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.

gypsy6 | @gypsy6 | Apr 2 9:20pm

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?

JVS | @lacy2 | Apr 3 1:00pm

In reply to @gypsy6 "Hi, I’m new here and looking for answers for my bladder problems. I’ve had them for..." + (show)

@gypsy6 ... I have issues but am in another chat "room" - I must admit sometimes get confused as to which room to go in, stay in, is an old post or an old post still current... am sure there are answers you are seeking on one of them, best of luck... J.

gypsy6 | @gypsy6 | Apr 3 5:00pm

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.

JVS | @lacy2 | Apr 3 7:29pm

In reply to @gypsy6 "Thanks for the comment. I have no clue how to navigate this site but I’m trying!..." + (show)

@gypsy6 ...hopefully the Moderator or another commenter will see your post and answer.... so manyof us have bladder issues....and good advice: by tomorrow probably will get some feedback etc.... good news that you are seeing a Urologist soon - my bladder issues stem from radiation to pelvic for cervix cancer many years ago so I sympathize with you... and when getting up so often, hard to get back to sleep.... J.

JVS | @lacy2 | Apr 4 8:09pm

hi again fypsy6 have you tried the back button there are many posts am sure you may find helpful...I do find it a bit of a maze in here esp. as i am looking for bladder help, tinnitus, ibsd so am all over the place. Hoping you can connect with others with similar problems, my radiation damage to bladder gets worse every year and now up 4 times to empty little amounts and every time it is like passing razor blades ... long story short, also had 12 antibiotics in 12 months and a year ago they stopped givintg them to me.. so I am really up the creek without a paddle. So far I do not wear incontinence briefs as they are now help for fecal incontinence so just stay home a lot!

tjs41363 | @tjs41363 | 2 days ago

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

pml | @pml | 1 day ago

In reply to @gypsy6 "Hi, I’m new here and looking for answers for my bladder problems. I’ve had them for..." + (show)

@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