I've had pressure on my bladder for 14 months, help?!

Aimee

My problem started out the exact same way.    Then it proceeded to cystitis type symptoms. (they have now subsided)  No antibiotics worked because I don't have an infection.   I've had the same tests as you and all clear. I've recently had a bladder scan and my results are fine which i'm very relieved about. I do still have pressure on the bladder and my Doctor says it's an overactive bladder. e.g. it doesn't relax to allow the flow out properly.    My bladder muscle is extremely tense.   He has put me on medication for that.    My symptoms are made worse by stressing out but as you will appreciate when you can't pee properly you get stressed.   I wish I could say the medicine has taken the symptoms away but it hasn't though it has helped.  I've to keep on this for about 3 months.

I have recently been trying to ensure I take alkaline food/drink.   I do find it helps the flow.  (I can't take lemon or cranberry though as they hurt my bladder) If my flow is very weak I blend a pear with a little bit of ginger in a blender with water.    I usually find about an hour later my flow has increased.    I also find if I put quarter of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in water (I don't do this often) then again my flow increases.  I tended to live on very acidic food,  bran flakes/milk, bread etc and it is very very hard to change  but try and add alkaline food to your diet if you don't already take very much.   Things like cucumber (I wish I could take it but I just cant!) Herbs e.g. basil, parsley.   You can check out charts on the internet but I find they can contradict each other.   Its hard to negotiate but have a look at whether you have an acidic or alkaline diet.This may help the flow.

I knew I didn't have a blockage because (and sorry to be so intimate) when I pooh the urine flow is strong and comes out like it used to.

I fully understand.   It does affect all aspects of your life.   I'm just trying to manage the symptoms.   Im going to try and look into relaxation exercises but it is a very hard muscle to relax.

Has your Doctor mentioned an overactive bladder?   I've been to two and both say that is what I have.   I hate going to the Doctor but please go again and say your tests are normal but you have pressure on your bladder and could it be overactive bladder.

Good luck.   

I too would love to hear from people who started off with pressure on bladder,all tests came back normal and they are now back to their normal selves.   I feel I am just managing the symptoms, but yesterday it escalated to pains in stomach and pelvis.   Not sure if this is because i've changed my diet so much.    I don't know if I have interstitial cystitis or overactive bladder.  I've waiting on another hospital appointment but I don't want any invasive tests.  From what everyone else says most seem to come back normal and I'm scared to have them!

You would think with so many of us suffering from it there would be lots of people who have been "fixed" of this.

This is all sounding quite similar to the hell I went through 3 years ago. Had been getting UTIs constantly for several months and taking antibiotics but they kept recurring. Antibiotics and painkillers were doing nothing - I was in agony, lots of pressure in my abdomen and a strange, uncomfortable tingle in my urethra. Doctor visits weren't helping at all and I convinced myself I had IC.

I finally went to a urologist and was scheduled for a cystoscapy and in the meantime was given tabets to help with inflammation as that was the cause of the feeling in my bladder and urethra.

Turns out I had trigonitis - during the cystoscapy a solution was put in my bladder to relieve and treat it. 

It was immediately life changing. If anyone is putting off a cystoscapy I would urge you to go do it. 

Trigonitis does not turn up in urine samples and the symptoms feel very much like a UTI but worse and with more intense pressure in the bladder and irritation of the urethra.

Also the cystoscapy was easy and painless and the relief was pretty much immediate. 

I will be asking my doctor about this! I'm amazed how common it seems to be, makes me wonder why the doctor hasn't mentioned it! 

Thanks for your reply.  It did sound re-assuring but obviously i'm still scared.    I'm presuming i'm going to the Consultant because my ultrasound was ok but i'm only guessing what comes next.  I'm waiting on appointment.  My bladder symptoms started the exact same time as my dental abscess.     I have had frequent trips to the dentist for root canal treatment (i'm not scared of that!)  and antibiotics from the doctor but 3 months later  i've still got bladder and dental problem and I feel it is too much of a coincidence that I was perfectly healthy up until I took the tooth abscess which didn't respond to antibiotics at first so it got a good hold in my body and wasn't drained for a few weeks (not my fault)  In fact I still have a bit of infection in it and if it doesn't go soon the tooth is coming out.       I do think i've got an infection in my bladder that's not showing up and I wonder if the two conditions are connected.    I'm going to ask the Consultant if this could be possible but I bet he says no.......

I'm so glad to hear that you are better.   It really does give the rest of us hope.

Good luck to Polly.   Keep us infoed. 

I'm so relieved to read, sorry you went through hell too! I'm just like this now, months! I'm taking this to the doctors next Friday. Thank you 

Fingers crossed for you! It took me months and months to get a diagnosis, I was really starting to think it would never go away. It's such a horrible feeling and no one understands unless they've been through similar. The GPs I went to weren't all that helpful either - as no infection was showing up I got the feeling they though I was complaining about nothing. It was a great relief to finally discover the culprit.

I really hope it gets sorted for you too.

Thank you. That's exactly how I'm feeling right now. 4 months so far! I'm so pleased I joined this site, I was feeling desperate! 

Going to the consulant was extremely helpful for me as I was getting nowhere with the GPs up until that point so hopefully you get provided with some solid answers!

Hello, I'm sitting here just wondering if all my pain could be a reaction to about 8 lots of antibiotics taken over the last 4 months. Every time they upset me, the UTI doesn't go, so I'm given more antibiotics! Seeing the doctor on Friday. I also suffer with IBS, and lots of food allergies too! Feeling really rough today and in lots of pain. There must be someone who can find the cause! 

Polly

I really sympathise with you because I don't feel good today either.  All you can think about is what is wrong with you.  Doctors can't know in depth about every ailment they deal with and once the antibiotics don't work we need  to be referred to a specialist.    I was referred by a very strong willed no nonsense female doctor.   I thought she was a bit ahead of herself but it looks like she was absolutely right.  If your Doctor doesn't suggest it, then it looks like you are going to have to ask to be referred and let them know how much it is affecting your life.    I've now come to terms that my problem isn't just going to go away by itself.

Let me know what happens on Friday. 

I will and thank you for your wise words. 

I'm just off to the doctors now, I will be asking her about trigonitis! X

I really hope it goes well for you! xx