hi, so ive been.. I guess struggling with this bladder stuff for years now, I talked about it in another post like a year ago if y’all want context, but the short summary is:

-I’ve been having urinary issues mainly to do with feeling like I have to pee all the time but not actually having to (basically UTI symptoms but without the actual infection and for years — during my cystoscopy I was also said to have pelvic floor issues). and my main problem is that I can’t get any sleep because of this. i have a disc bulge in my lower spine as well that I am not sure is related or not

firstly, something else I’ve noticed with my symptoms is like… when a lot of people talk about IC and burning/itching, they’re talking about when they pee itself and around that area, but like.. me personally I have this itchy feeling that is like.. right under my skin where my pubes are? like basically right where my bladder is? and whether I’m going to the bathroom or not it’s always itchy and such there. I don’t know if other people with IC experience that…. so if you do please let me know cos idk what to do about it😭I’ve tried the pelvic floor exercises and medication and everything and I am. so tired

also, I got the interstim implant in may of last year to try to control the overall ‘go pee all the time’ feeling, and my results seem pretty… mixed, I guess? like, they haven’t gone away, I still feel like I have to go a lot, but my symptoms seem to fluctuate a lot more now. like, prior to the surgery it was just pretty much that I always felt like that, and always felt like that very badly. now, it’s kinda like… sometimes it’s not really as bad and it’s a lot more manageable, and I can hold it for longer during the day as well. the trial period was apparently successful enough bc of this.

but, there is still the issue of sleeping at night. I’ve still had that issue and it’s getting to the point I feel immensely tired every day and had to get sleeping aids to try to fall asleep (cos otherwise I couldn’t fall asleep at all).

I’ve been trying to think of like.. what I can do cos like, if I try to just ‘hold it’ while in bed and not get up, that don’t work. i can’t fall asleep that way, it gets way too uncomfortable. but if I keep getting up (to pee when I honestly don’t have to it’s just. Feels like my brain is fucking with me) I don’t sleep well either. prior to the sleep aid I tried taking bendaryl a lot, and while that seems to help a little it has to be like… a lot of it, and I obviously don’t want to keep going that (bad effects if you take it for a long period of time and whatnot)

so just… idk what the hell to do atp. if anybody has advice I greatly appreciate it cos I am so tired of not being able to sleep cos of this… literally I am exhausted. pls somebody help😭😭