im really sick of my life ;i dont wanna go to college (im a good student) but this problem is killing me and there is no solution found .For year now i have had a serious problem is that i feel that i cant hold my pee so i have to go the toilet like every hour, and my bladder is aching me , it burns and sometimes i feel so much pain in my kidneys and back.I went to the doctor to see if i had problem in my kidneys or i have diabetes(cause i use to drink a lot of water like 5L a day and i go to the toilet a lot and i have 2 people in my family who have diabetes) but he said that i was ok and i don't suffer from anything.I went to a psychiatrist and he told me that im stressed and scared and that cause that pain.At college when i feel that im gona pee my pants i get crazy and my heart start to beat so fast and i sweater ,i feel so afraid to pee,i feel embarased to go to the toilet in college , is so painful .I really don't know how to describe my feelings. Why im not normal ?i have my self and my life .I just cant think about anything in my life just about this problem that i cant get rude of it.Please if you have any solution please don't hesitate to help me .I tried some medicine(zoloft,normocardile) that the doctor gave it to me to increase that stress as he said but it doesn't help .
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I'm 55. Sounds strange, but I had a miscarriage at 51 1/2, then had many irregular periods until I was 54. My boyfriend was very large, I developed many UTI's, always felt like I was being bruised on the inside, and decided he was just too big for me. I now have a smaller sized fiance, but my vagina looks and feels different. The labia minora hood above my clitoris extends way more than it did a year ago. I just finished Cipro for the 1st UTI I've had in a year, but I still feel achy after I pee, and my vagina/hood area that extends feels particularly uncomfortable when I lie down to go to sleep at night. I just don't feel "right." I live near UCLA, and saw a young female urologist, but she says there is nothing wrong with me. Is it normal to feel achy when I lie down? Is it normal for my vagina to change shape?
August 18, 2009 - 1:23amThis Comment
I have the same symptoms as Michelle. It's driving me nuts. What did your dr say Michelle?
October 19, 2008 - 2:34pmThis Comment
u don't know how to describe my feelings ,im really so happy that you alison b and Michelle care about me thank you so much .
October 13, 2008 - 11:09amThis Comment
Mary,
Michelle sent you some wonderful information. I wanted to answer one of your other questions about how to get rid of your fear.
The best website for health and wellness Q&A for college students is: Go Ask Alice
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/Cat4.html
(this is the link to the emotional wellness section)
There are two ways to go about doing this, and I would encourage you to do both: learn stress reduction techniques and methods for reducing anxiety (link above) AND see a medical professional. As Michelle said, the current medication you have been taking (either the dose or type) is not working for you, and it is best if you work with your psychologist/psychiatrist to work through your stress, anxiety and fears---with or without medication. There is a method that will work better for you!
There are many stress reducing techniques suggested on the Go Ask Alice website (from Columbia University). Another great resource is your Counseling Center, Student Health Services and Student Life/ Dean of Students offices. They have many free seminars and services to help students deal with the stresses and overwhelming feelings of college.
Coping and overcoming your fears will take some time. Stress is common for college students. However, when that stress turns to anxiety, physical pain and fear...it has gone over the threshold of "just stress" and into the realm of needing someone to help you. Find another mental wellness practitioner whom you trust and connect with to help you through this. There are anxiety disorders that are treatable!
Take care, and please let us know what you decide to do/try. If you would like to share more of your fears with us, we can talk you through some of them (it is still best for you to make a face-to-face contact with someone at your school, or try online counseling).
October 12, 2008 - 2:32pmThis Comment
Hi Mary,
Here is the link to the main web site for the National Kidney and Urological Clearing House. It's some of the best information I've been able to find to date.
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/
Then, here's the direct link to the area on the site that I think you should read
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/index.htm
This is what my gut is telling me that I probably have. It's called interstitial cystitis. It occurs more frequently in younger women. This is what I was told by the nurse that was doing an ultra sound on my bladder last week. Actually, one of the nurses at Mayo has IC. I actually asked the nurse that was doing my ultra sound to give my card to the nurse suffering with IC and have her post on the site. We need other women who have this condition to help us. Tell us what they're doing and how they were diagnosed. Also, what they do now to keep it under control.
When reading this information.... I kept thinking, this is me. There are some things they can do to treat it but the first thing you should do is change your diet. Here are the list of foods and beverages that you should stay away from...This is what I'm doing right now and it seems to be helping a bit.
THIS COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE NATIONAL KIDNEY UROLOGICAL DISEASE CLEARING HOUSE WEB SITE...
Diet
No scientific evidence links diet to IC/PBS, but many doctors and patients find that alcohol, tomatoes, spices, chocolate, caffeinated and citrus beverages, and high-acid foods may contribute to bladder irritation and inflammation. Some people also note that their symptoms worsen after eating or drinking products containing artificial sweeteners. Eliminating various items from the diet and reintroducing them one at a time may determine which, if any, affect a person’s symptoms. However, maintaining a varied, well-balanced diet is important.
Smoking
Many people feel smoking makes their symptoms worse. How the by-products of tobacco that are excreted in the urine affect IC/PBS is unknown. Smoking, however, is the major known cause of bladder cancer. One of the best things smokers can do for their bladder and their overall health is to quit.
Exercise
Many patients feel that gentle stretching exercises help relieve IC/PBS symptoms.
Bladder Training
Here are some ways to help your bladder and maybe take some of the fear away.....
People who have found adequate relief from pain may be able to reduce frequency by using bladder training techniques. Methods vary, but basically patients decide to void—empty their bladder—at designated times and use relaxation techniques and distractions to keep to the schedule. Gradually, they try to lengthen the time between scheduled voids. A diary in which to record voiding times is helpful in keeping track of progress.
Picture of a bladder diary used to record trips to the bathroom and accidental losses of urine. The diary is a chart with columns for time, fluid intake, trips to the bathroom, accidental leaks, level of urgency, and activity.
There is so much information on the site about controlling the bladder and other related topics. Please take a look. I think this will help ease your fears a little bit and give you some insight as to what's going on with you and what you can do to help relieve some of the stress.
You need to find ways to destress. I need to do the same. It's easier said then done I'm afraid. There's been a lot of stress with me starting the company. I work long hours and am traveling a lot. Also, I'm trying to help as many women as I can. I drink way too much coffee which is not helping my bladder at all. So, I've cut way back and am drinking more water. If you're a coffee drinker, you need to cut way back or eliminate it from your diet all together.
If you smoke, that is irritating your bladder as well. It's the lining of the bladder that gets irritated and causes the problem.
You could also have something going on with the opening of the bladder, the urethra and or it could even be hormonal. If we don't have enough estrogen in our bodies that can lead to bladder issues. You usually see this in peri-menopausal women and menopausal women...but one never knows.
Mary, you have to look at all the things that could be wrong. Maybe you have a prolapsed bladder?? That's what I thought I had.
I am much more uncomfortable when I sit. There's so much pressure and I have to pee all night long. I can go up to 20 times in the evening. Something about laying down that causes me more aggravation and pressure then anytime during the day.
Let me know if there's something more I can do for you. I will let keep you and every one else abreast as to what they finally diagnosis me with.
I would be remiss if I didn't give you the crisis center hot line number....just in case. You can call them 24 hours a day... 1-800-273-TALK.
Let me know how you're doing, Mary. Please let me know if any of this information is helpful to you. We at EmpowHer are here for you, along with so many other women who are coming to our site. This is exactly why I created EmpowHer, for women to be able to connect with other women about their condition and or disease and seek validation and resources. We need to support one another and help one another. I hope we've helped you, today.
Best in health,
Michelle
October 12, 2008 - 11:56amThis Comment
Dear Mary,
I'm so sorry that you are experiencing so many different symptoms and that no one has been able to diagnose you.
I want you to call 911 if you think you might want to hurt yourself. That's number one. We need to keep you safe.
Believe it or not, I'm actually having a lot of the same symptoms you are having. Mine started a few months ago.
Here's my symptoms...
-Frequent urination
-Bladder spasms
-Kidney pain..one side more then the other
-Constant Burning in the bladder and urethra
-Sometimes have a hard time voiding (peeing)
-Leakage
-Feels like I have a urinary tract infection but don't
-back pain in the kidney area
Its been very disruptive. I think about it non stop because of the pressure I feel in my abdomen, coupled with my kidneys hurting and the feeling that I have to go to the bathroom all the time and then little to nothing comes out.
Here's what I would suggest for you.
First, not wanting to live anymore is not an option. You need to find a different psychiatrist. Whatever medication they've put you clearly is not working for you. If your afraid you're going to hurt yourself, you need to seek immediate medical attention. There are suicide prevention hot lines as well that you can call. Or call 911. You need to address this right away. I don't want anything to happen to you.
Next, you need to go to a urologist. Someone who specializes in the bladder/kidney area. They have got to get to the bottom of this for you.
I just went to a urologist this past week and am now scheduled for more tests.
You need to do the same. As hard as it is, you are going to have to advocate for yourself. You have to continue to search until you find the right answers so you can get well.
If you have family, which it sounds like you do based on your email to me...you need to tell them what's going on with you and ask a family member that you trust to go with you to these doctors and help advocate for you. Even a friend can go with you to help you advocate for yourself. Your symptoms are real.
I'm going to email you some hot line numbers as well as some info on bladder/kidney conditions. One in particular that I've been doing a lot of research on.
I'm not a doctor but I will try my best to get you some resources that may help you.
Just know that there are many people out there that care for you. People you don't even know, like me.
Try to stay in school if you can. It will actually help take your mind off of your symptoms. But that's not the focus right now. Right now the focus is finding out what's wrong with you so you can feel good again.
What college are you attending?
Sometimes the colleges will have great PA's (physicians assistants) and some have full clinics with doctors, psychiatrists. That's a great place to go for help as well.
Please let me know that you are doing OK this morning. And I'm going to post your story on the site right now to see if other women have experienced what we're both experiencing. Maybe another woman will have had our symptoms and bee diagnosed and treated. Someone may be able to help us both.
I will post the resources I want you to look at to the site and send you a link.
You will get better. We just have to find you the right doctors for you. Hang in there.
Big hugs,
Michelle
October 12, 2008 - 11:13amThis Comment
thank you so much for your care it touches me a lot.
October 12, 2008 - 11:13amActually i have been to 3 doctors and they said that i don't have anything wrong.It's just fear.Well last year i was sitting for a national exam and it mean a lot to me so i was the whole year stressed and feel the same way like my kidneys are going to explode ,and i feel that i have to pee every 2hours .In summer it felt the same way too ,and this year im in college , when i go there i feel so scared to not be able to hold my pee.And i get ashamed to go to the toilet every 2 hours and one time in the middle of the class .I try to wear long t_shirt so i say to my self if i get wet nothing will appear.Also when i sit on the chair(on the class) i feel so much pressure on my bladder it's painful .
I feel the pain mostly when im in college .I don't know how to put my fear away .I have tried to talk to my self saying that nothing needs to be scared of.When im at college i don't drink water at all.
can you tell me how to get over my fears ?
This Comment
Hi Mary,
I am so sorry you are going through this! I can't imagine that doctors would say that you are "ok" when you have burning upon urination. Can you get a second or third or fourth opinion until you find a doctor that will treat you for ALL of your symptoms (including stress and burning when peeing, as well as urgency to go and sweating---which all sound like a tract infection).
What are your other symptoms? Any blood with urination (hematuria)? Strong smelling urine? Fever? Pelvic pain?
What tests were conducted? Urinalysis? Blood test? Other?
You are normal, please don't be so hard on yourself! Many people have conditions that are not explainable or diagnosable at first...that does not mean there is anything wrong with them, as people are MUCH more than their condition or pain.
I am not a doctor, but when I first read your message, I wondered if you have been checked for a sexually transmitted infection (STI?). The symptoms of many STIs is burning when peeing. It can be embarrassing, but there are many treatments for STIs (also known as STDs) and a good doctor will not make you feel bad...they are there to help you!
Can you tell us more about your stress and why you are scared (it sounded like you were scared from other things, not only from your pain--is that correct?). College is a very, very stressful time, and we can help you work through some of that.
Here are some possible reasons for burning when peeing. Did your doctor rule out all of these? If so, what are the next steps for your doctor (good doctors do not just say, "oh well, can't find anything wrong so must not exist"). Find a doctor who will work with you to find a solution to your pain!
- UTI (urinary tract infection)
- STI or STD
- obstruction of the urethra
- bacterial infection of kidney or urethra
- vulvovaginitis or vulvodynia
- kidney stones
- bladder cancer or bladder stones
- Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-incontinence/DS00404/DSECTION=c...
Here is a list of treatments for urinary incontinence (the urge/frequency to go):
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-incontinence/DS00404/DSECTION=t...
It sounds like your doctor(s) think there is a psychological component to your pain. What do you think of this? Do you agree that your stress is causing the pain to intensify? Do you have any history of mental illness or depression in your family?
Take care---we'll try to help you, and in the meantime, please look into finding another similar doctor or naturopathic physician for a second opinion!
October 12, 2008 - 5:44amThis Comment