The Stress of Bladder Spasms

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Hey guys,

Didnt think id be back until the New Year but ive been so stressed out lately which is causing more health problems.

I dont know what is, but these last couple of weeks have stressed me out so much. Im off bladder medication at the moment as i unfortunately became unisured after my interstim test - and the Myrbetriq stopped working - but maybe its the Holidays; or just being bombarded with so many holiday and personal stressors.

But my spasms hurt so bad. I cant talk much about my personal life - but my urologist did say that if i had too much stress in my life that the spasms would worsen.

I can safely say im back there again. Its a pain that hurts so bad somedays. The way to describe it is like a spasm that the muscles in my pelvis are moving up and down; and its not even uncomfortable at its worse; its just pain.

Normally when its a pressure, its like a pressure or an urge. Tonight, not even close.

Thank you guys for listening; i know i have to spend more time focusing on myself - which is why i pop my head back in from time to time. Its nice knowing I am not alone.

Kindly,
HC

 

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Not sure if I have spasms. Was prescribed Myrbetriq too, 75 mg., than 50 mg. Stopped taking it cuz it seemed to cause urinary retention. I do have pelvic pain too. Just an aching feeling. And if I try to put off peeing longer than 2 hours, this aching feeling seems to spread into my stomach! I have Interstitial Cystitis too!! Do you have any experience with the INTER STIM device? Just asking.

 

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Yes; I was never diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis - I suffer from OAB syndrome which causes incontinence.

If you had bad luck with myrbetriq too, please look into the interstim device. It helped me so much; and its nights like these where I wish I had the device because it improved my symptoms alot. If it's an option for you - please don't be scared of it. Talk to your urologist - its definetly worth it.

 

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Thank you for your response. Yes, I'm definitely interesting in the INTER STIM device. My girlfriend, who is only 20, has OAB is getting 1 in Feb. 2022.

 

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Oh wow; that's really young. She has prayers if she is in pain; she is not alone. It really does help. Find the right urologist to do it and call around and find out how they do it. Some urologist do it differently for the test from what I read.

Also, make sure when she gets it; that she tests both rods on both sides of the back. If it's on the left and it doesn't work, try the right. Vice versa.

 

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Thank you for your response. Yes, so young. We both got OAB after the use of Opioids. Is there a connection there, do you think? Yes, will tell her about the left & right thing re INTER STIM device. If one side doesn't work, try other side.

 

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Not sure I have "Bladder Spasms", either. If so, they are mild enough that Enablex works for me, has for some years. If I go off it, I am glad to know it's working when I go back on. It's never changed much.
I guess a urologist gets enough antidotal info to tell you about stress, like that. The body doesn't like stress, for sure.

We have to find an answer so everyone can afford medicine and medications and medical devices.

There are a lot of types of free hotlines, many apply to problems that cause stress. If they are applicable, please call.

God Bless

 

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@pegasi99 Lovely cat!

 

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@Honeeecombs

75 y/o male: I have OAB and BPH (enlarged prostate). I have had success with the Medtronic InterStim device and Tamsulosin 0.4 mg. per day.

I have had several cystoscopies with dilation procedures (under total sedation). That procedure tries to open the urethra to improve the stream.

Then, I have had the REZUM procedure to decrease the size of the prostate to improve stream. That was a very quick procedure where the doctor inserts a needle into the prostate and then gives it a blast of steam (again, I was totally sedated.) It kills some of the excess cells, and they are absorbed over time.

So far, I don't have what anyone could call incontinence; only mild drips if I wait too long to urinate.

I have a condition called "proctalgia fugax". That is a sudden cramp in the anal area. It is extremely painful! It has no known cause and is not related to my urinary issues. I use a heated rice bag and massage to treat it.

I pray that you are able to find relief for your problems.

 

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@MezaJarJarBinks I used to use the rice thing before I became addicted to the wonders of heating pads and their constant relief - not to mention the total lack of smell that comes with the heating pad. Those rice things really smell odd.

But whatever you do don’t fall asleep with the heating pad. I ended up with an 8” x 8” burn scar on one entire buttcheek (endless reasons not to date!) that required nine months of treatment and twice a day wound dressings by home health nurses and near daily trips to the hospital for check-ups. It was agonizing. The scar is atrocious. I get really bad phantom itch sometimes, even though the area is totally numb From damage from the cliff fall. But I still use heating pads daily - I just try really hard to never fall asleep with one again. I used to sleep with them all night every night, and that’s what I was doing when I got that burn. It actually happened in just 10 minutes, on the lowest setting! So crazy. Since that butt cheek is totally numb, I had no idea until I got up in the morning and had all this fluid using down my legs from the burn. At the time of the burn I had just fallen down l a cliff on my butt and it was 2 to 3 times as big as it normally is - seriously. I didn’t realize my skin was stretched really thin because of that, and hence the burn on top of the injuries from the fall, which include incontinence. So crazy!

My main point is, heating pads are so helpful that even after that horrible experience, I still use them.

 

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I've also been having bladder spasms lately. They suck. The cold weather hasn't been doing any favors for my bladder!

Sure is a tough thing to deal with. It's easy to say that you have to learn to control your response to events, but it's quite another thing entirely to do it. I've gotten better at it over time, but it's still a struggle.

I hope you can find some relief from your stress, and get back on insurance so you can move forward with the Interstim!

 

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@snow

@MezaJarJarBinks I used to use the rice thing before I became addicted to the wonders of heating pads and their constant relief - not to mention the total lack of smell that comes with the heating pad. Those rice things really smell odd.

Thanks for sharing your horrible experience with the heating pad.

I did try a heating pad when I started having proctalgia fugax, however they are just too big and stiff for where I need to put it. I never lie on the bags; I place the bag on a wooden chair that has a cushion. I put a tube-shaped bag in the center (called a "Bed Buddy" ), I place a small pillow on both sides of the hot bag, then I cover the bag with towels. I sit on this contraption and remove a towel as the bag cools.

Finally, I use a "Thera-cane" to massage until I get relief.

HOWEVER, every night I get cold feet, so I always have an electric heating pad near my feet. Thanks be to God that I have never been burned yet.

 

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@ltapilot Yeah, sometimes I can’t stop my face from twisting in bladder spasm agony in public. I sure try hard to, though, while I rush to a restroom.

If you ever wondered what menstrual cramps feels like, it’s like that but in a much larger space that’s in a more profound organ deeper in space. They can feel like they’re breaking your back.

 

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@MezaJarJarBinks I have never actually shared my heating pad burn story on this forum before, that I can recall. It’s so embarrassing! My ass also has a pretty big horizontal scar on that same buttcheek from where I landed on the mountain edge spire right as I was about to fall down the cliff on my butt. My cheeks will forever by differt shapes and sizes unless someone wants to give me $10,000 for the “cosmetic” surgery. I was going about 25mph and stopped myself from flying off the cliff by slamming my body down into a seated position right on the edge of the cliff, but unfortunately the exact place I slammed was a very sharp rock spire. I’m pretty sure I saved my life by breaking the fall, however, so some might say I’m lucky. I think I definitely would’ve been a paraplegic or quadriplegic if I hadn’t.

I think you’re right; a rice bag would be better for you.

 

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@MezaJarJarBinks I have very cold feet also and often heat them up with a heating pad before falling asleep. I definitely have to wear wool socks to bed.

 

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I have cold feet too! Do your feet ever feel wet also? My feet feel wet & cold day & night!! Wool socks help a lot. But not with the wet part!!!

 

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Snow, thank you for sharing the story of your accident. You did the right thing to stop yourself from falling. Does it have something to do with your cold feet?

 

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Not really sure if I have bladder spasms. I was prescribed Myrbetriq. Is that what M is for? For bladder spasms? Why else would I have been prescribed it?

 

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Proctalgia Fugax -- Sounds like a terrible thing to have. I have an anal fissure. Painful to have bowel movement.

 

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I do have the spasms. I do have the cold feet (brrr), but it might be related to another condition - a circulation problem - and an operation that went wrong. I get what I call "false reports" from the feet. I wear insulated boots outside in winter.
Cure? Hot pad at my feet, turned onto Medium. It lasts 20 minutes (the heat) and turns off automatically. Seems to work. Get up for 15-20 minutes and I turn it on again. But they do make the Rice Bags, or substitutes, as Snow describes.