How Aeroflow Urology Can Help
Managing incontinence can be overwhelming at times. However, Aeroflow Urology can assist in supplying incontinence supplies through your Medicaid plans. Not only is this service financially beneficial, but it also alleviates stressful store trips… especially if you’re facing some bathroom challenges!
Here’s how it works: Instead of running out to the store for disposable briefs at the last minute, fill out our qualification form. It’s quick and easy to do. Then, if approved, your incontinence supplies will be shipped directly to your home in discreet packaging on a monthly basis, ensuring privacy and ease of use.
What Else Causes Bladder Control Problems In Women
Certain life events and health problems can lead to stress incontinence in women by weakening the pelvic floor muscles
- pregnancy and childbirth
Weak pelvic floor muscles can make it hard for your bladder to hold urine in during stress incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when an actioncoughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activityputs pressure on your bladder and causes urine to leak. A weak pelvic floor can also cause fecal incontinence, or bowel control problems.
Whats The Difference Between Frequent Urination And Incontinence
While theyre often mentioned together, frequent urination isnt the same as incontinence, which is involuntary urination that can result in leaking. But frequent urination can be just as inconvenient to your day-to-day life. In addition to disrupting your routines and activities, constant trips to the bathroom can also feel distressing, especially if youre not sure of the cause.
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What Are The Specific Symptoms Of Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder represents a collection of symptoms that can include:
- Urinary urgency: This is a failure to be able to postpone the need to urinate. When you feel you need to urinate, you have a limited amount of time to get to a bathroom.
- Frequency of urination: People who experience this symptom need to urinate very often. Typically its an increase in the number of times you urinate compared to what you previously experienced.
- Urge incontinence: In this case, there can be a leakage of urine when you get the urge to urinate.
- Nocturia: This symptom is characterized by the need to get up and urinate at least two times each night.
How Is It Diagnosed
To diagnose urinary retention, a doctor will first ask about the history of your symptoms and perform a physical exam. The physical will include an examination of your genitals and rectum to look for any symptoms affecting those areas that may also affect the urinary tract.
Some other tests that may be used to confirm a diagnosis
likely be inserted to help quickly drain the urine. Local anesthesia will be used to make sure you dont feel pain or discomfort from the catheter.
If a catheter doesnt work or cant be used because of an injury or other condition, a doctor may insert a suprapubic catheter into the skin above your bladder to drain the urine.
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Living With Bph: A Toolbox For Managing Urinary Symptoms
BPH progresses slowly, so most men can decide for themselves if and when they would like to consider medication or surgery. Men with mild to moderate symptoms often find that the changes in fluid intake, medication use, and bladder habits listed below can noticeably relieve BPH’s bothersome effects.
MEDICATION USE: Alter use of medications that could worsen urinary symptoms.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about prescription or over-the-counter medications that may be contributing to your BPH symptoms. Antihistamines and decongestants can cause problems for some.
- If you use medications that could make you urinate more, don’t take them right before driving, traveling, attending an event, or going to bed.
- Don’t rely on ineffective dietary supplements. Saw palmetto and other herbal supplements have failed rigorous scientific testing so far.
FLUID RESTRICTION: Change how much fluid you drink and when to prevent bothersome bathroom visits.
- Don’t drink liquids before driving, traveling, or attending events where finding a bathroom quickly could be difficult.
- Avoid drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages after dinner or within two hours of your bedtime.
How Is Chronic Urinary Retention Diagnosed
History and physical exam: During the diagnosis process, your healthcare provider will ask about your signs and symptoms and how long you have had them. He or she will also ask about your medical history and your drug use. A physical exam of the lower abdomen may show the cause or give your provider additional clues. After this, certain tests may be needed. Men may have a rectal exam to check the size of their prostate.
Your urine may be saved and checked to look for infection.
Ultrasound of the bladder: The amount of urine that stays in your bladder after urinating may be measured by doing an ultrasound test of the bladder. This test is called a postvoid residual or bladder scan.
Cystoscopy: Cystoscopy is a test in which a thin tube with a tiny camera on one end is put into your urethra. This lets the doctor look at pictures of the lining of your urethra and bladder. This test may show a stricture of the urethra, blockage caused by a stone, an enlarged prostate or a tumor. It can also be used to remove stones, if found. A computed tomography scan may also help find stones or anything else blocking the flow of urine.
Urodynamic testing: Tests that use a catheter to record pressure within the bladder may be done to tell how well the bladder empties. The rate at which urine flows can also be measured by such tests. This is called urodynamic testing.
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You Already Take Other Meds
Water pills or diuretics, often used to treat high blood pressure, can cause the kidneys to make a lot of urine really quickly, Dr. Bavendam says, which can send you rushing to the bathroom on the double. Another class of meds called anticholinergics, which are used to treat anxiety and depression, among other problems, can keep the bladder from emptying completely, she says, thereby leaving you feeling like youve gotta go again when you just went.
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Bladder Not Emptying All The Way Here’s What Might Be Going On
When your bladder doesn’t feel empty after using the bathroom, you may be dealing with urinary retention. The condition, which is marked by an inability to fully empty the bladder, can be a side effect of numerous health problems.
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As a result, figuring out the underlying culprit is a must for feeling better.
Urinary retention becomes more common with age, and people assigned male at birth are significantly more likely to be affected than those assigned female at birth , according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases .
In most instances, “a person will have a constant urge to urinate without being able to,” explains S. Adam Ramin, MD, a urologic surgeon and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles. “It is a very uncomfortable sensation. The urge becomes stronger and stronger, but no matter what a person tries, they will not be able to urinate.”
This can lead to bladder damage, incontinence, urinary tract infections and even kidney damage.
Here’s a look at some of the most common causes and the best way to manage the condition.
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What Are The Causes Of Constant Urge To Urinate
A constant urgency to pee may be caused by a full bladder, a bladder that does not empty completely, bladder irritation or inflammation or abnormal bladder sensation.
Incomplete bladder emptying and overactive bladder are 2 of the most common causes of urinary urgency in men and women. Overactive bladder is caused by an abnormal sensation in the bladder.
Pressure on, or a compression of the bladder, such as what can occur during pregnancy, from large fibroids in women, or with severe constipation can cause a constant urge to urinate.
Irritation of the bladder can be caused by infection with UTIor sexually transmitted diseases. Inflammation and irritation of the bladder can be also caused by bladder stones, kidney stones passing into the bladder, and bladder cancer.
Erosion of surgical mesh that is used to repair pelvic floor prolapse or urinary incontinence can also cause a constant urge to urinate. Irritation and inflammation of the bladder may also cause invisible or visible red blood cells in urine.
In men, enlargement of the prostate or prostate swelling from infection can also cause urinary symptoms including frequent urination and sensation of needing to pee all the time.
The abnormally small bladder can also lead to a frequent feeling of a need to urinate as the bladder can fill up fast if it is small. Some patients take certain medications that may predispose them to urinary urgency and frequent urination.
Urinary Retention: 5 Reasons You May Have Trouble Peeing
Did you know that we spend roughly 2,208 hours on the toilet in our lifetime? Thats a lot of time on the potty! And, if youre having trouble going No. 1, it could be costing you even more time than you like. Time spent anywhere else but a bathroom stall.
If you cant get the flow going when you feel you need to, and your bladder is full, you may have urinary retention. Urinary retention is the inability to pass urine in your bladder, and it can be acutea sudden inability to urinateor chronica gradual or slow inability to empty the bladder.
The difference can be from the cause and sometimes the symptoms, said James Wolach, MD, a urologist at Banner Health Clinic in Colorado. Acute is usually painful and they have the sensation to void but cant, whereas many people with chronic retention dont have any feeling they are not able to empty their bladders. While chronic may not seem as serious, it can lead to serious problems, so its important that both receive attention from your doctor.
There are many different causes for urinary retention, and much of your treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Here are five reasons you may be stuck and ways to improve your flow.
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What Causes Frequent Urination In Women
Factors like age, habits, medical conditions and certain life circumstances can all cause you to spend too much time in the bathroom. Sometimes frequent urination can be normal and temporary for example, if youre pregnant. In other cases, its a symptom of another health condition and may require a treatment plan with your doctor. Here are 12 common causes for frequent urination in women:
When Should I See A Health Care Professional
See a health care professional right away if you are unable to urinate or have severe pain in your abdomen. Acute urinary retention can be life threatening.
If you have any of the other symptoms of urinary retention, such as trouble urinating, frequent urination, or leaking urine, talk with your health care professional about your symptoms and possible treatments. Chronic urinary retention can cause serious health problems.
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How Can Nerve Stimulation Help Overactive Bladder
There are several treatments that involve stimulating your nerves to help improve overactive bladder. Your nerves help communicate the message that your bladder needs to be emptied to your brain. By treating the nerves, your healthcare provider can improve your bladder control. Nerve stimulation is a reversible treatment that is considered when conservative treatments have not worked or have not been tolerated. Conservative treatments include behavioral therapies and medications.
There are several types of nerve stimulation treatments. These can include:
Treatments For Urgency Incontinence
Urgency incontinence is when you get the urge to go, and if you dont make it to a bathroom, your bladder will empty. It can have serious effects on your life and your work.
Experts dont know what causes urgency incontinence, but there are different ways to approach it. First we start with behavioral changes, which vary based on your situation. Steps could include:
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Weight loss again, losing even a small amount of weight can help.
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Avoiding excess fluids. If youre having trouble sleeping, we talk about limiting fluids before bedtime so sleep is less interrupted.
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Time voiding, which is retraining the bladder. If the patient is in the bathroom every hour, well slowly lengthen that interval so theyre in the bathroom less often.
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Pelvic floor exercises, with help from a physical therapist.
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Changing your diet. I review a list of bladder irritants: coffee, chocolate, alcohol, spicy foods, and other things. We have patients skip those foods and drinks for a week or two and see what their urgency or frequency is like.
If behavioral changes dont help, there are other options to explore. We can try certain medications that relax your bladder muscles and prevent leakage. Botox, injected into the muscles of the bladder, can help some patients temporarily. And there are several medications we can try, including anticholinergics, which block the impulse to urinate. This can help you get more sleep at night.
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Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
The lower urinary tract includes the bladder and the tube that urine passes through as it leaves the body .
Lower urinary tract symptoms are common as people get older.
They can include:
- problems with storing urine, such as an urgent or frequent need to pass urine or feeling like you need to go again straight after you’ve just been
- problems with passing urine, such as a slow stream of urine, straining to pass urine, or stopping and starting as you pass urine
- problems after you’ve passed urine, such as feeling that you’ve not completely emptied your bladder or passing a few drops of urine after you think you’ve finished
Experiencing LUTS can make urinary incontinence more likely.
Page last reviewed: 07 November 2019 Next review due: 07 November 2022
History Of Complaints And Physical Examination
A physician will suspect urinary retention by your symptoms and will attempt to confirm the diagnosis with a physical examination of the lower abdomen. The physician may be able to feel the distended bladder by lightly tapping on your lower belly. Tapping or striking for diagnostic purposes is called percussing.
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Total Hip Replacement With Frequent Urination
i am a 74 year old male and had my THR one week ago. There is no pain, a little discomfort, and I am walking with two sticks. The only problem is having to get up 5 or 6 times in the night to go to the bathroom. I never had this before. I am OK during the day. Could it be because of the catheter I had for 2 days, or medication? Has anyone had anything similar?
How Is Urinary Retention Treated
Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can include:
- Draining the bladder, reserved for cases in which the patient cannot urinate at all.
- Medications that can treat urinary retention include antibiotics and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor and an alpha-blockers for men with an enlarged prostate.
- Treatment for the underlying condition.
There are also things you can do at home to empty your bladder more fully. They include:
- Drinking more water.
- Sitting on the toilet to pee for men as well as women while leaning forward and with feet firmly on the floor. Sometimes, elevating the feet by using a small step can help to create an angle that promotes bladder emptying.
- Staying on the toilet for a while after you think you are done. Sometimes, you will be able to pee more.
- Turning the faucet on while you urinate.
- Placing a hand firmly on your abdomen, where the bladder is located, and pressing down while you try to pee.
- Eating a fiber rich diet to reduce the risk of constipation, which can cause urinary retention.
You can immediately try these approaches if you’ve been feeling like your bladder cannot empty completely, but never stop there see a doctor, too!
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How Can Urinary Retention Be Prevented
For men:
If you have an enlarged prostate, be sure to take prostate medications as prescribed by your doctor and avoid medications associated with urinary retention, such as over-the-counter cold and allergy medications that contain decongestants.
For women:
If you have mild cystocele or rectocele, you may be able to prevent urinary retention by doing exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles.
Kimberly-Clark Australia makes no warranties or representations regarding the completeness or accuracy of the information. This information should be used only as a guide and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical or other health professional advice.
Healthdirect.gov.au, . Urinary retention. Available at: .
http://www.health.qld.gov.au, . Adult Urinary Obstruction, Retention and Bladder Scanning. Available at: .
John P. Cunha, F. . Urinary Retention: Get the Facts on Causes and Treatment. MedicineNet. Available at: .
Kidney.niddk.nih.gov, . Urinary Retention – National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Available at: .
Knott, MD, L. . Acute Urinary Retention. Information about AUR. Patient | Patient.co.uk. Patient.co.uk. Available at: .
Don’t Go ‘just In Case’
AkaMisery got into the habit of going to the toilet ‘just in case’. Clearly, other posters had got into the habit of emptying their bladders more often than they needed to. Jstinst14 was going 10-15 times a day and NMK could easily go 30-50 times a day. Some people believe that keeping the bladder empty will stop OAB symptoms from getting worse. The reverse is true. As with any muscle, if you don’t exercise it, it will get weaker. If you don’t allow the bladder to stretch from time to time it will become over-sensitive, so if you go out and need to hang on, symptoms will be worse than ever.
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