By now, everyone is familiar with the gently humorous “Gotta' Go Right Now!” television commercials depicting the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome. A middle-aged man (or woman) stuck in a traffic jam gets that look of mild panic and ends up inconveniently stopping at convenient stores all the way home from work. After stopping, he leaves the rest room relieved, but confused and concerned. This commercial exposes the disruptive symptoms of bladder conditions in a light-hearted way but overlooks a larger problem. In reality, the scenario depicted could apply to a host of other bladder problems and a much more diverse group of people. The ad also belies a simple answer for a seriously confusing condition.
Bladder dysfunction can be embarrassing, painfully disruptive, and complex. Patients are often misdiagnosed several times before getting the right help. Like the ad suggests, bladder trouble affects more than just the elderly, but bladder conditions are not isolated to older adults either. In fact, bladder conditions are a significant issue for adult women, and many men. More than one quarter of women between the ages of twenty and forty, and approximately two million annually, are stricken with bladder infections. Twenty percent of those affected will experience painful recurring infections and symptoms, of which the urge to go right now, is only one of many.
But those are just statistics. The fact is, women of all ages, and some men, are all too familiar with the common symptoms of bladder conditions and think they have little recourse. If you have recurring bladder problems, there may be more that you can do. Bladder dysfunction is serious enough to seek serious help. Here are some tips for seeking and managing treatment:
#1 See Your Doctor and Ask to See A Specialist
If you experience bladder infections, the “triad” of symptoms, or any bladder dysfunction on a chronic or recurring basis (with or without evidence of infection), ask your physician to refer you to a specialist in urology. The “triad” of symptoms includes:
Frequency (a high number of trips to the bathroom per day, often culminating in sleepless nights)
Urgency (Gotta' Go Right Now!)
Pain upon urination
Even patients who have intermittent bladder infections can do more than simply wait for the next one to occur. An urologist can identify some treatment options.