Comments on: Hi, nice to meet you... I need to pee.

Question: Hi, nice to meet you... I need to pee.

lukeo05 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:31:11 -0800

Is my weak bladder just a weak bladder, or a sign of something else?

I pee a lot. I know a lot of people do need to pee regularly when they are well hydrated / beerdrated, but I really do seem to need it far more than anyone else I know by a lot. It is only especially noticable when I drink alcohol, mainly because I try and not drink too much water or tea during the day because the constant toilet going annoys me, but it does happen with all types of drinks.

It is often embarrassing for me, especially when I am drinking with a small number of people, and when they are new acquaintances. Generally I will go to the toilet 2 or 3 times in the space it takes most people to go once, and this is even when I wait for a fair while from when the feeling hits me. If I went as soon as I felt like I needed to, I would probably go every 5 minutes, which is annoying to me personally, and embarrassing when I'm not around close friends.

One thing I have noticed, is that usually in these situations, I will pee with barely anything in my bladder. Though there are times when I pee and there is a lot more, but I feel like I need the toilet a lot less.

Am I just cursed with a small, weak bladder? Or is there anything more sinister at work here (I have heard it could be a sign of diabetes, though of course, IANAD). Is there anything I can do to try and help myself with this annoying problem?

By: roofus

roofus — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:05:59 -0800

The most likely cause depends how old you are.

This is definitely worth a trip to the doctor who will check your urine, maybe run some blood tests, and could arrange referral to a specialist, possibly a urologist.

Once you've been checked out there are lots of simple things you can do to help, including trying something called bladder retraining, or considering starting a medication like oxybutynin or solifenacin.

Here's a recent similar question with lots more advice.

By: lukeo05

lukeo05 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:55:59 -0800

With regards to my age... I'm 20, so I don't think it is getting older kind of thing.

By: Iteki

Iteki — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:24:11 -0800

I feel a constant need to pee when I am stressed out, are you stressed?

By: Lesser Shrew

Lesser Shrew — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:52:52 -0800

Stressed, or cold? Or in the habit of peeing becasuse at one point you noticed that this would happen in these situations.

How are you on long car trips? Meetings? Movies? Can you sleep through the night?

See a doctor, and please please do not limit your water/liquid intake. That is not good.

By: snotloc

snotloc — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:22:42 -0800

See a urologist.

I've been like this as long as I can remember (I am now 27, pretty healthy female.) It wasn't until about a year ago when I started experiencing prolonged UTI symptoms with no UTI in my system that I went to see a Urologist. I was diagnosed with IC.

This site was helpful

So glad I went as I now understand why my bladder does what it does, and have medication to help ease the symptoms. Good luck.

By: snotloc

snotloc — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:23:52 -0800

I apologize, I'm not familiar with how to insert links, I guess.

http://www.ichelp.org/

Thats the "helpful site" noted in my reply above.

By: btkuhn

btkuhn — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:05:43 -0800

Regarding your age, I have the same problem and it started when I was around 16-17 (I'm 23 now). Is this something that's been an issue your entire life, or did it start recently? Because if it started within the past few years, it may be completely normal. I went to a doctor when I first noticed the change because I had heard the same thing about diabetes, and after running some tests the doctor said it was probably just a part of getting older. According to him it's not just 60-year old men who start having to pee frequently. I agree with the advice to see a doctor, though.