RE: Apnea and Overactive Bladder
I too, have a weak bladder. Prior to my CPAP therapy, I was getting up at night anywhere from 4-7 times.
I've had my CPAP machine since Sept. 10 and have been 100% compliant in regards to it's use. Now, I'm down to about 4-5 times a night.
I'm hoping that with continued use, my nightly visits to the john will decrease even more. When I went to pick-up my machine, I told the respiratory therapist about the need to go often at night. I told him that a visit to a urologist was in my future. He told me to give the CPAP a few months of use before doing that.
RE: Apnea and Overactive Bladder
Fats, my comment was not directed at you.
RE: Apnea and Overactive Bladder
(12-20-2018, 10:02 AM)ronlecroy Wrote: Thanks to all for the replies. I have upgraded to a ResMed S9 with data collection and the sleep doc set it up for me. For awhile it was debatable whether it was nocturia caused by apnea or disrupted sleep caused by nocturia. At this point it's definitely a bladder issue and not apnea. I barely get in bed for 30 minutes and then the cycle of needing to pee every 10 minutes starts. I have the overactive bladder during the day, but consciously can suppress the sensations. At night the strong sensations, just like light or noise, are enough to keep me awake or wake me. I'm going to beg for a night time catheter today when I have my cystoscopy, maybe ask for a powerful sleep drug. Anything to stop the torture. Devices that would allow me to stay in bed, such as the "Stadium Pal" (external cath), wouldn't really help because they still require conscious effort (i.e. pee) and I would still be awakened almost immediately as I have the urge constantly even with empty bladder. I'm trying to get set up with another urology group, but specialists are all backed up for weeks, if not months. I was on the verge of going to the ER last night as I was pacing in the front yard at 3:00AM thinking I can't take this anymore. Any suggestion for an online overactive bladder support group would be greatly appreciated. This is a surreal and hellish experience. I can't believe this is happening.
It sounds like your on the right path. Keep pursuing the other urology group. A second opinion would be helpful.
In the meantime, if your doc feels a catheter will help you to sleep, then do what you need to do. I only made the comment it wouldn’t solve your issue because I didn’t want you to become dependent upon that. Believe me, I’m know what lack of sleep does to you.
Make sure your S9 has an SD card in it.
Have you tried googling for “overactive bladder forums”?
RE: Apnea and Overactive Bladder
I'll follow up on what sleeprider was talking about. You should download sleepyhead and post a couple of charts here. Someone here might be able to spot a settings adjustment that might help your condition. After all no one here is going to charge you like the Doctors will. The links are below for downloading and instructions on posting. If it doesn't end up helping at least you'll be able to rule out the sleep apnea cause.
RE: Apnea and Overactive Bladder
Thank you to everyone for the good information and ideas. You make some excellent points. I'll be back to the sleep doc in a month and will discuss the data. The urologist prescribed another med, amitriptyline, today that helps stop bladder spasms and makes a person drowsy and sleep better. It's a common antidepressant that has been proven to improve overactive bladder as an off label use. As a plan B he also wrote a low dose prescription of ambien for occasional use to get me through rough patches when I absolutely need some sleep. I also had the dreaded cystoscope today. The results were good, no indications of disease or defect causing the overactive bladder. The procedure was fairly unpleasant for me (I blurted out some profanity by accident), but some people have no discomfort. Soon will be starting a form of electro stimulation (like TENS therapy) out patient therapy to see if that can retrain the twitching bladder muscles. Glad that none of the many tests indicate anything serious like cancer, but I hope someday to have more of a normal life again, maybe even without meds.
Thank you again to everyone!
