How much is the bladder suppose to hold??

[jen74]

I was wondering, how much is a person with a normal bladder suppose to hold before feeling like they have to go? I know the "text book" for this is 500ml which is about 16oz. But I am finding that when I ask people, they say there is no way they hold that much before they feel they have to go bad. I measured my own urine output for the last few days ( I am in a huge flare or I have a UTI, I an waiting on culture results). Anyhow, I notice I only hold 6 to 7 ounces which is aproxamitely 180 to 210 mls of urine.
I asked my dad if when he goes does he go alot, and he said no. He said that he has never measued per say, but he said that just by looking, he said when he feels he has to go, he probably get out about 8 ounces maybe, he said it was no way 16 ounces though.
My husband though, well he is a different story and I cannot count him, he has went all day sometimes. I mean he would go in the morning and not go again until he comes home from work, but he says by then he really has to go. But he must have a large bladder. Anyhow, I was just curious what the "normal " is. Does everyone have a different normal? I would think a bigger person would be able to hold more than a smaller person with a smaller bladder, is this right?
Jen

[ICNDonna]

Most people will feel a need to go before their bladders are completely full. I think the best time to measure is in the morning when we first get up. Most people will urinate more than.

Donna

[jen74]

I guess I am odd because I usually do not have to go alot in the mornings when I get up, maybe due to the fact that I stop drinking two to three hours before bed though. I did the diary thing and measured all during the day, and I usually come up with 6 to 7 sometimes 8 or 9 ounces though that is not usual, it usually 7 ounces when I feel I really got to go. But I am in a flare and feeling worse now, and I do drink alot of water as well. Before I use to be able to hold 10 ounces before feeling like I had to go bad. I mean with even 4 to 5 ounces I feel like I could go, but usually around 7 ounces, I really gotta go. I was just curious. Thanks.
Jen

[Mothergoose]

This is the million dollar ?. You will find a different answer from everyone you ask.
I think it comes more down to urgencey, frequencey, and feeling of being empty, when done. We all drink different amounts of fluid, and sweat different amounts.
I can hold up to 800ml but I ussally need to go at 200ml, I can hold it a little longer than 200ml. Then once in a while I will go 500ml.
Even tha amount of sugar you eat will influence the volume of urine you pee. so you really can't compare one person to another.
Also flares and foods can increase your frequency, more frequency, less volume.
If you search you will find this topic has been talked about many time, with many different answers.

[jen74]

WOW, 800ml. That is alot. I am not sure what I can hold, I just know when I have 7 to 9 ounces in me which is at most 290ml, I have to go bad, at least lately. I get confused when people say what their bladder capacity is. I am going by how much I can hold until I feel I really gotta go. I am sure I could hold it longer and hold more, but I would be extremely uncomfortable.
Jen

[Roandro]

I did 550 ml on an office hydro cysto but it varies so much.
I'm a terrible "bear'er down'er" in that I hold a lot of tension in my pelvic area (the "fear" or "root" chakra) so when I'm pretty tense - I'm, unconsciously, pushing down on my bladder -making it smaller and I have to go more.
For example, when I first found out my mom had terminal cancer and had 6 weeks to live (complete shock to all of us) I had to urinate about every3 or 4 minutes I was so upset.
Yet, when I'm very relaxed, like in the evening watching tv, where I feel all safe and secure, I can go about 4+ hours without having to "go."

[smcclafferty]

I've been measuring my urine out of curiosity as well....I have found that I usually end up voiding 7-8 ounces when I really have to go. Sometimes if I'm really in a flare-up (like right now), I only void about 4 ounces. I can actually hold it longer, but I want it out!!! Very rarely, when I tried to see how much I could hold before "bursting", I was able to hold about 14 ounces, but that was really pushing it, and that may have happened only once or twice in the past two years....

[Mothergoose]

I have severe retention so my bladder never empties so I think my bladder will hold alot because it is streached out, I ussally go about 200ml, because I feel the need to go, but my bladder has a lot more than that in it. I could go that amount again 5 mins later. My doc also said my bladder does not clamp down when I go.

It varies daily, depending on what I drink, or eat, or how relaxed my pelvic floor is, or how long I have been sitting.

[Lexie]

I recently had a cysto/hydro and my doctor said that my capacity was 600 cc's, which was "a little low." At the time of the surgery I was just getting over a yeast infection that was in my bladder (due to a foley cath). I mention this because I've recently been measuring my urine volume and I can hold 500 cc's sometimes. Usually when I go it's more like 300-400, but I can hold 500 without being in pain -- it just feels like I really have to go. I wonder if my cysto/hydro capacity is accurate? I've been thinking that maybe the results were skewed because of the inflamation caused by the yeast. I dunno...just a thought.