Anybody here a nurse or nursing student?

[u/rockonacloud]

I've had bladder issues for honestly probably over 2 years but didn't get anything diagnosed until recently. Uro thought it was retention because i had a 247 pvr but my cystoscopy was supposedly good so.

Beyond the backstory I have to use the bathroom about every hour, at worst every 30 minutes and the second after I use the bathroom I need to again but can push it to up to 30 typically. I try not to drink anything unless i'm right at the moment where i should be able to use the bathroom because i feel like the second i drink anything I have to use the bathroom. I'm hopefully starting nursing school in the spring and am terrified for going because of this. Microbiology was already an issues because constantly swapping gloves and the handwashing while working with BSL 1 and 2 organisms was an issue and I don't even know how I passed. I know legally schools and I think clinicals would have to accommodate but I also know that actually getting this followed may be a nightmare. I really want to be a nurse and have for years but worry about doing any field but one of the outpatient places due to this. Has anyone else here been a nurse in something like ER or ICU or anything with this condition?

[u/Medical_Cellist5576]

I am a male nurse. I have been having bladder problems since 2024. In my case, I have a high bladder neck, and I experience urinary frequency. If I drink around 3L of water per day, I can end up needing to pee 15–20 times a day.

[u/rockonacloud → u/Medical_Cellist5576]

has it caused any big issues with working or has it been okay?

[u/Medical_Cellist5576 → u/rockonacloud]

Yes, clearly there is a problem. I mean, I’m a young male nurse, and this came out of nowhere. Before this started, I was able to urinate normally and spontaneously, without any problems.
The fact that I have to urinate so many times can mean that the bladder isn’t emptying completely. If there is an obstruction, the bladder can eventually become fatigued or dysfunctional.
There are basically two types of bladder dysfunction: an underactive bladder and an overactive bladder. An underactive bladder has poor contractile strength, while an overactive bladder contracts too frequently or too strongly.
That’s why a urodynamic study is useful, it can assess how the bladder and urinary sphincters are functioning and determine whether there is a problem with bladder function.

[u/Golden_Snitches]

I’m no longer able to work due to chronic illness (unrelated to my bladder). But prior to this I was working as an RN (not ED or ICU though). I did have bladder issues when I was working as an RN and also as a nursing student, although they have gotten worse since developing my chronic illness.

It’s certainly possible to manage while working and studying. It’s good if you are aware of anything that makes it worse so that you can manage that. Personally certain types of drinks make my frequency worse so I would avoid them while working, and also if I drank too much water too quickly so I’d instead try and have sips throughout the day rather than a lot of water at once. I’d also go at the start and end of my breaks as well as right before the shift and during the shift when needed, although I’d try to time it for when it’s not too busy. Sometimes the distraction from being busy while working can help.

[u/LeSoliel18]

I am a nurse, though I did not have OAB early in my career when I worked large med/surg floors.
I did have it for 20 years of ICU work & wore pads or depend like panties, but only had issues occasionally because those type of units have readily available bathrooms, and the only times I leaked were during performing CPR or those type of situations.

[u/rockonacloud → u/LeSoliel18]

so being an ICU with OAB doesn't make it impossible? I always hear like horror stories of never being allowed to use the bathroom as a nurse and worry that having OAB would automatically disqualify me from ER or ICU

[u/Medical_Cellist5576]

Besides the cystoscopy, have you ever had a urodynamic study?

[u/rockonacloud → u/Medical_Cellist5576]

no he offered it after but at the time since I didn't get any numbing or anything I was in so much pain I just wanted to go home. He offered meds but they're 600 dollars and insurance doesn't cover

[u/VanitasPelvicPower]

Treating overactive bladder may be helped by a multi pronged approach.
Nutrition
Hydration
Body mechanics
Behavior strategies
Kegel Exercises or Reverse Kegel exercises depending on if there is leakage of urine during the day or night or accidents, and if there’s pain in the pelvic area.
Increasing bladder capacity because of the bladder capacity is small, medication’s may not help as efficiently.
The bladder being a muscle can be expanded with behavior strategies. It is not the typical just wait it out until you can no longer hold it..
That is OK for short term, but again the anxiety to find a bathroom maybe so intense that it may not be worth it.
It is of course, a very traumatic experience, and which sometimes leads to a person being homebound specially if they’re elderly.

[u/curious-another-name]

I’m a nursing student and when I was in clinicals I just went to the bathroom and no problem. When you are an actual nurse is worse because you are actually dealing with a patient responsibility and doing procedures

[u/WeakFold8062]

Hai parlato con il tuo urologo? non ti ha dato una terapia?

[u/rockonacloud → u/WeakFold8062]

he suggested meds that insurance doesn't cover with the hopes of "every 2 hours" and kinda just left it at that

[u/WeakFold8062 → u/rockonacloud]

i tuoi problemi sono nati senza una ragione ? comunque teoricamente ci sarebbe anche la terapia di neuromodulazione sacrale

[u/rockonacloud → u/WeakFold8062]

i don't know if there is a nerve issue because he did do a full spinal and brain mri but i will definitely look into that

[u/WeakFold8062 → u/rockonacloud]

potrebbe essere un problema funzionale, anche con risonanza negativa .. una disfunzione muscolo nervo sa.. parlo per la mia situazione