OT - Women - Overactive Bladder

[Hawthorne]

I was just diagnosed with overactive bladder. I am 74 and have used cpap for almost 12 years. My AHI is always under 2 - mostly under 1.

It's during the night when I have the problem - up 3 times a night at this point. I guess it's nocturia. I do kegels faithfully. Any women with this? Do you take anything? What? If you take something is it helpful? Side effects? I have Rheumatoid arthritis and take a lot of drugs anyway so I am not anxious for any more but may have too.

Any experiences and success stories would be appreciated. PM me if you would rather.

Getting old is not for sissies!!

[Stormynights]

I accidently got the wrong Poise pads. I bought the big over night ones. I was also curious about whether I had to get up to pee or I had to pee because I woke up. I did an experiment. I just rolled over and went back to sleep. I found out that I could go allnight without going to the BR. I couldn't take the medicine the doctor prescribed for over active bladder because it caused my ankles to swell.

[me again]

I wear the overnight pads, too...and hold out getting up till morning .
Hawthorne, a low AHI would also show up if you are mouthbreathing, and would negate the affect of cpap on reducing nocturia. But you've been posting here a long time, so I doubt that's the problem.
There is a pill available but it also may cause dry mouth, dry eyes,dry everything else and is only partly effective for bladder control...exchange one problem for 3-4 other problems.

[Julie]

Stay away from caffeine and anything acidic, and look for Prelief OTC pills -

http://www.amazon.com/AkPharma-Prelief- ... B000G3H5HW

Look down the page at Product Description. I've used them for years!

[Hawthorne]

Stormynights - Thank you for responding. I may have to go to Poise or something like that. My doctor gave me samples of a couple of meds. I don't like the sound of the side effects at all.
No I don't mouth breath at night. I used to tape but I trained myself to keep my tongue just behind my front teeth and that has worked for a number of years. My leak line is very good.
I do have dry mouth but I have Sjogrens Syndrome (dry a lot of things) so I use Boitene. I may try taping again to be sure.

Unfortunately I have to sleep on my back. It is the only pain free position or I would be up constantly with pain. Fortunately I don't have positional apnea.

I don't know if I get up because I have to pee or because I wake up and THINK I have to pee either.

I used to be a very sound sleeper but this winter my husband was hospitalized for 6 days with a very serious ear infection ( to the bone). We have slept in twin beds for years because of my arthritis and the fact that he doesn't like a lot of blankets and I do!! Since his stay in the hospital, I have become a light sleeper because he spent a lot of nights in pain before we got a diagnoses and I was up nights with him. I am now aware of his movements in the night.

Julie - Thanks for your response as well. I do watch the acidic foods and an weaning off of coffee. I don't drink any soda or colas that could have caffeine and rarely have anything chocolate. I will look into Prelief. Have you had any side effects with them? Do you know if they interact negatively with any drugs?

[Sir NoddinOff]

I've found that salty foods make me pee too much at night: The culprits are soup/stews with too much salt, packaged snack foods, bread with lots of hidden salt (and sugar), drinks like V8 etc. Somebody gave me a good tip with the salt shaker... put some tape over half the openings or even two thirds - that will help you control the amount delivered. Also, I think food just tastes better with little or no salt.

[kaiasgram]

I was just diagnosed with overactive bladder. I am 74 and have used cpap for almost 12 years. My AHI is always under 2 - mostly under 1.

It's during the night when I have the problem - up 3 times a night at this point. I guess it's nocturia. I do kegels faithfully. Any women with this? Do you take anything? What? If you take something is it helpful? Side effects? I have Rheumatoid arthritis and take a lot of drugs anyway so I am not anxious for any more but may have too.

Any experiences and success stories would be appreciated. PM me if you would rather.

Getting old is not for sissies!!

I just got a referral for pelvic PT (physical therapy) with biofeedback -- for a slightly different problem, but in researching PPT I read that it can also be effective for overactive bladder. My first appointment is the first week in December -- feel free to PM me if you want to know how it goes. If I remember I'll ask the PT what results they see with PT for OB.

[Hawthorne]

Sir NoddinOff - Thanks but we gave up using salt in our house long ago except what is in foods and we avoid any salty foods. My husband used to "pour" it on his food but he has high blood pressure now so no salt shakers around.

I keep salt around for medicinal purposes - i.e- Swishing the mouth if there are gum problems.

kaiasgram - Thank you! That is something I would like into and will. I do kegel exercises all the time. If you remember to ask, I would sure appreciate it! I will put a post-it-note to PM you the second week in December!

[Julie]

No side effects at all - I just pop a couple if I'm going to be having something spicy and drink a glass of water with them as they're more effective that way.

[kaiasgram]

Sir NoddinOff - Thanks but we gave up using salt in our house long ago except what is in foods and we avoid any salty foods. My husband used to "pour" it on his food but he has high blood pressure now so no salt shakers around.

I keep salt around for medicinal purposes - i.e- Swishing the mouth if there are gum problems.

kaiasgram - Thank you! That is something I would like into and will. I do kegel exercises all the time. If you remember to ask, I would sure appreciate it! I will put a post-it-note to PM you the second week in December!

Actually, PM me on the 1st or 2nd of Dec so I'll remember to ask.

[Hawthorne]

I will TRY to remember to PM you on the 1st or 2nd of Dec, kaisasgram. Thanks.

Thanks Julie for getting back to me on side effects.

[Hawthorne]

I really appreciate all the informative replies I have had!

I am going to bump this thread though, in the hopes that, since the weekend is over, there may be more replies