Limbo and bladder issues

[xylogirl10]

Hello. I'm a woman in my late 20s who is struggling with new bladder issues. A few months ago my gyno noticed during my yearly exam that I don't feel when my bladder is full. I also don't completely empty it. I had been surprised by how much was in my bladder a few weeks leading up to this. I've had nerve pain down there for almost two years. He sent me to another neuro center (I have a neuro for migraines). I thought I was being sent there for physical therapy for something like IC, but I met with the MS specialist. She evaluated me last week and told me that my left arm/hand, where I often have tingling and (more recently) a slight tremor, is weak. She thinks the bladder issue is nerve related. She ordered MRIs that I will be getting an in a few weeks. Waiting is hard.

I asked her what I could do for the bladder issues in the meantime because the cramping has gotten uncomfortable and I've leaked a couple of times after going to the bathroom. She just said that she wants to wait for the MRI... My gyno suggested I cope by setting a timer when I drink water and wait a little longer to see if I can get more out to try to avoid the occasional leak. I'm still hoping I have a something like a bunch of pinched nerves and that I don't have MS.

I'm a bit confused by how one can have retention and urethral cramping/urgency at the same time. It seems odd that I can't always feel my bladder getting full (just pressure around it and urethra pain), but somehow I have to pee more at night. Any insights? Any tips? Certain teas? Foods to eat/not eat? Anything else it could be? The heat seems to be making everything worse and I wish I had something I could try now.

[jimmylegs]

hey there re the long term back story in addition to current situation, have any docs referred you to a dietitian? are you taking any supplements of any kind? if so, is that under supervision?

i can't personally relate to not feeling when my bladder is full. for my whole life i've been much more likely to feel like my bladder is full when it isn't.

i can relate to having the sense my bladder has not emptied completely. this is weird and possibly tmi but in the moment, i've learned to kind of massage my abdomen so that it seems to release some sphincter somewhere inside, and i can get the rest out. to date i've interpreted it as something not relaxing properly when it should. and then i figure i must have slacked off a bit too much on the magnesium and i ramp it up in diet for a while, and/or take some in supplement form - which i always have on hand.

for sure in your case it could be something structural and there could be a pinched nerve in the mix. used to have a co-worker who had something go wonky when pregnant and there was a physical obstruction preventing her from going even though she could tell she needed to. i can't remember what corrective action was needed, but something had got out of position inside.

that said, my inclination is always to hunt for any possible nutritional component. while physiotherapy has helped me with issues nutrition would never touch, ruling out nutrient imbalance or suboptimal status can't do any harm. at a minimum, it represents some action you can take while you're waiting to see other specialists, even if one is a dietitian. if there is a nutritional component to your experience of migraine, nerve pain, tremor, tingling, and any other long term symptom, there is a wealth of public health info readily available to anyone who wants to dig in and if you simply start tracking what you consume, that can be fantastic info either to analyze independently, or to put in front of a dietitian if and when you do end up with that kind of appointment on your schedule. the other bonus to this kind of activity is that we have a bunch of info on the nutrient status and behaviour of ms patients and you can double check that your day to day is not effectively programming you for an undesirable future dx.

[xylogirl10]

Hi Jimmy, I'm glad you are checking up on me. I hope you are doing okay. I see an internist who is big on nutrition. I got my vitamin D up. Everything else is in optimal ranges. Thyroid and such is also normal. The migraines have gotten a bit better on a low tyramine diet.

I wasn't sure if I should find another bladder specific forum to ask questions on. As nerve related bladder issues are a feature of MS, I thought someone might have advice. I was hoping to hear tips from a fellow woman. I only found discussions about medications when I searched this forum. My doctors suspect it is neurological or a nerve issue (maybe something like peripheral neuropathy?) and now we just have to figure out why. I wish they were running other tests instead of waiting for the MRI. I did tell the doctor that my MRI was fine 2.5 years ago, but she said that they only scanned my head, and not my neck, so she wants another.

The reason why my doctors are so sure it is a nerve issue is that I was kept in the hospital because of a hernia last month. I was stuck in the gyno ward for the first 3 days because a doctor didn't believe women could get hernias. Thankfully, a surgeon examed me, found two right next to each other, and fixed me up. Before that discovery, I was subjected repeatedly to all sorts of exams. Ultrasounds, blood work, MRI and CT of my pelvic area, UTI cultures, and probably more. They ruled out a lot of stuff, so I doubt I have a blockage.

I am not asking, "Is this MS?" I just want to know what other women have found to make the bladder issues more manageable. I have been following the IC diet (no spicy or acidic foods), but it doesn't seem to be helping yet.

[Snoopy]

Hi xylogirl10.

I would suggest seeing a Urologist.
There is testing that can be done that might help explain what you are experiencing.

[NHE]

I wasn't sure if I should find another bladder specific forum to ask questions on. As nerve related bladder issues are a feature of MS, I thought someone might have advice. I was hoping to hear tips from a fellow woman.

Jimmylegs is female.

[xylogirl10]

Ah! Sorry, Jimmylegs! I saw the Jimmy and I thought you were a man this whole time. I'm so sorry! In that case, thank you for sharing your bladder struggles.

Hopefully, my scans will be normal and I will ask to get referred to a Urologist. I called my gyno today to ask and he just said to wait for the MRI because he has seen the "not feeling the bladder thing" before and it usually points to a neurological problem. And so I wait...

Thank you for your responses. I'm a young woman, so my friends might not understand bladder issues. It is a bit embarrassing for me.

[jimmylegs]

no worries - it was an old joke when i signed up here over 10 yrs ago.

[vesta]

Greetings:

You might consider getting an acupuncture treatment or shiatsu massage to release the urine flow. Those symptoms remind me of my own hydronephrosis/MS issues. Swimming really empties the bladder. (The bladder meridien (Chinese medicine/Acupuncture/Shiatsu) runs down the bands of muscles parallel the spine.) I will follow this comment with my 5 steps to MS Health which actually are good for everyone's health. Don't panic; there is much one can do to help oneself.

MY FIVE STEPS TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS HEALTH

1. DETOXIFY
“Dr. Hyman explains his 10 day detox diet.
want2bike (From Thisisms.com)
I had the advice/assistance of a kinesiologist/nutritionist and won’t myself suggest a detox protocol. Dr. Hyman maintains that a simple diet change over 10 days will do the trick (or at least be a beginning) which is something anyone can try. So why not?
See also Detoxification and Supplements

2. OPTIMAL NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTS http://www.mshope.com.

3. ENHANCE BLOOD/CEREBROSPINAL FLUID CIRCULATION - CCSVI - See Acupuncture (which includes Tens Self Acupressure)
Simple blood/cerebrospinal fluid circulation thérapies such as massage, acupuncture, neuro-muscular electrical stimulation, osteopathy, or swimming may suffice. I do daily Tens self acupressure treatments to stay afloat and try to get an acupuncture or osteopathic treatment once a month. A serious venous blockage may require ANGIOPLASTY. Prior to taking that decision, one might consult a specialist in skeletal disorders (e.g. Chiropractors or Osteopaths) to be certain a bone, muscle, tendon etc is not obstructing the vein. Best diagnostic tool – FONAR Upright Cine (as in cinema) MRI

4. SUNLIGHT OR UV RAYS on the skin at least 15 minutes daily to release Nitric Oxide essential to vascular health and blood circulation.

5. EXERCISE BUILD UP PROGRESSIVELY (Consulting a Physical Therapist can help.)

Be creative. Tif of ThisisMS has recovered function with Neuromuscular electrical nerve stimulation in the Onyx Body Shaping and Slim Spa which uses “Madame and Monsieur Electro-Slim Technology”. Hugo Macia (http://www.secretosdelaesclerosismultip ... pot.com.es.) is testing on himself a German made Neuromuscular “jacket” to regain function. See https://www.miha-bodytec.com/en/product/

I also use the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum by Boiron to head off a virus.

Previously published on my site MS Cure Enigmas.net www.mscureenigmas.net/

Best regards, Vesta