Bladder leakage after urinating - anyone?

[theclownster]

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've posted my own thread - as my symptoms have been mostly controlled for over a year with my medication regimen. I do respond to others posts from time to time and try to be a support whenever I can be.

Now, I have a new urinary symptom that I'm not sure about. The past two days have been a bit more challenging and I think I'm in a mini flare (or have an infection?). Yesterday, late afternoon, I noticed that when I went to the bathroom, finished, wiped, and stood up I felt this "gush" of urine (which also felt like a release in pain). In reality when I checked my underwear there was only a very tiny circle of liquid. This evening it happened again. I've also had an increased level of pain and pressure in the pelvic area and lower abdomen. I've also felt an increase in frequency and urgency, yet when I get to the bathroom I have a hard time being able to go. I have never never had bladder incontinence in my life (if this is what it is). It's completely scary and also embarrassing. I'm wearing thin maxi pads until I can figure it out. I know that I could possibly have an infection, but am also wondering if anyone else has ever had this happen to them?

Please share your experiences and suggestions. I have a routine appointment scheduled with my urologist for next week. However, I'm wondering if I should get in to see him or my PCP sooner.

Thanks for you help,
Jennifer

[SrMaggie]

Sometimes I experience something similar to that. If I have a really bad burning sensation, I can usually figure that I was leaking. It's odd, because I connect being too full to hold it all with a leak. It hasn't been that way. It seems that when there's very little in the bladder that it leaks. Go figure.
My bladder holds so little anyway, that it's hard to know what the trigger is.
I tend to endure rather than try to find a cure. I don't want to know. It's not until it has gotten on my last nerve that I give in and get someone's opinion.
I hope you feel better. My heart goes out to all who suffer from this. Most of you have it worse than I do as far as the pain. Mine has really gotten under control. I really don' t follow any diet. When it starts burning, I drink more water.

[Mel53H]

I have exactly what you have. It happens to me daily. I have to wear a poise pad every day. I had this even before I was diagnosed with IC. I think it is from having a prolapsed bladder, which I have. Not fun!

[ICNDonna]

One thing that might help is to stand up part way after you urinate, then sit back down and let that last little bit drain out, without straining. A nurse in my uro's office taught me that little trick and it really works.

Donna

[Sarojini]

I do indeed have this sensation from time to time... I have it now as I am battling the worst infection I've had in years, but can also get it randomly. It is exactly as you describe; a sensation of urine flow, but only a tiny drop of urine on my underwear. I wear pantiliners and use that standing up trick Donna mentioned (she taught that to me several years ago :) ) and it really helps.

If you are worried about a UTI though, do get tested ASAP :grouphug:

[theclownster]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I've had IC for a few years and this is the first time this has ever happened. I've been urinating every 15 to 25 minutes tonight - not fun - so I will see how I am in the morning and then decide what doctor to call to get tested for an infection if the symptoms persist - just to be absolutely certain. It just kind of scared me as I've never had this happen. I am very fortunate to work full time and am a little nervous of how it could effect my work day. I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks for the support and the nice tips (I especially like the one you gave Donna - thank you!) It feels so good to know that I'm not the only one who has had this happen.

Take care,
Jennifer

[mary124]

Donna:

Thanks for the tip! I have had this leakage for a while. Aways just wore panty liners, never really gave it a second thought since I also have a prolapse bladder.

[Judith56]

I am glad you're getting checked for an infection. If it comes up negative then discuss this with your uro as it is a new symptom. Good luck. Judith

[asn]

if it is not an infection, what can it be?
sometimes it happens to me too.:confused:

[Judith56]

There could be several different causes. I personally had soemthing called detrusor instability. That particular muscle in me did not always hold my urine in so I would leak. I was not aware it was happening until I realized that my underpants felt wet.Judith

[L. Thomas]

I have had the problem of leaking. It was to to multiple prolapse....uterus, bladder, rectum, small intestines.

Stress incon. is fairly easy to determine...leakage when laughing,snezing, jumping (etc) and extremely common later in life especially after childbirth (3@ 9# or larger)

Since the surgery I have developed vault prolapse and the leaking has started again but only slightly.

So it could be something else instead of the IC. Urodynamics is a test that determines incon. This test might be uncomfortable if you have a really sensitive bladder. A cath. is inserted into the bladder and it is filled with water to capicity.
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[theclownster]

Hi everyone! I appreciate all of your input and for sharing that you have had this happen to you. Like I said before, this is all so less scary to know that I'm not alone and others have had this happen to them. I'm only 30 so was really freaked out the first time this happened (this past Monday). I can't thank you all enough for being so thoughtful and helpful --- THANK YOU!!!

I already have a 6 month routine check up with my uro scheduled next week. But, with this new symptom, severe frequency, pressure, pain, I contacted him today to see if they could perform a urinalysis. His office called my primary care doctor who ordered a STAT complete urinalysis. It came back with a slight infection so they are sending for a culture to be certain. My primary care doctor wrote me a script for bactrim. They told me because it showed up so slight I could wait until they get the culture or start it right away and wait to hear from them. When the nurse heard I was so miserable she said I should go ahead and start it - so I did. I also have some pyridium plus so I'm hoping that will help with the pressure and other uti symptoms that make people feel so miserable. The service I got today was FANTASTIC! I think I'm going to send both doctor's Thank You notes for being so prompt and helpful. I will follow up on the 10th with my uro when I see him to make sure he knows about this new little scared. Ironically, I don't think it's happened at all today. But the other symptoms are driving me crazy!

So again, I send my warm thanks to all of you. I'll keep you posted if I find out anything else.

Warmest thanks,
Jennifer

[trinklebell]

jennifer- i have always had that problem (not being able to get everything out when i urinate, always feeling like i have to go, having urine come out after i stood up). i didn't think it was important to mention that i always wore pantiliners b/c of this until my doctor asked my about it on my last visit. i told her i never went w/out a pantiliner or pad so i wouldn't stain my underwear. she told me that this was a BIG NO-NO:tsk: . she said the pantiliners keep the area around your bladder harmfully moist and act as a breeding ground for bacteria. this can/ will cause uti's and will make it hard for your bladder to heal since it is constantly being exposed to the urine and bacteria it is trying to flush out.

i asked her what about the staining, and she told me that my underwear would just have to get stained- only wear pads/pantiliners when on my period. i know it is embarrassing- i hate it! but, i'd much rather have stained underwear than to keep irritating my bladder- it has enough to deal with on its own!

sometimes standing halfway when i'm done and then sitting back down will help me to get the "extra" urine out. when i feel like i have to go but can't and i am at home, i run the water in the sink just for the noise. i also have a radio i can turn on in the bathroom or i read a book; when i'm not focusing on trying to urinate it is usually easier. also, running the hottest water I can stand over a wet washcloth and then immediately placing it over my bladder most times immediately helps me to either urinate and/or reduces the urge to urinate.

make sure you tell your doctor about new symptoms you experience. one time i had break-through bleeding for 5 months and didn't know what it was or that it was important, so i didn't tell anybody. i found out that a lot of unnecessary pain could be avoided if i just make sure to keep my doctor informed!

-trinklebell

[rosesitty]

Jennifer, some of your symptoms sound like PFD. You might want to be checked. When I went to th urogyno the other day and she did a pelvic exam to see how tight things were, I noticed leakage when I laughed or coughed etc. First time it ever happened. It subsided in a couple of days. What I've found is that I believe my IC has calmed down, but the pelvic floor is causing symptoms that SEEM like IC but are really related to the PFD. Going to PT now for the past seven weeks. It looks as if it's going to take getting worse before getting better.
I'd get it checked out if it's never happened before.
Stephanie

[Mel53H]

I leak most everyday, and everytime I go to the bathroom I do the stand up and sit down thing too. Well, for me it doesn't work every time. I will be finished and I am walking down the hall and a few drops come out. It is very annoying! I wear pads that are specifically made for bladder leakage. If I did not wear them I would smell to high heaven and my pants would be soiled. I guess it depends (pardon the pun) on the situation.

[trinklebell]

Mel53H- what specially designed pads do you use? where do you get them? i would love it if i could wear something to block the urine from getting on my underwear! i would really appreciate the info.

-trinklebell

[Mel53H]

They are called Poise pads and come in different sizes like sanitary napkins, but are made just for bladder leakage. You can get them in any super market in the same aisle as sanitary napkins. There are other name brands, but this is what I use.

[ICNDonna]

Poise pads are very irritating for me so I have switched to Serenity --- I buy the smallest panty liners. I get mine at Walmart, but they are available in most large grocery stores as well.

Donna

[mum43]

:toilet: Hi all, Over here in the UK we have Tenor lady and some own shop brands.
We do have poise too, they all cause me irritation and cause burning feelings.
They don't work too well for me, but there again my bladder leaks a huge amount.
Not everyone is the same
take care everyone.

[mystcldayzee]

I too wear the liners 24-7! And for like ever. I never knew what was going on, until now. I just found out yesterday I had IC. Now I know Im not crazy! I was too embarrassed to talk about it to anyone. Just wanted to stay clean and dry! LOL Maybe if I would have I could have found out about IC earlier. Well maybe not. Took 5 years and several doctors to listen. One Uro told me that I just had an extremely small bladder and there was nothing that could be done. I recently went to a Health Plus because I kept uti's and told one of the doctors I was fed up with this and that no one would help me figure out what was wrong. He said he would help me and he sent me to a new Uro that did! I have to go back and thank him. So any input on anything would be greatly appreciated!!!

[trinklebell]

thanks, everyone. however, since my problem only causes a small strip on my underwear to get stained, my doctor still thinks i should forego pantiliners/ pads when not on my period and just change my underwear when needed because i get so many uti's. thanks for the input though.

-trinklebell