When To Talk to Your Doctor About Urinary Issues
Even though it’s always a good idea to consult with a doctor when dealing with a medical issue, most people don’t like rushing to the hospital for every little thing. Most small issues go away within a few days or even weeks. However, knowing when something is bad enough to seek professional help is important.
We’re here today to go over when the best time to talk to your doctor is about urinary issues you might be experiencing. That way, you can deal with bigger problems before they worsen.
Loss of Bladder Control
When it comes to urinary problems, incontinence is typically one of the most common conditions people will experience. Losing control of when you urinate can be difficult to deal with physically and mentally. Unfortunately, shame can stop people from seeking help with the issue.
If you experience any sort of incontinence issues, it’s best to talk with your doctor. They can confirm the issue and give you good advice on how to deal with and treat your condition.
Sudden Urges To Urinate
Even if you still have control over when you use the bathroom, you could still deal with the constant need to urinate. This is known as overactive bladder (OAB), and it can give people a lot of trouble, even if they always make it to the restroom. Once again, your doctor will be able to confirm this issue for you and suggest ways to fix it, so it’s worth going to them for help.
Struggling To Urinate
When it comes to urological conditions, you could experience the opposite of these first two problems and instead have trouble urinating. Most of the time, the inability to urinate stems from a UTI, but other conditions could be the cause. Either way, this issue is worth taking seriously. The pain will only worsen, and you could reach a point where you can’t go to the bathroom at all.
Extreme Pain or Signs of Blood
Sometimes, a urinary problem won’t have any obvious tells that will give you an indication as to what you might have. While it’s OK to wait a bit to see if anything happens, if you’re experiencing extreme pain or have blood in your urine, you need to visit your doctor immediately. These are key warning signs that something more serious is going on within your urinary tract.
If You Have Questions
Of course, you don’t need to be in a dire situation to plan a visit. Some of the best times to talk to your doctor about urinary issues are when you have simple questions for them. Maybe you’re a little worried about your urination patterns, or you don’t know how to use the catheter they suggested.
While you can find professional tips for new catheter users online, talking with a medical professional who knows you and what you’re going through is typically the best option. However, there’s nothing wrong with doing both. The more information you have, the better things will be for you moving forward.