Overactive Bladder | South Central Urology Clinic

Posted on July 10, 2019

Overactive Bladder: It’s Time to Make a Change

South Central Urology Clinic – 306 S. 12th Avenue in Laurel

In the United States, as many as 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women live with overactive bladder symptoms, yet many people do not seek help.  In some situations, those experiencing these symptoms may feel embarrassed, or they may not know what treatments are available to help.  However, there are many options available to help and the first step is to talk to your healthcare provider. 

Lacey Blakeney, FNPSouth Central Urology Clinic

Lacey Blakeney, FNP at South Central Urology Clinic, is working to help restore quality of life for patients who experience overactive bladder issues. “ The most common signs of an overactive bladder are urinary frequency of 8 or more times daily, waking at night to urinate and fear of leaving home due to urine leakage.  If you have an overactive bladder, I encourage you to schedule an appointment.” 

Normally, when a person’s bladder is full of urine waste, the brain signals to the bladder.  If the nerve signals between the bladder and brain do not function properly, or if the muscles in the bladder are too active, known as urgency, overactive bladder can occur.  If left untreated, these symptoms can cause neurologic disorders, hormonal changes, pelvic muscle spasms and/or urinary tract infection. 

“Many people do not feel that an overactive bladder is a treatable problem, so it is often never discussed,” said Blakeney. “ There are various treatment plans that we can try.  These include medications, behavioral therapy, exercises and functionality tests of the bladder to see if it is working properly.  Our recommendation at South Central Urology Clinic is to regulate glucose levels to help alleviate some of the symptoms of overactive bladder.” 

Each person is unique, so each course of treatment for overactive bladder will differ.  Together with your healthcare provider, you can discuss what works best for your symptoms and lifestyle to develop a treatment plan. 

“We have patients that follow up with excellent results,” said Blakeney. “ They are very happy because they are able to enjoy their life and not have to revolve their daily activities around the restroom.”