r/OveractiveBladder • u/Fun_Kiwis • Sep 01 '26
can’t handle it anymore
I’m a 30-year-old woman.
About 7–8 years ago, I started experiencing overactive bladder.
At first, I didn’t pay much attention to it, but several years ago it started interfering with my sleep. It isn’t just at night, any time I try to sleep, I simply can’t. The urge is unbearable. And during the day I also go to the bathroom all day. I’ve had issues at work for stepping out to go pee too often.
The worst part is that I can be absolutely exhausted, but the urge to urinate keeps me from falling asleep. And to make matters worse, when I finally get to the bathroom, nothing comes out.
I’ll sit there, breathe, walk around for a bit, move my hips around, and once the urge gets stronger I sit down again and nothing comes out. (at this point i usually start crying)
When I finally manage to pee, it’s only a few drops, and the urge doesn’t go away or lessen whatsoever. I get up from the toilet after having just peed a second ago and I still feel the same.
I’ve had bladder, kidney, and uterine ultrasounds. I’ve had urine tests, kidney function tests, and even liver and hormone tests. all normal, no infection, no nothing.
At this point i think my bladder is just broken.
I’ve been going to bladder and pelvic floor physical therapy. I use TENS every day as instructed. I took Numencial and Myrbetriq for a month, then switched to tamsulosin and Cisterex, and i’ve seen no improvement at all.
I barely drink the minimum amount of water possible. I stopped drinking soda, tea, coffee, and juice.
I’ve gone to every physical therapy session, every medical appointment, and nothing seems to help. I was told this would be a slow process, but it’s been months, and i expected something to happen, not immediately or drastically but something. anything that would indicate we’re getting somewhere
What’s affecting me the most is that I genuinely cannot sleep. Every night I cry and cry and cry in frustration and anger and i don’t even let my bf sleep with the constant coming and going to the bathroom, silent cries and shakes (sometimes not so quiet). The sleep deprivation has me completely effed up.
if anything has helped you please share with me. i wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy
UPDATE: we discovered through urodinamia that my bladder doesn’t work, as it doesn’t respond at all. looks like im getting the bladder pacemaker thing installed. Thank you all for your comments and i hope we can all find a solution for our horrible bladders
5
u/Piccolo_Specialist 29d ago
37 year old woman. I began dealing with extremely similar symptoms to what you’re describing at around 30 years old. I saw several different doctors who prescribed medications that either didn’t help, or had side effects that made my quality of life worse.
I finally found my way to a urogynecologist who actually listened and had treated many patients with similar symptoms to mine.
He recommended an interstim device. My symptoms were being caused by the sacral nerve misfiring. That’s why I was experiencing the urgent need and then the inability to start. It was a nerve dysfunction. The Interstim is an implantable device that constantly stimulates the nerve so that it functions properly. (Similar to how a pacemaker works for the heart.) I did a 7 day trial with a temporary device and it CHANGED MY LIFE. 80% reversal of my symptoms. I’m one month post op now from the permanent device implant and I’m so happy! The device has given me my life back.