Bladder update

elannis

So my visit to the doctor showed absolutely nothing. My urine sample came back normal both for the dip stick test (I don't know what it's called) and the culture test. She set me up with an appointment to see the urologist on the 26th.

I've been keeping a log of when I go, how difficult it is to go, and how much I drink a day. Is there anything else I should be noting? I want to make sure I'm as informed as possible because I have a habit of forgetting to tell the doctor something.

I also am freaking myself out with WebMD. Normally I don't bother with it because it's pretty vague and everything leads back to stress, but I couldn't help myself. First on the list is a UTI, but my tests came back normal. Not too far down (after headaches) is diabetes. My grandpa has diabetes, so that means I could get it too right? Is there a normal age that it kicks in?

My symptoms are:

**Frequent urination (like 17 times a day, most are during the day but I'll get up 
     once or twice in the night) and I usually drink about 75 oz. of water.
**I can usually start out ok, but sometimes it's like I lose pressure and I'll have to
     start up again, or it just refuses to come out.
**Not always, but often it feels like I can't empty all the way and I'll have to go
     again in half an hour.
**I've been having headaches, but I thought those were due to working so much in
     front of a computer screen, which is possible.
**I get tired easily, which could be due to my hypothyroidism.
**I get dizzy kind of often when I stand up and have to wait a few seconds for my
     head to clear (but my mom says this happens to her sometimes too).

I don't have any pain when I go and it doesn't seem to be an abnormal color or smell or consistency. Anyone have any ideas? I guess I'll just have to wait, but I wish I hadn't looked it up, lol.  I have never had any bladder problems before, but I'm not particularly observant so I'm not sure how long this has been going on. All I remember is that I for sure had it bad when I was on vacation in July. It will be bad for a few days and then calm down for a few weeks with only slight symptoms and then comes back full force.

I'm done. It just feels better to get it all out I guess. Thanks for reading!

CCO2012

I have no idea what this could be, so I am no help there. I hope you find out soon and that you start to feel better! LUVS & HUGS!

Beads921

I'm no doctor, but to me it sounds like you're not emptying your bladder fully, for whatever reason. 

My urologist seems to think I might have that problem as well, but to a much lesser extent. He thinks it's because I'm young and all the muscles down there are still really tight. He wasn't particularly useful (did a test, I forget what it's called, but it involves sticking a tube + camera in your bladder and filling it with water to see what happens...not pleasant), but luckily my symptoms (chronic UTIs) have gone away over the past year.

I hope you find a solution! That doesn't sound fun at all.

elannis

Haha thanks. My BF got home and told me that he doesn't think I have diabetes and explained all the reasons why, lol. I am easily made nervous about things when I don't understand what's going on; I always assume the worst. So I'm feeling better now but I'd still like to know what's going on. I don't feel that 75 oz. of water is excessive. Sometimes I'll drink up to like 130 oz., but that's pretty rare and I still don't think I'd have the issues with the lack of pressure and the stopping midway and not being able to empty. We'll see I guess. I'll update when I know more.

elannis

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_bladder-update?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54466b67-c82f-4150-9e92-76f8cae6043aPost:59cd08f6-a3ac-4c3f-9bc4-60b40b9cd768">Re: Bladder update</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm no doctor, but to me it sounds like you're not emptying your bladder fully, for whatever reason.  My urologist seems to think I might have that problem as well, but to a much lesser extent. He thinks it's because I'm young and all the muscles down there are still really tight. He wasn't particularly useful (did a test, I forget what it's called, but it involves sticking a tube + camera in your bladder and filling it with water to see what happens...not pleasant), but luckily my symptoms (chronic UTIs) have gone away over the past year. I hope you find a solution! That doesn't sound fun at all.
Posted by Beads921[/QUOTE]

Sometimes I feel like it empties and sometimes it doesn't. It really varies a lot each week. That camera thing doesn't sound like much fun, but I'd like to figure out what it is. I've never had a UTI before and there's never any pain with it, but hopefully it will be something easily fixed and goes away like yours did.

Lil B Mama

I used to be quite prone to UTI's and what you're describing sounds just like one...I've gone to clinics before where they "tested" my urine and it came back negative, but I demanded they give me antibiotics. I knew what was going on with my body, regardless of what the results of their little dipstick test was. Without killing the bacteria, the symptoms can die down and flare up again without warning.
As far as your other symptoms, I get dizzy too when I stand up sometimes, it could be un related, but it's good that you are keeping such good track of things! It's possible that you had too much water in your urine for them to detect an infection...
Have you tried a round of antibiotics yet? If not, that should probably be your first course of action. I know how much UTIs suck, and every woman is bound to get one at some point, have them check again if they refuse to let you try some antibiotics.
No matter what it turns out to be, I hope they clear this up for you soon!

bawidget

I used to get UTIs a lot but as you're not having pain and your pee isn't cloudy I don't think that's it. This could have been a UTI but has  moved to you bladder or kidneys. Do you have any lower back pain? Do you feel nauseated? I don't think it's your kidneys since your pee isn't discolored or stinky but if you have the lower back pain definitely let them know. 

polkadot111

I've had many UTIs. As I said this morning on another post, I just went to the doctor yesterday for a UTI possibility and they found a bunch of protein in there. (I have BV again, not a UTI)  And, looking back, there's been protein in there for each test. Which is bad news. It means I probably have something wrong with my kidneys. Could be just stress. Or could be diabetes or an autoimune disorder. Sounds like we're both dealing with something similar- at the exact same time. If you want to talk, pm me. Fingers crossed both of our tests and issues are easily worked out and that it's nothing serious.

elannis

Thanks for the suggestions and advice. It sounds like it could still be quite a few things. As far as I can tell, I have no unusual back pain. I sit at my desk for 8-12 hours a day, so it gets stiff from that, but nothing besides that really. I'm guessing I would notice if I was having that kind of pain, right?

Polkadot: I must have missed your post, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and you can keep yours crossed for me! When will you find out more about yours?

I never thought about there being too much water to dilute the test. Should I not drink much when I go on the 26th? My appointment isn't until 2:15, so that'd be a long day, but doable to get accurate test results.

polkadot111

I have my next appointment on the 24th. So I'll know more then!

Yeah, you shouldn't drink TONS when you have your next test. You want to drink some, but don't overload. Then it's just too dilute.

elannis

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_bladder-update?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54466b67-c82f-4150-9e92-76f8cae6043aPost:dfd8cd1e-bbca-43e1-9bb4-4c4a09febb53">Re: Bladder update</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bladder update : Don't do that.  Ever.  If you're convinced it's a UTI<strong>, tell them do culture your urine</strong>.  But the reason there are resistant bacteria that are harder to kill is because of overusing antibiotics.  
Posted by yaga13[/QUOTE]

They did this after the first test came back as normal, and it came back normal too. So hopefully this urologist guy will have some different ideas.

elannis

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_bladder-update?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:54466b67-c82f-4150-9e92-76f8cae6043aPost:9787e3a6-cec6-4dcb-bd1f-b9214a744f72">Re: Bladder update</a>:
[QUOTE]I have my next appointment on the 24th. So I'll know more then! Yeah, you shouldn't drink TONS when you have your next test. You want to drink some, but don't overload. Then it's just too dilute.
Posted by polkadot111[/QUOTE]

Oh ok, so you're only going in 2 days before me. I guess we both have some time to wait, but it could be worse; it could be December before we got an appointment, so I guess that's good.

Gotcha, I'll make sure not to drink too much on the 26th then.

Lil B Mama

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_bladder-update?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:54466b67-c82f-4150-9e92-76f8cae6043aPost:dfd8cd1e-bbca-43e1-9bb4-4c4a09febb53">Re: Bladder update</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bladder update : Don't do that.  Ever.  If you're convinced it's a UTI, tell them do culture your urine.  But the reason there are resistant bacteria that are harder to kill is because of overusing antibiotics.  
Posted by yaga13[/QUOTE]

What can I say? I knew what it was because at that point cause I'd had so many, and I didn't want to go through it for longer than I had to. Because of my history they let me have them. For whatever reason I don't get them aymore, so I don't need antibiotics. I dont think doctors arbitrarily hand them out anyway, you have to need them.
 But seeing as you've had more than one test, OP, I'm not so sure anymore...Maybe just drink a tiny bit less water before the next one? I hope they sort it out for you soon, bladder issues suck!

desertsun

Ely, if you're not having any discomfort or pain to go with your frequent peeing, I think it's likely that it's just overactive bladder or something similar. Try not to worry. Hope you get news soon and it is indeed nothing too serious. Please keep us updated!

elannis

I like the overactive bladder theory better than the diabetes theory, lol.

Also, I have had two tests, but they were from the same sample, so there may be something there.

And I did take the AZO before going in, but I stopped taking it 3 days before giving a sample and told the doctor about it ... but that could have still interfered maybe?

I don't know. I need to stop worrying about it and just wait to see the doctor, lol.

Thanks for all the suggestions and well wishes though! It made me feel better. : )