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| > Home > Is This Me? > How Bladder Symptoms Can Affect You |
Frequent bladder urges, whether you leak or not, can be a real hassle in your active life. It's not a normal part of aging. And it's not necessarily because you drink too much liquid.
In fact, if you're like most people with these bladder symptoms, you're probably doing your best to deal with them — you may be watching the amount of caffeine or soda you drink and you're probably careful about when you drink liquids, especially before bedtime. You also probably know where the nearest bathroom is at all times.
But with today's busy lifestyles, who has time to put up with all that? These symptoms may be caused by a treatable condition. More importantly, you don't have to feel uncomfortable discussing your symptoms with your doctor — he or she is ready and willing to help.
Because these bladder symptoms come on gradually, many people find themselves slowly making adjustments as a way to deal with their bladder symptoms. But they may not even realize how much they've changed their routine over time.
Fortunately, bladder symptoms may not be something you just have to live with. Your doctor can give you a diagnosis and work with you to determine the best course of action.
Talk to your doctor if you ever find yourself:
- Avoiding certain activities if it means you won't be near a bathroom for an extended period
- Forcing yourself to stay up late so you can go to the bathroom once more before sleep
- Cutting down on the fluids you drink even if you are thirsty
- Needing to know where a bathroom is at all times
- Bringing pads or extra clothing with you when you are away from home
- Limiting your wardrobe choices to darker colors, even in the summer
- Using excess perfume or after-shave to mask potential odor
- Avoiding sexual activity because you worry you might leak
Making changes because of bladder symptoms may seem to be only an annoyance.
But in reality, bladder symptoms may be associated with other issues*:
- Reduced interpersonal activity, if you don't go out as much or stop doing things you enjoy
- Stress and anxiety, if you're afraid you'll have a wetting accident
- Sleep disturbances, if you find yourself getting up frequently during the night
- Skin rashes and urinary tract infections, if wetting accidents happen frequently
- Risk of falls and fractures may increase if rushing to the bathroom, particularly at night
*VESIcare has not been shown to help with any of these conditions.
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