Challenge of Staying Hydrated With an Overactive Bladder

By gooch72

1 min read

Avoiding the risk of embarrassing myself is among many of the challenges associated with living with the MonSter. I have encountered another of them. Whether I am at the infusion center receiving treatment to stop the progression of the disease or riding in the car to my escape home, I am met with the challenge of staying properly hydrated while maintaining my comfort and cleanliness.

My bladder problems

I know there are prescription drugs to help me with my bladder problems, but I choose to forgo taking any more drugs because of the possible side effects and I’m sure that my liver is already significantly taxed by all of the drugs I’m on. Moreover, those drugs tend to make me feel dried out and/or constipated. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Viscious cycle

I have enrolled myself in a day program to occupy my time and stay out of trouble. A few days ago I was meeting with a graduate student to discuss the ups and downs of living with this MonSter, only having to excuse myself to go to the men’s room a couple of times to relieve myself. This tends to happen in every social situation I find myself. Just have to drink more water. So the cycle perpetuates itself.

Lately, I have also been battling a sinus infection. My PCP has prescribed me several drugs to dry them out. I simply cannot win, thanks for playing. I ate an orange after lunch for the Vitamin C and the juice it contains. Now I'm going to try to take a nap.

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Donna Steigleder Moderator
<inline-mention user-id="3942306" username="gooch72"/> I suspect more people than you realize are right there with you. However, have you talked to a urologist just to make sure there are no other issues going on? My spouse had prostate issues and then a neurogenic bladder developed and he had to start doing self-catheterizations which are pretty simple for guys and not as bad as you would think once you get used to them he says. Just a thought. On the other side of the coin, as a female with a bladder problem myself, I totally get where you're coming from. Donna Steigleder, Moderator
1. iamnotmybody Member
 Gooch 72 & Donna, for those who do self-catheterize, make sure you drink a glass of pure un-concentrated cranberry juice each day. Trader Joe's makes a good one. For me, this has been extremely helpful in preventing UTI's.
2. Shelby Comito Community Admin
 Such a helpful tip, <inline-mention user-id="3976659" username="namaste"/> ! Thanks so much for taking the time to share. - Shelby, <a href='https://multiplesclerosis.net' target='_blank'>MultipleSclerosis.net</a> Team Member
iamnotmybody Member
Hi Gooch72, Thank you for sharing your story about staying hydrated, especially as we approach the dreaded summer months. Having lived with PPMS for 20+ years, having struggled through the beginnings of living with incontinence, your story touched a note. I recall the additional cognitive fatigue and stress those of us with neurogenic bladder undergo. I now have great admiration for the urologist that offered me the option of taking Vesicare to halt bladder leakage, and gave me good instruction on self-cathing. I've been doing this for about 12 years and once you get over the hurdle of thinking, "I can't do that", it's a breeze. This was the only way I found to reduce the embarrassment of being in the grocery store in the summertime, having consumed enough water to keep functioning at an optimal level, and getting out of the store before anyone noticed that my absorbent briefs and leaked.
1. itasara Member
 I am on Vesicare also. And as I wrote previously I’m taking it every other day which seems to be working out better for me. I’ve never been a water drinker and I’m trying very hard to make sure I try to drink water during the day but I often forget. I rarely feel thirsty which has been the case most of my life and Have rarely felt had her drink water or felt that water did anything when I’ve felt dry. I don’t drink a whole bunch of other liquids anymore like soda or diet soda so I’m trying to push the water a little bit more. I do drink a lot of tea especially herbal And have cut down greatly and coffee Because I was told I may have silent acid reflux.It seems like everything that I like is impacted by some issue -bladder or acid reflux which is a silent form of acid reflux that may be affecting my singing-so either way I have to live with what I have. I can’t cut everything out all of the time.
j4xd2p Member
I have had chronic sinus problems, and then developed lung problems. After years of benadryl for my sinuses (which didn't really help), my new pulmonologist taught me that decongestants were bad for both sinuses and lungs. Neti pot is much too much work for me, but the NeilMed spray bottles are a blessing. Also, liquid guaifenisan (syrup) to thin the mucous. That might not help with the peeing but should help with your sinuses. Hope so - it has helped mine.
j4xd2p Member
PS Another good and really easy and comfortable nasal humectant and cleanser for sinuses is Himalayan Chandra Neti-spray. Like the NeilMed spray, its a combo of salt and sodium bicarbonate which makes it softer on the sensitive nasal tissue (all my tissue is super sensitive, and I'm assuming yours is too) plus has no preservatives due to the quasi-aerosol format. I follow my doc's advice of every morning and every night. This protocol helped my sinuses immeasurably. After a predictable 3 x a year sinus infection, I've had none for a year. My doctor also wants me to do a nebulizer for the lungs. I'm sure its a good idea, but at this point, a little too much extra work. Eliminating the sinus problem makes life that much less difficult for someone in our condition. Good luck. (PS Sorry is the advice is unsolicited! I just can't bear hearing about someone suffering when maybe they don't have to).
f5hwo4 Member
I went for a checkup the other day and they had a hard time taking blood. They said I didn't drink enough water. I told them if I have drank more than one glass of water that morning I would be in the bathroom not in their chair. I know I need to drink more water but it is one of those dammed if you do and dammed if you don't situations. Potter
yoshitail9 Member
I dont drink alot of liquids just for the reasons discussed here. Lab test came back today....UTI so will start antibiotic, drink more fluids and stay very close to home. I've missed out on so many things I would have liked to do but for fear of peeing myself. Even when I do venture out liquids are kept to a minimum to make sure I arrive home safely. I've had MS for 40 years this month, still standing but weaker, and remain frustrated with this subject. Of all the symptoms we share this one is the most difficult to discuss with people/non-MSers. No pun intended but it really gets me p_ss_d !
glendahendry Member
Thank God for Poise pads! There is a similar “sleeve” for men.
itasara Member
I have had symptoms like stress incontinence long before I have knew I had MS. My mother had stress incontinence at times and she did not have MS. I didn’t know I had MS until I was 57 years old. I also had five pregnancies and I figured it’s par for the course. However my bladder issues got a little bit worse within time and I was prescribed medications. The last one I was taking I took 1/2 pill day because it seem to hold me and because as a singer I did not want to get all dried out. However there were days that I could barely make it to the bathroom and I always had to wear a pad just in case and special underwear that pretty much protected me. Recently the urgency seem to be a little bit worse so I went back to a whole pill every other day and actually it’s holding me fairly well so far. So I don’t know how much of this is MS, how much of it is an aging problem especially now that I’m 71, and how much of it is something that can happen to women who have had pregnancies. I just live with it and do what I can to keep in tow. I cannot say that my MS has progressed at all in the past 13 years that I’ve known about it and I am considering coming off MS medication.
stephanieevc Member
I've made my own mapping system before I head anywhere lol. Where's the washroom? And ok so that's 1 but what if it's broken or out of service where's the next closest one to where I'll be. And if there's need cause I'm in a vehicle heading onto a highway (my goodness I HATE HIGHWAYS been in a few bad accidents and not ever been a driver. I'm absolutely not interested in being one) I take my glass bottle and keep it behind the seat.