. But when I have bladder Botox (I’m getting it again on Wednesday this week; can’t wait!!!), I can make it through at least one entire three-hour movie without needing to pee because the Botox partially paralyzes my bladder so it’s not overactive any more; it goes back to normal. I only have to pee once during bedtime, usually at 6:00 a.m., which isn’t unusual for a woman my age (46).
I hope you’ll be a candidate for it and will give it a try.
There is also a device, about the size of a pager - like 2”x2”x1” - that can be implanted near your spine. Electric signals from the device control when you do and don’t need to pee. There are men on here for whom it has worked wonderfully for 20+years. When their old device finally wears out after about 10 years, they get another one. But some other men, they find the device painful or ineffectual. You would first get a trial version of it for two weeks to make sure it would work for you before you would get the permanent device implanted and connected permanently to your bladder nerves. You and your doctor can adjust the electrical frequency from the outside of your body to make sure you’re not in pain (it’s like a super tiny electrical charge) and that your bladder is behaving how you wish it to. You would also get fantastic support from the company representatives who can also help you adjust the electrical frequencies.
It’s called InterStim. I think you can also have a smaller version implanted in your lower leg.
Here is a description of it:
InterStim Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for overactive bladder and urinary retention. Learn more about how it works to control the bladder.
www.ssmhealth.com
Here is the primary manufacturer who makes them: Medtronic
Information for healthcare professionals about the InterStim II system used to deliver sacral neuromodulation.
www.medtronic.com
And here is one last link, from the federal government:
Overactive bladder is a common and challenging condition for the practicing obstetrician-gynecologist. The prevalence of the condition is increasing with our aging population. Although some patients respond to first-line therapy, a significant number ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Somebody I know on the forum who hated the InterStim is @ThatFLGuy. He can tell you why. But there are several men here who love it! I just can’t remember their names; I’m sorry! Hopefully they’ll see this post and come out of the woodwork to talk to you about it.
Of course Kegels don’t help you avoid bedwetting because when you’re asleep your body isn’t flexing muscles. I’ve been meaning to tell you that peeing a lot at night and/or bedwetting has a medical term; it’s called “Nocturnal Enuresis.”
