Bladder weakness
Posted , 13 users are following.
I'm down to 7.5/7 mg of Prednisone, and managing very well--pain free, thank goodness, but I am feeling the fatigue. But I have noticed bladder weakness at night. It was a problem before PMR, but I was working on strengthening muscles with a physiotherapist. But now I am up at least 3 times a night! That doesn't help the fatigue at all! Would this be PMR related, or Prednisone related, or totally unrelated? Thank you!
1 like, 13 replies
Reeceregan rhea28447
Posted
mimi1950 rhea28447
Posted
Must be the pred for me , too. I'm up at least 3 times, sometimes up to 6 times, and it sure does contribute to the fatigue..
lilian05079 rhea28447
Posted
I had an overactive bladder before preds....after taking 15mg for a while i stopped using the loo as frequently..but as i got down to lower doses the frequency came back. Like you 3 times sometimes 4 a night adding to the fatigue...were you ok weewee wise when you were on a higher dose?...since coming off preds 11 months ago it was discovered i had B12 deficiency. I am now having B12 shots every 3 months and the frequency has greatly improved....have you had your B12 checked for deficiency...normal levels are depending on age...55years and over should be between 500-900..my very best wishes to you rhea28447...
EileenH rhea28447
Posted
"Would this be PMR related, or Prednisone related, or totally unrelated"
Impossible to say which - since all 3 are options!
I had urgency and frequency with PMR which did improve with pred - I'm lucky, I've never had the nighttime problem.. Many people have complained of having to get up in the night once they were on pred, it is a listed side effect of pred. And you already had a history - unless of course it was the very early stages of the autoimmune part of your PMR. Another cause can be irritation from the calcium supplements we need - especially if you get dehydrated for any reason. I found it was a problem if I took my calcium on days I was travelling and - as a result - drinking less. I stopped taking them on such days - and the problem disappeared.
One cause with PMR seems to be irritable bladder or the bladder muscle being compromised because of the PMR. There is medication that helps ease the symptoms. If that doesn't work an appointment with a urologist can be helpful. Sometimes it is a purely mechanical problem - the bladder doesn't empty fully and the stale urine leads to irritation. All sorts of reasons - and once you've identified what yours is something can be done about it to help.
mimi1950 EileenH
Posted
Wow, Eileen, I learned a lot from your response, thank you..I am again appalled that when I complained about having to get up numerous times during the night, to the GP , endocrinologist and the rheumi , none of whom gave any importance to this symptom, saying it was old age.The endocrinologist did order a 24 hour urine test and blood tests but that was back in September and I don't see him again till February.
I'm once again appalled by the increasing ineptitude of the public health system here. If nocturia is a side effect of Prednisone, one of my docs could have told me that months ago. Since I only get a blood test twice a year, I was worried that perhaps I had developed pred- induced diabetis .
You mentioned Calcium supplements on this thread, I was never told to take any supplements upon getting the DX for Prednisone. I do take Vitamin D and Magnesium but not Calcium. Should I be taking calcium?
EileenH mimi1950
Posted
Combined calcium and vit D supplements are standard issue anywhere else in Europe as far as I can tell. Pred causes you to lose more calcium through the kidneys, supplementing dietary calcium with vit D seems to protect from that and reduces the loss of bone density. Natecal is commonly used in Italy: equivalent to 600mg calcium and 400 IU vit D3 per tablet, 2 tablets per day is usual.
And you do have osteoporosis don't you? So you should be on that at the very least.
mimi1950 EileenH
Posted
Thank you, Eileen, I don't have osteoporosis..at least I didn't at the last dexa scan about a year ago. I did have osteomalacia, which has been corrected since taking the vitamin D for the Prednisone .No be ever told me to take calcium, but I will start taking it.
EileenH mimi1950
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Check with the person who dealt with the osteomalacia - did they say why no calcium then? Because it isn't just low vit D, calcium is needed sometimes I gather.
mimi1950 EileenH
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It will be interesting to know what he says ..I'm going to take the calcium in the meantime..
lilian05079 rhea28447
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Anemia, folic acid and B12 deficiency can cause frequent urination along with fatigue. It is worth getting them checked just incase you have deficiencies....my best wishes to you rhea28447...
rhea28447 lilian05079
Posted
peggy_56092 rhea28447
Posted
I too get up often at night. Sometimes I just stay up as I am right now. I have a a container next to my bed as I can't wait . . . sometimes It happens when I have company. I've lost all modesty.
Rudivl rhea28447
Posted
Hi Rhea,
Yes, I've experienced bladder weakness too - up 2/3 times a night and weakness during the day as well. I'm only 51 and could now have shares in Tena Lady!! I succumbed because I was beginning to feel anxious about going out in case I was caught short! At least wearing pads gives me peace of mind. I have also read that calcium supplements can cause bladder weakness/sensitivity in about 50% of people taking them. So whether it's the pred or the calcium, or symptoms of PMR, we are a bit stuffed, really! I hope things improve for you soon. R