Overactive bladder is the name for a health condition characterized by frequent urination and the sudden and urgent need to urinate. Many people with overactive bladder may find the need to urinate so strong that they leak urine or suffer from incontinence, reports the Mayo Clinic. It can be an embarrassing condition to deal with, but you shouldn't be embarrassed to try to get help for overactive bladder--it can be treated.
What to Do
Step 1
Talk to your doctor. Don't let embarrassment keep you from bringing up the subject with your doctor. Schedule an appointment to talk about your symptoms and find out what can be done--this isn't a problem you can solve on your own, and you're certainly not the only person suffering from overactive bladder. It's a real condition with causes and treatments, and it needs medical attention.
Step 2
Ask about treatment options. There are medications available to treat overactive bladder that help to relax the muscles in the bladder. These medications include Detrol, Oxytrol, Sanctura, Enablex, Vesicare and Ditropan, according to the Mayo Clinic. Injections of small doses of Botox can also temporarily help to alleviate overactive bladder symptoms, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the drug for overactive bladder.
Step 3
Ask about lifestyle changes. To get help for your overactive bladder symptoms, talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes that you can make. Ask your doctor about the best way to manage your fluid intake, like restricting some fluids or drinking fluids on a schedule. You can also boost your fiber intake and focus on maintaining a healthy body weight for control of overactive bladder symptoms.
Step 4
Talk about behavior changes. Changing your bathroom habits can help to control overactive bladder. Scheduling certain times to go to the bathroom and going to the bathroom twice within a few minutes can help to empty the bladder and relieve symptoms. Kegel exercises can strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor and help you hold urine and reduce incontinence.
Step 5
Consider surgery. If none of these other methods help you to overcome overactive bladder, your doctor may suggest surgery. Augmentation cystoplasty is a major surgery that uses a section of the bowel in place of weakened sections of the bladder. Sacral nerve stimulation uses a wire placed next to the sacral nerves that sends tiny waves of electricity to the bladder to help manage symptoms of overactive bladder, according to the MayoClinic.
Tips and Warnings
- A combination of approaches is often best for management of overactive bladder symptoms, so talk to your doctor about the best options to try.
- Surgery is considered a last resort, and is only recommended for people who can't control overactive bladder with any other treatment.
