Is "Overactive Bladder" a Precursor to Prostate Dysfunction?

Factual Questions
1

Recent commercials about “overactive bladder” seem geared to me. I drink lots of water, but also urinate frequently, about once every 60-90 minutes. While I originally thought this frequent urination was due to my basically “indulging” my bladder and training it to rule me rather than vice versa (stay with me on this, folks), now I’m wondering if I have OB, recently huped on television.

As prostate problems often lead to frequent urination, I’m wondering if these two conditions are related in any way.

2

I think you’ve answered your own question that the two are indeed related. Suggestion: talk to a doctor.

3

No, its not.

There is something called ‘urinary frequency disorder’ which is not related to your prostate.

What matters more is not so much as frequency; but volume.

Forget about the tv commercials, do you have to believe all you see on tv?

4

You might be diabetic. When I became a diabetic, I went from peeing twice a day to every hour, on the hour, pretty much overnight. I also lost 25 pounds in two weeks. Experienced any weight loss recently.

See a doctor. Soon.

5

How old are you? If you’re under 50, you can pretty well forget about an enlarged prostate, but frequent urination can be one of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH - benign prostatic hyperplasia). However, you would have other symptoms, as well, such as the feeling of incomplete emptying, possibly dribbling, and having to get up several times at night to urinate. Handy mentioned the volume, but more importantly is the force of the stream. Urologists maasure the force of the stream in determining the severity of the disorder.

The amount of water you’re drinking can well account for the frequent urinations. If you don’t have any other symptoms, you can assume that’s the reason. To be absolutely sure, you can see a urologist to have it checked out.

6

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by barbitu8 *
How old are you? If you’re under 50, you can pretty well forget about an enlarged prostate, but frequent urination can be one of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH - benign prostatic hyperplasia).

I’m 40.

However, you would have other symptoms, as well, such as the feeling of incomplete emptying, possibly dribbling, and having to get up several times at night to urinate.

None of these symptoms. I get up maybe once a night; oftentimes, not at all.

Handy mentioned the volume, but more importantly is the force of the stream.

No problems, there.

**The amount of water you’re drinking can well account for the frequent urinations. If you don’t have any other symptoms, you can assume that’s the reason. **

Come to think of it–and who knew my urination patterns would be elevated to an international forum?!–I work out 5-6 times a week and, when I’m running on the treadmill at night, I drink at least 1 quart of water. When I’m lifting weights, about the same–I drink (sip) much more water than anyone else at the health club; it helps cool me down.

Also this: whenever I urinate, I have the habit of drinking a 12-ounce glass of water each time. Today, I cut way back on the water and I’ve been able to go 3-4 hours, no problem.

Re: diabetes. I doubt it and hope not. I am strong, eat well, proportionate height/weight, have put on 10 pounds of muscle in the past year, and my wounds heal well and reasonably fast.

To complete my total humiliation on SMDB, this sad admission: since taking (and eventually stopping) daily doses of Propecia about two years ago, the force of my ejaculations seem less robust. No ED however.

7

Unrelated, but FYI, I’ve read in a health magazine somewhere that chronically “holding it in” can contribute to prostate problems. Moral of the story: when you have to pee, pee.

8

So if you want to pee less, just drink less water. You don’t need all that water anyway.

9

Since I’m confiding, here’s a curious fact: a couple of time in the past year, I’ve been driving along the highway on an extended trip and could not find a restroom. Rather than pull over and do the natural thing, I held it. On these two occasions, I held it just long enough to reach the restroom. But the pain in my lower back was terrible–and I thought I once read that holding it in like that can cause kidney damage. Never again…

10

So you’re 40? Lots of stuff happens then to your body that’s perfectly alright. No biggie.

If you are really concerned you can get a prostate PSA blood test.

You can easily get a Urine Analysis right in the office to check for bladder infections, etc.

Holding your pee can lead to bladder infections, but if you got one of those you would know.

11

The PSA is not specific enough by itself for any valid info, and there are many false positives. There are only two ways to tell, as far as I know, that you have an enlarged prostate: an ultrasound and a uruflow (which measures the force of the stream).