Struggling to urinate

Since the weekend I have had problems urinating. It just won't come out easily. There is no sign of infection at all in my urine. A doctor in A&E told me it was due to constipation.

Can anyone tell me when it will go back to normal? I have been able to 'go' recently, and am able to wee when I 'go', but still struggling the rest of the time. It has improved somewhat in that if I push quite a bit I can wee when I need to, whereas at the weekend I couldn't. But I am just wondering how long it will take to go back to normal, and I don't want yet another trip to the hospital/GP (it's taken 4 so far to find this out).

Thought someone on here might know, I had no idea constipation can stop urine flow but you learn something new every day!

Have you tried drinking lots of water?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urethral_stricture
I had the exact same symptoms and this is what I had. Had to have an operation. Bring it up with your doctor before you can't pee at all. Very painful experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urethral_stricture
I had the exact same symptoms and this is what I had. Had to have an operation. Bring it up with your doctor before you can't pee at all. Very painful experience.

Are you male or female if you don't mind me asking? I am worried now. But I have been getting better since Sunday. Sunday I went to do a wee only once, now I am going 5/6 times a day and sometimes it is almost normal. So I am hoping I am just inflamed from the constipation (which is also getting better).

Male. Mine got better and worse and better and worse for like 2 years before it stopped completely and I had to be rushed to A&E for emergency catheterization (they stick a tube up your penis). It was grim. Go to your doctor and bring it up with him, ask for an ultrasound to confirm. It's easily treated with surgery.

I'm female and the internet tells me the thing you had is rare in women. It does sound awful though, a GP on Tuesday recommended I have a catheter but I declined. Since then I am weeing much, MUCH more and more easily, so I'm glad I didn't have it!

This is the only time it has happened, I am able to wee if I have gone to the loo the other way atm. It is getting better and I've been to four GPs about it this week, one said it was a kidney infection and the last one said it's constipation. Which seems right as I hadn't been for a while, and now I am going again, I think it's getting better. Just wondering how long it will take to go completely back to normal as he didn't mention this!

I just want to point out to the above posters that although a urethral stricture is a cause of urinary retention - it is not something that is really consistent with the OPs history here. It's not exactly common, and is something that presents following something else like a sexually transmitted infection or urethral trauma. Demanding an ultrasound is certainly not the way to go, leave the diagnosis to the professionals that are treating the OP. Constipation, however is a common cause and it sounds like symptoms are improving with treatment of that which is very reassuring (urinating 5-6 times a day is pretty normal), and I hope you manage to stay well.

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it was due to constipation.

eat more fibre? like grains and wheat and such

Thank you, I have been really worried about needing an operation. I didn't go as much yesterday, only when I managed to do a poo. No stand alone wees. And I have had four laxative tablets through the course of the week, none of which have given me diarrhoea as they usually would. I'm guessing I could just be very bound up? I have just had a load of prune juice (disgusting, I almost vomited but hopefully it'll work) just wondering how long I should leave it before I go back?

It sounds like you need to be having laxatives regularly until this problem resolves rather than just now and then (sorry if I've misread that), so make sure you do so you can clear up anything that's all bunged up, make sure you drink plenty of water and keep yourself moving.

The laxatives didn't actually work. I took Dulcolax twice a day, two days in a row. Then I switched to Andrews salts as I found this works quicker. Then the prune juice today. These things are making me go but no diarrhoea. Can you recommend me which is best? I don't think I can drink the prune juice again, I was very nearly sick (as in bile came up, not just being immature about it). I am drinking lots now but it only comes out really when I poo which is quite uncomfortable.

Did your doctor recommend you any laxatives in particular or prescribe you any? Dulcolax isn't really the best as it doesn't soften your stools, rather just makes your gut work harder. You don't necessarily need prune juice for fibre intake, you can get plenty from cereals such as bran, fruit and vegetables and avoiding things like loads of starch and red meats. This may be worth another trip to the GP to discuss ways of treating any contipation and they may be able to prescribe something more appropriate.