Bladder conditions support: Introduce yourself and connect

Posted by Kelly, Moderator @klp, Sep 26, 2025

Welcome to the bladder conditions support group on Mayo Clinic Connect.

This is a welcoming, safe place for anyone living with a bladder condition, like cystitis, UTIs, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis or overactive bladder. You’re invited to share your experiences, ask questions big or small, and offer encouragement to others walking a similar path.

Please take these steps to participate in the group:
- Follow the group.
- Browse the topics.
- Use the group search to find answers to your questions.
- Introduce yourself.

No matter where you are in your journey — newly diagnosed, managing symptoms for years, or supporting a loved one — you’re invited to join the conversation and connect with others.

Let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? What is your experience, or your loved one’s experience, living with a bladder condition? (i.e., what condition, how it’s managed)?

Do you have a question to ask or a story to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Conditions Support Group.

Thanks for the comment. I have no clue how to navigate this site but I’m trying! I get up anywhere from 7 to 10 times a night to use the bathroom. Sometimes I go, sometimes I can’t. I’m really tired of this! Gotta get help! If I stand up, I leak. (During the day) sometimes I can catch it before I have to go, but not always. Ah well and so it goes.

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hello all. My name is Tom. I have a neurogenic bladder which has led to stage 4 kidney disease.

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Profile picture for gypsy6 @gypsy6

Hi, I’m new here and looking for answers for my bladder problems. I’ve had them for many years. I’m incontinent, had a bladder suspension several years ago and take oxybutinin daily. None of it seems to help. I have to wear a depends type underwear.I’m also diabetic and 77 years old. I’m going to see a new urologist in 2 weeks so we’ll see what he has to say. Hopefully something new! Any advice?

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@gypsy6
Hi,
I'm incontinent also. It's definitely not fun! I did have a medication like Botox that worked for 9 years but now they won't give it out anymore. So I'm just living with the situation. I'm 80 and use Poise pads which seem to work rather well. However they are rather expensive. At home during the day I only wear one large pad since I'm close to the bathroom. When I go out shopping I wear two large pads and drink as little liquid before I go but am careful to take some water with me so I don't get dehydrated. I only go a couple places and then back home or to a public bathroom. Also if you put toilet paper on top of the pads they last longer since you are only discarding the toilet paper. Life isn't always fair. I hope your new urologist has some good suggestions for you. Please let us know what he suggests. It might help one of us.
I wish you the best.
PML

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Hello to everyone and thank you for letting me be a member. I have had OAB for over 2 years that is now successfully and fully controlled with a wearable device that you use 3 times a week. PMs are welcome if you would like moral support. God Bless Everyone!

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Looking for help and support with recent diagnosis of longterm bladder retention with bladder distention. Current provider has a no option approach to resign to the rest of life on Catheter. Looking for second opinion but somewhat discouraged as everything out there seems to point to the same bleak options.
Thanks mjsun

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I have had overactive bladder for several years being treated with physical therapies, merbetriq and most recently BOTOX injections. Now they, too, are failing. I would like to consider the interstem device but have a nickel allergy and am dreadfully afraid of the affects of implants or surgeries.

The BOTOX has been helpful for many years but now not so much. Does anyone have experience or advice as to what might work? I find it difficult to communicate with my doctor.

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Profile picture for Kelly, Moderator @klp

Welcome to the new support group dedicated to bladder conditions. I’d love to hear from some of you who have shared your experiences before: @tom1984, @vickij1956, @pml, @ladybear57, @louisejewell, @ainsleigh, @glinda47, @lucy155, @dks, @josieglow, @nonnahelen, @dbamos1945, @justjane8, @mmorley, @sparkyd1, @jjb1225, @robtliz, @gwladj76, @ggr, @collenp, @minischnauzer, @jdbjsmith, @cavman9, @unvecchiouomo, @mirsy, @yanina

Check it out. There's new group on Mayo Clinic Connect dedicated to bladder conditions (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/bladder-conditions/). Your discussions have been moved to this new group. Be sure to follow the group to get notified of new posts.

So let’s get connected. Take a moment and introduce yourself. If you’ve been managing a bladder condition, what’s one tip or coping strategy that has helped you most? And if you’re newer to this journey, what’s a question you’d like to ask the group?

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@klp I self cath every 5 or 6 hours on toilet. Sometimes I see dark grey debris coming out of catheter and wonder if anyone else that self caths sees this

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