My irritable bladder…..I may have found the culprit!

Made in Yorkshire,
I too suffer with an overactive bladder and was struggling to reach the downstsirs bathroom ( along the landing, down the stairs,through the dining room ,along the hall and finally the bathroom ).
I then bought a camping toilet which is at the foot of the bed.It consists of a solid plastic frame containing a bucket.a proper
seat and a cover. An identical one hss been on sale in Aldi recently for £25. Mine was slightly more and has been a godsend. Definitely worth trying.

Mirren Thank you for professional input.

It is obviously a very common problem.

I have been working this afternoon and had to meet and greet a lot of people, normally I would be in and out of the loo all afternoon but not a single visit between 1pm and 4.30!

The difference for me was huge.

Georgesgran , Vagifem most certainly does help bladder problems in older ladies.
I prescribe it all the time although it's now available over the counter in the form of Gina, I believe.
What happens, after the menopause, when your oestrogen levels drop the vulval and vaginal skin thins and becomes " atrophic " .
It looks thin , pale , tight and sore . No natural lubricant is produced anymore.
This gives the well recognised symptoms of vaginal dryness and soreness.
However, the thinning and atrophy also extends to include the bladder lining , rendering it much more sensitive and also prone to urine infection.
The localised oestrogen in Vagifem replenishes the local mucosa of vulva , vagina and also bladder . This reduces sensitivity and means less frequent calls to pee .!
Hope that's helpful.

For me strawberries are a major bladder irritant.

Lack of oestrogen is a known cause of irritable bladder. I felt very smug going through the menopause as I felt I was not suffering with any symptoms, at least nothing I could compare with other women. But having developed an irritable bladder I discussed it with my GP and went on HRT. It made such a difference!!
Tomatoes are high in salicylates though and can cause hives, stomach and bowel problems.

I'm another advocate for Vagifem - it's magic stuff! My bladder problems were sorted very quickly

NICE guidance suggests oestrogen vaginal cream ( eg Vagifem) for UTI.

Vagifem does help with continence. I use a pessary every couple of days.

After my stroke I find I’m getting up three+ times throughout the night I was prescribed a tablet which relaxes my bladder thus helping me to control it better
My nightly sojourns are now greatly reduced. Good luck all ye who have bladder problems get off and see your gp for advice

Grandmac
I’m with you - wearing socks to bed! So cozy, so comforting. Sleep like a baby.

I occasionally have (frequent) urinating need throughout the night. After reading this thread I am going to start keeping a diary of what I’ve eaten that day.

Process of elimination may help me find the culprit. Otherwise I’m fairly good with bladder and digestive history at my age.
ZZZZZ…
USA Gundy

Kittylester , I agree with you 100%. Vagifem has transformed my life and my bladder !! I was constantly wanting a wee! Walking became difficult, each step I took was like someone bouncing on my bladder . I was sleeping badly due to my many trips to the bathroom. When out and about I was constantly wondering where the nearest loo was. Sounds dramatic, but it really was spoiling the quality of my life! Nothing I did helped , my GP prescribed Vagifem - WOW !!! What a change magic indeed. Worth thinking about Sago- good luck.

Flakesdayout

This is a very helpful thread. I find that coffee irritates me and after reading this I will now try to monitor my foods. I also take Amlodopine, at night, but read this can increase heart rate.
Nitrofuratoin is an awful medication. I was very susceptible to UTI's and had Nitrofurantoin prescribed several times over a short period of time, I was later diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia and was told this may have been a contributing factor although there is no proof.
I am now recovering well but still get the occasional UTI but find if I keep hydrated this really helps and I will never take Nitrofurantoin again.

Nitrofuratoin is an awful medication
I was prescribed it once as the nurse diagnosed a UTI and agree it has dreadful side effects. After 3 days I rang the surgery and asked for a change of medication and was airily told the lab result had come back negative.

I also take Amlodopine, at night, but read this can increase heart rate I didn't know that!

Please don't jump in to take anything without consulting your Gp- i just googled the vagifem some of you are recommending- its part of the HRT group that cannot be taken on warfarin. In fact theres so many stuff you cannot take or have on warfarin its ridiculous! Even herbal remedies or grapefruit/cranberry juice and many medicines.

Can I ask what kind of ring pessary you use ?

No, it is for bladder problems too

The way I am going there will be nothing left that I can eat!

Well, I never have to get up in the night, but wee a lot during the day despite not drinking an awful lot of water.

This is a very helpful thread. I find that coffee irritates me and after reading this I will now try to monitor my foods. I also take Amlodopine, at night, but read this can increase heart rate.
Nitrofuratoin is an awful medication. I was very susceptible to UTI's and had Nitrofurantoin prescribed several times over a short period of time, I was later diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia and was told this may have been a contributing factor although there is no proof.
I am now recovering well but still get the occasional UTI but find if I keep hydrated this really helps and I will never take Nitrofurantoin again.

Zetacatty

NotAGran55

I think my GP would disagree with you Georgesgran

GPs know nothing about nutrition. Tomatoes are from the nightshade family and well known for causing inflammation.

What have tomatoes got to do with my post about GPs prescribing Vagifem?

I take an anti histamine it works

Youngatheart51

I don't have a problem keep getting up during the night, my problem is the evening whilst watching TV. Some evenings I'm like a yoyo & does tend to start after tea & I do tend to eat a lot of baby plum tomatoes. I'll have to see if cutting them out makes a difference. Bit gutting if do as I absolutely love baby plums. Quite often go to the fridge & grab a handful as a healthy snack.

Don’t ever keep them in the fridge!
The flavour is much better if kept at room temperature and they last longer.

I have to use Vagifem as I have a ring pessary fitted…. and my bladder is perfect …. who knew it was that wonderful!

My doctor told me, when I wanted to stop using Vagifem, that I should continue with it as it helped to prevent bladder infections in older ladies.

I read somewhere it's advisable to remove tomato skin, for people with digestive issues

Doctors are now waking up to the possibility that some UTIs can become chronic/embedded. Treatment sometimes involves long term antibiotics but Hiprex is very effective and can be combined with a topical cream e.g. Ovestin.
As others have said, giving up or cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and acidic foods helps.