I feel an irritation in the urinary tract whenever I get the urge to pee. But as soon as I enter the John I cannot pee. This is especially so in public toilets. I feel great discomfort in public toilets, hearing noises inside, of people talking, etc, whereas if I am alone at home I can easily relieve myself. Do I have a problem? I fear what will happen when I start living in a hostel where I’d be forced to use a public toilet.
You appear to be suffering from a condition called Shy Bladder Syndrome, a.k.a. avoidant paruresis. Try this classic bladder-retraining technique: Have someone stand as close to you as you can tolerate while you try to go — even if he has to loiter outside the facility. Set aside an hour for each session; Drink lots of water first, so you’ll have enough ammunition for several attempts. Practice this 2 to 3 times a week as your friend/parent moves gradually closer, until your comfort zone shrinks to acceptable proportions. As for the irritation while passing urine, you probably have a mild Bladder neck spasm. Consult an urologist who’ll probably prescribe the drug Dynapress. You may need to get an Ultrasound KUB done.

I am 82 years old and suffering from an irritable bladder that has me running to the john every hour, especially at night.
You need to do an ultrasound K.U.B. with post void residue. Your urologist, after analyzing the report, will probably prescribe medications such as Tamsulosin (0.4 mg) and Detrusitol (2 mg), usually taken in the night.