Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Frequent need to urinate is another symptom of IBS. And you're right it could also be partly related to years of straining. It doesn't help if you are prevented from going to the bathroom when you are on the road becasue this can lead to urinary/kidney infection.

If the docs are totally sure it is functional you might be advised to try and hold it for a little bit longer every time you feel the need to urinate therefore training your bladder to hang on. I had a similar problem where the docs couldn't find anything wrong with me. I could only hold it for 15 minutes and so i gradually started making myself wait 20 inutes, then 25 minutes etc to build up slowly. I was constantly clock watching but it helped. I was advised not to urinate before leaving the house "just in case" becasue this encourages your body to want to urinate when you don't really need to. I didn't like this idea becasue i was sure i would burst on my way to work but it never happend.

I was also advised to cut down salt intake and not to leave it more than 4 hours to urinate (e.g. if you're going to be on the road for 4 hours shedule in a bathroom break). I can now hold for three hours which is a pretty average time.

Finally, some people have found that the IBS hypnosis has helped with urination frequency so you might want to try this route. It only takes 30 minutes max every day so even the busiest person can find 30 minutes. I wish you luck.

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