HWN Suggests

Underactive Bladder; Review of Progress and Impact From the International CURE-UAB Initiative

Underactive bladder (UAB) is a complex constellation of symptoms with few treatment options that can significantly diminish the quality-of-life of those affected. Many UAB patients feel helpless when they cannot void or are unable to adequately empty their bladder. UAB is prevalent, underdiagnosed, and represents an unmet medical need in elderly and other populations. There are no outcome-validated effective therapeutics for UAB and research on promising candidates has slowed due to a lack of consensus and understanding regarding its diagnosis and treatment.

The current management of UAB treatment for urinary retention is clean intermittent catheterization or indwelling catheters…

read full article

Featured

 Questions from a Reader of neurogenicbladder.me – The Diagnostic Process

There are many types of urodynamic tests and procedures that your urologist can choose to administer. Each test may involve different types of imaging equipment, such as x-ray, videos, and ultrasound.

 The Other Bladder Syndrome: Underactive Bladder

We are all familiar with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. OAB is common and there are several antimuscarinic drugs available globally for its treatment. In addition, neuromodulation and botulinum toxin are also minimally invasive treatment options. Yet, there is an inverse condition that is also important but remains below the radar of most experts and the public.

Articles of Interest

Beyond Embarrassment

This book arose from her anonymous blog, begun in 2012 under the name “Trudy Triumph.” By revealing herself as an NB sufferer and discussing it in detail, she reassures others that they’re not alone: “I see toileting dysfunction as a last frontier of topics that need to have mature acceptance and an active audience,” she says. The text, attractively laid out with leaf motifs and inset boxes, is packed with helpful tips on diet, exercise, hygiene, and intimacy issues.

Epidemiology of underactive bladder: Common but underresearched

Detrusor underactivity (DU) or underactive bladder is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), but it is still poorly understood and underresearched. Although there has been a proposed definition by International Continence Society in 2002, no widely accepted diagnostic criteria have been established for this entity in clinical practice.

Going Commando – Is it possible for Women with Neurogenic Bladder & Bowel?

We write this blog for people with neurogenic bladder and bowel and realize that some of us need additional protection during our daily routines. This product is solely for women who are able to go through their days and nights wearing single-layer underwear and do not require multiple layers of protection, for times when more than a few drops of fluid occur.

I Just Hold my Head up and Fight!

The social stigma concerning toileting starts so young. No matter we have such a problem at times fitting in. When little kids wet the bed only family knows and the rest is kept hush hush, but why? Perhaps it would be comforting for the kid and family to know that many kids wet the bed for quite a while. Why all of the shame? Why do we as a culture have such a stigma associated with this? Is there a culture out there more open than ours?

Pathophysiology of the underactive bladder

Several causes such as aging, bladder outlet obstruction, diabetes mellitus, neurologic disorders, and nervous injury to the spinal cord, cauda equine, and peripheral pelvic nerve have been assumed to be responsible for the development of UAB.

The Emotional Impact of Bladder Disorders

I had shared my subtle (well, now they don’t seem so subtle) symptoms with my doctor for years, at this point. He suggested that I might have fibromyalgia or irritable bowel. It was not until I had a raging bladder infection that I was diagnosed with a neurogenic bladder. I underwent the panel of urodynamic tests that determine if the bladder has emptied fully. I was told that my bladder was not contracting well; it was “underactive” and I would need to use intermittent catheterization to urinate for the rest of my life.

Underactive bladder: A review of the current treatment concepts

There is no definitive protocol for UAB treatment that will significantly improve the quality of life (QoL) of patients and will significantly contribute to the prevention of complications. Treatment alternatives are generally based on an empty bladder, independent from the etiology.

Understanding underactive bladder: a review of the contemporary literature

Underactive bladder (UAB) is characterized by prolonged voiding, hesitancy, and slow and/or intermittent stream with or without a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. The overlap of UAB lower urinary tract symptoms with those of overactive bladder or bladder outlet obstruction, as well as its multifactorial etiology, make UAB study, as well as its diagnosis and management, a very arduous and challenging task.

Resources

Trudy Triumph

As the mother of four grown children, one of whom has a neurogenic bladder. My writings come from life experiences and emotions as a patient, mother, educator, and friend.

Underactive Bladder Foundation

We work to mobilize people and resources to encourage research for a cure and to help address the challenges of everyone affected by underactive bladder.

ICS

Underactive bladder is characterized by a slow urinarystream, hesitancy and straining to void,awith or without a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying sometimes with storage symptoms.