Q:I run to the restroom several times, day and night, sometimes at great speeds so as not to wet myself. I am only 45 and my wife tells me that I go even more than she does. People are even making fun of me at work! My doctor says that my prostate is small, my PSA is normal and that I should just relax. Is there anything else I can do?
A: You have all the symptoms of an overactive bladder. They include frequency of urination, urgency to void at inconvenient times and, for some people, leakage of urine on the way to the restroom. Many people, including some physicians, think this problem is limited to women, but medical literature shows that men and women are equally affected. An overactive bladder can significantly hinder your lifestyle and be very embarrassing. For men over age 50, this problem is often confused with prostate problems, but the medical approach to treating it is different than the prostate treatments, and the best specialist to help with this is a urologist. The first step is to be careful with bladder stimulants such as liquor, caffeine, energy drinks and certain spicy foods, which can make the bladder more irritable. If that doesn't calm things down for your bladder, there are numerous medicines to slow down urinary urgency and frequency of voiding. If these fail, then we may even consider an evaluation for a bladder polyp or a stone.
My advice is to start simple. If dietary changes don't work, see your physician.
