Hi all.. new here and nervous

[Patrick]

The standard urology workup, if your doctors decide it is necessary, is embarrassing, so brace yourself. Try to remind yourself that the staff see this several times every day they come to work, that all adult males look pretty much alike, and that the exams could give your doctors the information they need to cure your issues, or at least give you an explanation that will assist your management. Good luck and report back.

[Drew81]

The standard urology workup, if your doctors decide it is necessary, is embarrassing, so brace yourself. Try to remind yourself that the staff see this several times every day they come to work, that all adult males look pretty much alike, and that the exams could give your doctors the information they need to cure your issues, or at least give you an explanation that will assist your management. Good luck and report back.

Thanks. I went through the tests as a teenager when they investigated my bedwetting and they never found anything. All I remember is that they were really unpleasant tests.

I've now picked up my Oxybutinin and will start taking it tonight. I've made the mistake of reading the side effects...

[RobertH]

Hi Drew

Glad you are getting an urologist appointment and you are right the tests are not that comfortable but are needed to make sure other serious ( Life Threatening) is wrong.

Hope you do not have to wait to long for your appointment

Rob

[Drew81]

The more I've thought about it today, the more I had reaslied that I wasn't sure what the Doc actually said he'd do. I was a bit overwhelmed with the information he gave me.
I've just called and spoken to the receptionist at the surgery and asked her to clarify what the doc said. Apparently he's going to see if he can refer me directly to the continence service or if they won't see me until after a urology appointment. So whilst it's cleared up what the doc is doing for me, it's not given me a firm plan of what is happening next.
I'll give it a week and see what happens. I've just ordered 4x packs of nappies that should arrive tomorrow, so that'll give me a month or so before I need to order again. Hopefully by then I'll have an answer or at least a plan of action.

Also, it was only when the doc asked the question yesterday that I thought about it and realised that before the urges and incontinence started that the going to the loo up to 14 times a day might be significant. I'd just assumed that it was because I'd been drinking loads and it had been a gradual change.

[B Brian]

Your general/primary doctor kind of specializes in a little of everything, but not a lot on any one thing. You will need to go see a specialist that knows a lot more about incontinence. This is who is going to be doing the testing and hopefully get you a more accurate diagnosis.

It sounds like he has already put in your referral, which will take a few days to hear back on. For now all you can do is wait, but yes if you haven't heard back on it in a week, then you should follow up with your doctor.

And yeah, going once every hour is way excessive. Wearing and using a diaper will take a lot of adjustment, but you'll find they can be a life save in difficult situations. Keep using the toilet when you can though, I've heard from a lot of people who said once they gave into diapers 24/7 that their remaining control quickly went away. (Though honestly that may not be a bad thing for some).

[MikeJames]

Sounds a lot like my issues. I didn't wet the bed that much as a teen, maybe once a year. Last year it just ramped up to nightly, kind of out of nowhere. At the same time I began having intense urgency/frequency during the day and ultimately day time leaks related to the urges. A good gush, not a trickle.

I had the standard tests done at the urologist office. He said it was OAB with urge incontinence. We tried some behavior modifications but the results were satisfactory. I tried at least 5 of the common OAB meds. None worked for me. They DO work for MANY people though. I ended up in diapers, so goes my luck.

This condition is highly treatable for most people, and if you're like me and the meds don't work, diapers aren't really the end of the world. I still have ups and downs, but I lead a totally normal life, just in different underwear. I can't think of anything I can't do as I used to simply because of my urinary problems.

Just take it one step at a time, follow your doctor's advice/treatment and don't be afraid to seek out second or third opinions if something doesn't feel right about what your doctor is doing. And remember that if you end up not being treatable, this condition IS manageable. It just takes some getting used to.

Last edited by MikeJames on Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[MikeJames]

I'll add....regarding "stress". That's a bullshit cop out for lazy doctors. "stress" being the actual cause for bedwetting is exceedingly rare. It's usually found mostly in abused kids or kids who have been through some great trauma, not run of the mill "stress".

And "stress" most certainly isn't causing you to wet your pants. What you describe, the urges and follow up leaks, sounds like textbook OAB bladder spasms that force urine out.

If your doctor tells you it's stress, find a better doctor. It's physiological not psychological.

[tangerine]

Usually if you receive a referral on the NHS you will get a letter through. Often you don't get one through until an appointment is available though which can take time. However sometimes you will receive a letter about 'choose and book' if they're giving you the option to choose between more than one hospital. In which case you usually book the appointment yourself online or by phone. If the continence service say they don't need to see you then I would insist. Best to get your residual urine tested by them just in case and also so that they can prescribe pads.

Nice one for going to your dr and I'm glad they were helpful.

[Drew81]

Thanks all. I'm just amazed that I hadn't noticed the going once an hour thing until the doc asked me about it. I'm assuming it's as it was a gradual build up not an overnight change.

I've heard from a lot of people who said once they gave into diapers 24/7 that their remaining control quickly went away. (Though honestly that may not be a bad thing for some).

That's scary, but I guess that if you're in a nappy anyway then what's the point in maintaining it. I'll try and keep control as long as possible but, I have noticed since the weekend that the urges and then associated leaks are getting more frequent. I've been keeping a voiding diary since the doc visit and it's only when it's written down that I've noticed the frequency of urges and leaks.

At the same time I began having intense urgency/frequency during the day and ultimately day time leaks related to the urges. A good gush, not a trickle.

This is me. My leaks are a good gush not a trickle. I'm just not getting the feeling that I need to go to the loo until I get the sudden intense cramping urge, then I gush.

I tried at least 5 of the common OAB meds. None worked for me. They DO work for MANY people though.

When you say the meds didn't work, in what way? They just had no effect or they gave you side effects? I've been reading the side effects of Oxybutinin and they don't sound pleasant. I'm really hoping I don't suffer any effects.

I'll add....regarding "stress". That's a bullshit cop out for lazy doctors. "stress" being the actual cause for bedwetting is exceedingly rare. It's usually found mostly in abused kids or kids who have been through some great trauma, not run of the mill "stress".

And "stress" most certainly isn't causing you to wet your pants. What you describe, the urges and follow up leaks, sounds like textbook OAB bladder spasms that force urine out.

If your doctor tells you it's stress, find a better doctor. It's physiological not psychological.

Thankfully I've never been through anything like that sort of emotional trauma. I was bullied at school and struggled with exams and that was at the same time the bedwetting started which is why they decided that was the problem. From the research I've done on varying sites, what I'm experiencing sounds like OAB. The doc asked if I was suffering from leaks when coughing, sneezing etc and I'm not, thankfully. Although, I suppose as I'm in a nappy full time now anyway, it wouldn't make a difference.

Usually if you receive a referral on the NHS you will get a letter through. Often you don't get one through until an appointment is available though which can take time. However sometimes you will receive a letter about 'choose and book' if they're giving you the option to choose between more than one hospital. In which case you usually book the appointment yourself online or by phone. If the continence service say they don't need to see you then I would insist. Best to get your residual urine tested by them just in case and also so that they can prescribe pads.

Nice one for going to your dr and I'm glad they were helpful.

Thanks, I'm glad the doc was helpful. I'm just waiting to see what the next step is. Hopefully I'll hear soon.

[MikeJames]

Y I've heard from a lot of people who said once they gave into diapers 24/7 that their remaining control quickly went away. (Though honestly that may not be a bad thing for some).

I think there's some truth to this but I'm not sure it's truly loss of conrol as much as it's a convenience and habit thing. I've been 24/7 for a few months now and at first I always tried to deal with going to the toilet and untaping one side etc. I felt guilty using my diaper if I didn't truly need to. But over time it just became obvious what a pain in the ass that is. Either way I'm in the diaper 24/7 and either way I'm changing 3-4 times a day. I kind of just started giving myself a break and allowing myself to use the diaper when I feel like I have to go. Sometime I still do head for the bathroom, but often I just let nature take its course. I've found that it's become incredibly easy to wet now and that sometimes even when not associate with a true urge incon episode I'll find myself peeing as soon as I realize I have to. But I can stop the stream if it's not related to a bladder spasm. So I think it's less, in my case, an issue of losing control as it's just an easy/lazy habit thing. If I continue this for years, maybe I'd fully lose all control, I don't know. It just seems silly to me to try to rush to a bathroom if I'm already in a diaper anyway. And this is the total opposite of how I felt when I first faced wearing 24/7.