Hi everyone, the title just about sums this up so I will just ask.
I have SPMS and am having a few, well that a lie, a lot of problems during the night. I have been self catheterising for about 8 years now. During the night, only about 2 hours after catheterising, I get woken up by the feeling of dampness. Yes I’ve done it again, made a fool of myself and wet myself. I go to the bathroom and catheterise again then back to bed. Only to get woken again after another 2 hours as before a wetness in the bed. It’s wearing me out not getting much sleep. I have tried everything I can, I hardley drink after noon the day before but it makes no difference. It seems like my bladder waits for me to go to bed and then it wakes up. I cannot get rid of any urine normally, thats why I catheterise,but when I’m asleep aarrrhhhhh. Does anyone else have problems like this ? What’s the best way to stay dry in the night without drinking nothing at all ? Any advice might lead me to a dry night and not having to but the washing machine on again for wet underwear.
Thanks for any comments, appologies for going Anon.
I am sure you have had some experience of the continence nurses. I have just been taught self-catheterisation and found my nurse to be really wonderful and helpful. I am sure they can give you some sort of help for this. I hope you will contact them. Teresa xx
I agee with Teresa ring your continence nurse and tell her your problem, or contact your ms nurse. No need to be embarrassed by it, lots of people suffer with it. Wish you the very best of luck, be thinking of you.
It’s possible that barely drinking may make it worse, as that can cause the bladder to become over stimulated. It might be worth getting a sample tested to check you’ve not got an infection as well.
If you’re a bloke then the external catheter option is what you’re looking for, with a sheath and large night bag with a long tube that can be attached to the sheath (speak to a continence nurse to find out more). If not, getting incontinent pads could be an option. Tena do a whole range of different ones, including on called Plus Pants that are basically like a large nappy. You might still wake up, but at least it should keep the sheets dry.
And I’ve a feeling you can get drugs to help with the bladder, but I’m not sure what or how.
Yes, its so important to drink plenty of water - keep the bladder flushing fully and the urine diluted. Amitriptyline is a med that helps with bladder control at night. lt is also a anti-depressive - which works by quietening down bladder spasms. lts given to children who ‘bedwet’. So do go and tell your GP - as lots can be done to help. l have had spms for 30yrs - and l became completely incontinent and had a SPC done about 18yrs ago. So l can understand how awful this problem is for you.
l was very interested in a ‘thread’ on this forum about’ sacral nerve stimulator’ lts a new tecnique to help with bowel and bladder control. l am going to ask my GP if he can refer me to our nearest ‘Sacral Neuromodulation Centre’.
Don’t be embarrassed about asking for help from your GP/MS nurse - get referred to the lncontinence Nurses - there is no need for you to suffer this ordeal. Most of us on here are effected with this - the worst part of MS.
My friend was told, by a medical professional, that her child had bed wetting at night because he didn’t drink much during the day. They said that the bladder went into spasm at night and kept emptying as he was at rest and because he wasn’t drinking much in the day that’s why it was happening at night. I too self cath and have botox as well, the botox is fantastic and if you can already self cath then there’s nothing to lose, so see if you can get it now it has been licensed for use in MS.
This is one of the worst parts of M.S. but I’m sure you can get it fixed. There’s also a spray you can use for night time wetting.
NICE recommend a tablet called Desmopressin. It’s a bed wetting tablet. Worked for me don’t get up to go to the loo anymore. Self catheterise last thing then sleep right through. I would take the relevant section from the nice guidelines for ms to your GP. Good luck Min xx
Drink lots of warm water during the day, Not Tea, Coffee or anything that contains a stimulant, you will need about 6-8 200 ml glass’s, From the kettle after boiling and left to cool down. Not cold water because that will cause muscle spasm’s else where.
I’m having the same problem at the moment and have tried vesicare and more recently desmopressin, you can read my posts to see what trouble that I’m having with that! A continence nurse or ms nurse will advise you so seek help.
I’ve been lucky, squiffy bladder but it’s never let me down in bed.
First of all give up not-drinking and get urine checked for a UTI or some other infection. Contact an MS Nurse they are more than helpful . Try to avoid drinking tea, coffee or beer, these irritate the bladder and likely to send it into spasm. Water for our house comes from Thames valley, it tastes disgusting, so I add some squash.