Hi All
Me again, does anyone have a seriously weak bladder whilst on chemo? I’m up about 3 times in the night at the moment, and when I want to go, I want to go!
Cecelia. x
Hi Cecelia
Sorry can’t help you with this one. I strangely enough, am sleeping like a baby, unless one of the kids gets me up. I know that there are others that don’t sleep for various reasons. I hope that you are OK and find some answers though and sorry can’t be of help.
Take care
Love
Dawn
x
Thanks Dawn, it’s such a pain having to get up all throught the night, as I’m still working. On top of which I get terrible night sweats…
Oh… it’s all such fun!
Cecelia. x
You poor thing. Can you not speak to your bc nurse or onc or someone and find out if there is anything you can have to help. Must be a pain getting up that often in the night, especially as you are working. I don’t have to get up for work, although would be easier some days I reckon. Got 9 month old and 3 yr old and normally all up by 7.30 latest. Sometimes ealier …
I wish you well and hope you can get something to help. Do you drink anything quite late at night, like tea/coffee etc, maybe if you do, cut this out. Dunno really.
Love
Dawn
x
Hi Cecelia
I am like you night sweats and frequent trips to the loo!!! I also find my bladder is weak during daytime, much more frequently visiting the loo wherever I happen to be!!!
The oncology nurse told me following my chemo if I want to go, go don’t hold on to it because the drugs sit in the bladder, so am doing as I am told.
Kim x
Thanks Kim, I’m glad it’s not just me! I have even had to get off the bus on the way home because I can’t hold it in!
Cecelia. x
Dear all,
I have the same issue - but rather than necessarily being due to bladder weakness, I’m very aware that I’m drinking probably twice my usual volume of fluids whilst on chemo… and what goes in has to come out… if I drink less during the evening I can reduce my nightly trips by 1 or 2.
Anneli
-x-
Hi Anneli
Yes I think you are right, I do drink a lot more water to keep myself hydrated so I’m sure that has something to do with it.
It’s the urgency which surprises me, I actually think sometimes that I might have an accident.
Oh dear… I’m sure it’ll all be fine once chemo is over and I reduce the water a bit
I’m reassured though that others have the same problem
Cecelia. x
Hi Ladies,
I have the same issue too - two or three times a night, doesnt matter what time of day I stop drinking fluids you can guarentee I will be wandering to the loo!
Hope your all well.
Love to you all
Lynne.x
Oh what a brilliant thread - thanks for starting it - i thought i was on my own with this one
I have had a few accidents when I just can’t get there in time - just a little leak but oh so embarrassing. I thought it was my energy levels not able to hold on to iy but it makes sense that the chemo is in the kidneys. I’ve not mentioned it to the bc nurse and don’t intend to (daft I know!!!) i’m just hoping that it will improve now that chemo is over - i had the last one this monrning
Hi All
Havng same problems wake up first with hot flush then need the loo, as soon as i drink im off again. Like you Kelyn it can come over me quite quickly and if i have a belt on its nearly dissaster, never thought i would need tanner ladys at 37 (ha ha)
What joy
Rachel
Are you having FEC or E-CMF? The C part -cyclophosphamide, (i think it is called) is an irritant to the bladder so you need to speak to your onc next time about this as there is something called MESNA which is given IV and stops the bladder irritation.
If you are not on FEC or E- CMF, then still tell your onc or bc nurse.
I had terrible trouble with my bladder when I was on FEC but MESNA helped.
Good luck -it’s horrible having your sleep disturbed.
Kate
Hi Kate
Ive just finished 4 EC and started taxotere today so maybe it will improve, just having hot sweat at moment though and had to throw down lap top and rush to loo in middle of this short post. I will mention to onc nurse when she phones tommorow
Thanks Rachel
Yup - I’m there with you. As soon as I open the front door it is a desperate charge sending anyone between me and the loo flying. I definitely cannot wait once the urge strikes also up a lot in the night. I do find I feel very thirsty I guess it is the chemo and losing fluids thorugh sweating. It is important to drink lots to help prevent baldder problems so I tend to just keep drinking and accept the fact it all flows out the other end.
heres to keeping your legs crossed chemo does end eventually- love Swanie.
Yes me too. I think it was a combination of drinking more fluids as advised and bladder irritation fron the fec. Now 4 mths post fec I still have a little weakness in that I get a little stain on my knicks by end of day. Haven’t done anything about it yet as I am dieting and hope when I am a bit slimmer, to start exercising more seriously and maybe that will help.
I have 3 sisters, all older, all have serious bladder probs, 2 have had ops, the 3rd is doing exercises and this is helping, pelvic floor ones. But it sounds like for most people it is a temporary thing and will improve with time.
Irene
Ooooh, I’m glad its not just me!
Thanks for starting this one Cecelia. I am always up several times in the night, and it’s not like I’m drinking through the night, the occassional sip of water but thats it, and no different to normal! Its a pain as I always seem to wake my boyfriend up, which doesn’t tend to go down too well when he’s working the next day! Oops!!
I have always drink a lot of water and sugar free squash, but defo drink more after chemo to try and dilute it and get rid asap!! Still can’t understand why I have such urgency in the night though!
Take care,
Kelly
-x-
Dear Kate
Thanks for the tip regarding cyclophosphamide… I am having FEC so it’s likely this is causing irritation to my bladder.
Last night I was up only the once for a wee but the hot sweats were just ridiculous, feel like I was up 1/2 the night with them instead!
Cecelia. x
Hi - it’s so good to hear others are having this problem. I gathered it was was the FEC but wasn’t too sure. I’m up at least a couple of times in the night but during the day if I want to go I need to go there and then and also had a couple of accidents. Had to put the phone down twice when talking to my sister the other night and make a run for the loo !!
Also another side effect I have found is wind ! and lots of it. and hot sweats but they haven’t been as bad with second lot of chemo.
Brenda xx
Hi,
I am suffering with severe problems with this when I take dexmethazone before my Taxotere its like I have no control over my bladder. I have had many operations in the past to correct stress incontinence and thought my problems were over. …
But I find even when they inject the dexmethazone into my drip I then end up wetting myself - thank god for pads. This carries on for about a week and then goes again. I keep forgetting to tell the chemo team about this. The days when I take the tablets pre chemo - I could wee for England and spend all night rushing to the bathroom.
Hi,
Yes this is an issue - I have wet myself on several occasions if I couldn’t get to the loo in time. I thought it was just me!
I also have a bowel issue after chemo - when I’ve gorra go, I’ve gorra go - but I think that’s more common.
The good news is it seems to be a temporary affliction- I am now 2 weeks after my LAST chemo and haven’t been bothered with it at all.