Why Did I Pee On Myself In My Sleep

Having A Problem With Peeing Yourself Is Far From Rare

You might feel like youre the only one wondering why you pee yourself sometimes, but the statistics prove that its a much more common issue than many think. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey, over 50% of women and about 14% of men in America reported some form of unwanted urine leakage, with most being over the age of 65.1

That means that millions of Americans are dealing with the same problem! You might be wondering why women are more likely to be asking why do I keep peeing myself than men. Factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and simple anatomy can all contribute to a weakening of the muscles that support the bladder.

How Is Nighttime Urination Diagnosed

Your doctor will diagnose nighttime urination by evaluating your symptoms and performing a physical examination. They may ask certain questions to determine potential causes for the condition.

Questions may include how many times you get up to urinate at night, how long youve been experiencing nighttime urination, and questions about your regular activities before bed.

For example, if you drink lots of fluids or take diuretics before bedtime, these can lead to nighttime urination.

Your doctor may order tests to determine the cause of frequent urination. Urinalysis looks at the chemical compounds present in urine. Urine concentration determines if your kidneys properly excrete water and waste products.

Other tests include a urine culture and post-void residual urine measurements. This test takes an ultrasound of the pelvic area to see how much urine remains in the bladder after urination.

Your doctor may order further tests if they suspect you have an underlying medical condition. They may order further tests to make a diagnosis. These tests include blood sugar, blood urea nitrogen, blood osmolality, creatinine clearance, and serum electrolytes.

These tests can determine how well the kidneys function. They also measure the concentration of certain chemical compounds in your blood. These tests can determine if nighttime urination is a side effect of kidney disease, dehydration, or diabetes.

Your Uterus Or Ovaries Are Enlarged

A wide range of conditionsincluding uterine polyps, ovarian cysts, or uterine and ovarian cancerscan cause an enlargement of these organs. If they’re oversized, they can press on your bladder and make you feel like you have to pee all the time, Wexler says. “There’s really no way to know if one of these is the cause unless you see a doctor,” he adds.

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What Makes You Wet The Bed When Drunk

The plain fact is that alcohol is a diuretic, which means it stimulates the body to produce urine, and your bladder fills more quickly than it does when drinking soft drinks. Couple this with the fact that alcohol disrupts your sleep and you can see why youre heading for an accident, explains McGrattan.

Alcohol has a sedating effect and makes you fall into a deep sleep very quickly and this part of the sleep cycle can last for longer than it normally would. If you need to pee, you might be in such a sedated state that you dont wake up and just wet the bed. Behaviours such as sleep walking usually happen in this deep sleep, too, so you may wander and urinate, either in the toilet or in an inappropriate place without waking.

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it stimulates the body to produce urine.

If you think youre someone who sleeps very lightly after drinking, this could just as easily be a reason for accidents in your sleep, as McGrattan explains, The second part of the night can be disrupted by alcohol too with multiple “micro-awakenings” when you may not even remember waking up. Confusion as to whether youre awake or asleep can lead to you thinking its appropriate to pass urine when it isnt.

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References

2- Miller HJ. Dehydration in the Older Adult. J Gerontol Nurs. 2015 Sep 1 41:8-13. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20150814-02. PMID: 26375144.

3- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & Causes of Diarrhea. NIH. Nov 2016. Accessed Mar 12, 2021.

4- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & Causes of Diarrhea. Symptoms & Causes of Viral Gastroenteritis . NIH. May 2018. Accessed Mar 15, 2021.

5- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & Causes of Diarrhea. Symptoms & Causes of Viral Gastroenteritis . NIH. May 2018. Accessed Mar 15, 2021. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/viral-gastroenteritis/symptoms-causes

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What Causes Bedwetting In Teenagers And Young Adults

Wetting the bed is caused by a mix of three things:

Some teenagers and young adults also have bladder problems through the day. Their bladder does not store or empty properly at night or in the day.

We now know more about the causes of bedwetting, such as:

• bedwetting can run in some families
• some bladders cant store much urine through the day or night
• some bladders do not fully empty on the toilet, which means some urine stays in the bladder
• some kidneys make larger amounts of urine than normal through the night.

How Does Nocturia Affect Your Sleep

Occasionally getting up to use the bathroom at night is usually not a cause for concern. However, consistent and frequent awakenings to use the bathroom every night fragments your sleep. Those who experience multiple awakenings may also find it hard to fall back asleep after they use the bathroom, leading to less time spent in deep, restorative sleep.

Missing out on high-quality sleep every night affects almost every aspect of life . Sleep loss due to nocturia is associated with a wide array of negative outcomes including:

• Poorer overall health

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When You See The Doctor

Your doctor will check for a number of things. They’ll do a physical exam, a neurological exam, and a urine test to see if any of those provide clues as to the underlying reason for the bedwetting.

After this, they may help you find a product solution, recommend a behavioral change, or depending on the situation, prescribe medication that might help.

In the meantime while you figure out what’s going on, you should manage the bedwetting as you need with the appropriate products like waterproof sheets, a waterproof duvet cover, briefs to wear at night, etc.

People who use these products say they’re much better than cleaning the sheets and clothes. If you’re embarrassed by the prospect of purchasing them, you can always do it online.

Some people, for whatever reason, find that nothing works and that bedwetting is an on-going part of their life. This doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Like one person says:

Remember that this is not who you arethis is simply a problem you have.

Why You Are Leaking Urine

• You Cant Wake During the Night

Between the ages of 2 and 6, most people develop the ability to wake during the night if the body senses that the bladder is full. However, if an individual is a very heavy sleeper, this can mean that they dont wake up if they need the toilet, meaning they may go while they are asleep.

Epidemiologic evidence from several studies has shown that urinary incontinence is 50 % more common in women with Diabetes than those with normal glucose levels. High blood sugar can cause an increase in the amount of urine produced, resulting in urgency and more frequent urination.

A combination of pressure on the bladder, hormones and the tear of childbirth means your pelvic floor muscles can suffer. As a result, you are likely to have a weak bladder, and can occasionally leak urine during the night and day.

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Treatment For Pooping While Sleeping

Its not fun pooping at night while you sleep. Not being able to control your bowels while sleeping can make you feel helpless and embarrassed.

The good news is that there is a treatment several of them that can help keep you from pooping while you sleep. The treatment you choose depends upon the reason for this issue, and any advice from your doctor.

Here are a few things you can do to avoid pooping during sleep:

• Take an anti-diarrheal medicine, such as Pepto-Bismol
• Avoid foods and beverages known to have a laxative effect, e.g., prune juice, coffee
• Eat only bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast until your symptoms ease. This is called the BRAT diet, and its commonly prescribed for diarrhea because these foods are easy to digest.
• Make dietary adjustments that eliminate problem foods. For instance, if you know youre lactose intolerant, avoid dairy foods.
• Avoid any triggers that may cause a flareup of your IBD or IBS symptoms.
• Try to manage your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes

What Help Is Available

If you are concerned about your problem and it is starting to affect your day-to-day life make an appointment to see your doctor, continence nurse or specialist physiotherapist. A continence nurse and specialist physiotherapist are healthcare professionals who specialise in bladder and bowel problems.

It would be a good idea to keep a record of your bladder activity for a few days before your appointment with your doctor or nurse. You would need to keep a record for at least 3 days and filling in a bladder diary is a simple way of doing this. Please visit our Bladder Diary/Retraining page for more information.

A urine dipstick test may be done to rule out a urinary tract infection. The doctor may also arrange for you to go to a hospital for special tests on your bladder, these tests are called Urodynamics.

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Peeing Without Even Realising

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Hi just wondered whether anyone has ever ‘gone’ and not even known about it? I went to the loo the other day and found that my shorts and knickers were absolutely saturated and I had no idea I had been! I am 46, it scared me but wasn’t an isolated incident. There have been times its hapopened in the past but I have realised that it was happening then, only a fee times over the last year I would say, but this was very different!

1 like, 16 replies

Reasons Why You Might Suddenly Start Wetting Yourself

Ever laughed or sneezed so hard that a little bit of urine trickled out? Or had such a big need to go that you couldnt keep it in?

There are a number of causes of urinary incontinence for example pressure on the bladder, damage to the pelvic floor muscles, or an overfull bladder and its a much more common condition than one might think.

Its important that you disclose it to your doctor if it starts happening suddenly, or frequently enough to affect the quality of your life.

Here are the main underlying causes that may cause sudden urinary incontinence:

1. Neurological disorders

Nerve signals from the bladder to the brain are vital in controlling the urge to urinate. When these signals are compromised, it can cause sudden urinary incontinence. Conditions that may affect the nerves include neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, a stroke, injury of the spine or a brain injury.

2. Blockage of the urinary tract

Any obstruction of the urinary tract may interfere with the normal flow of urine, causing the bladder to overflow. Obstructions of the urinary tract, like urinary or kidney stones, can develop over time. When the flow of urine is disturbed, infections can occur. You will usually experience other symptoms such as a dull ache near your kidney area, but its possible that you may not feel anything for some time.

3. Prostate cancer

4. An enlarged prostate gland

5. The use of certain medications

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Timing And Volume Of Alcohol Consumption

The timing and volume of alcohol consumption can also play a role in bedwetting. Most people drink far more when seeking intoxication than they would under normal circumstances, particularly when beer or wine is involved. Heavy drinkers can require a lot of alcohol to get drunk, which can result in a fuller bladder and more frequent urination.

Timing can make this worse, too. If you drink a lot of alcohol in the evening or at night, you may hit the sheets while alcohol levels are still building in the body. When the bladder continues to fill after a drinker passes out, bedwetting becomes far more likely.

Should You Worry About Wetting The Bed After Drinking

While wetting the bed as a grown man can certainly be awkward, doing so occasionally after a crazy night out isnt anything to worry about.

For instance, in Sams case, he knows what leads to a leak: It happens when he drinks more beer than usual, and only once in a blue moon.

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But if its happening almost every time you drinkor outside of drinking? See a urologist.

Doctors worry about things like an overactive bladder, overflow incontinence, infections, or other urological issues, Dr. Ulchaker says. So your doctor may perform a full urological work-up.

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What Is Nocturnal Enuresis

Nocturnal Enuresis means wetting the bed. Many people wet the bed at night, although few people talk about it. In fact, one person in every 100 may be affected throughout adult life. Most people think that no one else has this problem. Many people never seek help because they are too embarrassed.

Some people wet the bed regularly all their lives. Others grow out of this during childhood but start again later in life. It can even happen if you doze off on a long coach or train journey. The right advice and support can help people who have this problem. Bed wetting can often be cured. It is always worth seeking help even if you feel you have already tried everything.

Bed wetting causes many practical problems, such as constantly having to change wet sheets and bedding. Bed wetting can affect staying away overnight, going on holiday or business trips. Bed wetting can affect sleep patterns and often it causes frustration and exhaustion.

Bedwetting can also affect self-esteem which can put a strain on personal relationships.

Watch Your Liquid Intake Before Bed

If you suffer from Nocturnal Enuresis, its important to cut down on caffeine and alcohol in the evening. You should also ensure you only consume fluid up to 2 hours prior to bedtime. One tip is to make sure you visit the toilet right before bed. However, you do need to ensure you do not become dehydrated.

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Switching Drinks Could Reduce Bedwetting

You might think booze is booze when it comes to incontinence during sleep, but it could make a difference if you change your tipple.

The more units of alcohol you consume then the stronger the sedating and the diuretic effects so the higher the likelihood of nocturnal urination,’ explains McGrattan. ‘If youre drinking pints of lager or beer, then youll have consumed a larger volume of liquid than if you were drinking shots and the chances of you needing to empty your bladder are bigger,

Osman agrees, pointing out that Drinking beverages that include caffeine such as energy drinks will also increase the risk, as caffeine is also a diuretic and bladder irritant.

Look For A Suitable Product

You will feel much more confident and prepared for leaks if you are in the right product. There is a variety of pads and pants in the market with all different absorbency levels. For nighttime, all in ones can be the most effective as they generally have the highest absorbency. They are also comfortable for long term use.

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You’re Low On This Hormone

“With aging comes a natural loss of antidiuretic hormone,” says Tobias Köhler, MD, chair of urology at Illinois’s Memorial Hospital. This hormone helps your kidneys control their fluid levels. The less of the hormone you have, the more you pee. Köhler says this natural hormone loss usually starts around age 40, but often becomes noticeable much laterduring your 60s or 70s. “There are some drug therapies, but a lot of people just deal with it,” he says.