Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is the involuntary voiding of urine during sleep. This status is more commonly known as bed wetting. While nighttime loss of float control is often associated with young children, seniors may likewise suffer from involuntary urination for a number of reasons.

Causes of dark incontinence in the elderly include diabetes, urinary tract infection (UTI), medication side effects, neurological disorders, anatomical abnormalities, overactive bladder, prostate enlargement or prostate cancer, float cancer, and obstructive sleep apnea. In very rare cases, acute anxiety or an emotional disorder may cause adult bed wetting.

Urinary incontinence episodes are messy and can exist embarrassing. Fortunately, there are treatments available and techniques that seniors and their caregivers can utilise to minimize the likelihood of elderly bed wetting.

Tracking Elderly Bed Wetting

A detailed record of a senior's symptoms and bathroom habits can help a health care provider determine possible causes and treatments for nighttime incontinence. Keeping a diary over several days should provide enough data to help a doctor in making a diagnosis, ordering any additional tests and developing a plan of care.

Don't be embarrassed by sharing this personal information. Equally with any wellness business organization, providing a consummate picture show of the outcome will aid improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis and treatment. Exist sure to include the following details in such a periodical:

  • Urination times throughout the 24-hour interval and night
  • Timing of any incontinence accidents during the twenty-four hour period and night
  • Estimated corporeality of urine voided each time
  • Detailed information on fluid intake (timing, amounts and type of beverages consumed)
  • Nature of the urinary stream (Is the urine stream strong and consistent? Is there difficulty initiating a void? Continuous dribbling?)
  • Indication of an existing or recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • Annotation any other symptoms associated with urination and nocturnal enuresis, such as nighttime sweats

Make a Doctor's Appointment

A senior (or their caregiver) should be prepared to supply information and details related to personal and family unit medical history as well as medication usage. In addition to narrowing downward handling options for bed wetting, it is important to run into a healthcare provider to rule out whatever other serious health problems that may crusade nocturnal enuresis.

After gathering this information, the doctor will typically perform a physical exam, carry a neurological evaluation, and collect a urine sample to be sent to the lab for urinalysis and urine culture.

Additional tests may be required to get together more than information on what may be causing nighttime incontinence. Uroflowometry is one such test that involves urinating into a specialized funnel that measures flow rate, corporeality of urine and time required for consummate urination. Another non-invasive procedure checks for incomplete bladder emptying and uses an ultrasound machine to measure out whatsoever mail-void residual urine in the bladder.

If a more serious underlying trouble is suspected, the doctor may recommend further tests.

Treatments for Nighttime Bed Wetting

Seniors who feel persistent nocturnal enuresis typically make an appointment with their primary care physician or family doctor to accost the issue. However, some cases may crave a referral to a specialist, such equally a urologist or a sleep disorder specialist. It tin can be uncomfortable to discuss bodily functions with another person, but a medical professional person will be able to provide options for treating bed wetting. In many cases, night incontinence can be minimized or completely cured.

Monitoring Fluid Intake

Limiting intake of fluids in the late afternoon and evening earlier bedtime results in decreased urine production at night. This could exist a unproblematic first footstep to reduce wet nights. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder, tin be helpful likewise. Hydration is still important, though, as drinking acceptable fluids is crucial for general health. Rather than changing the daily corporeality of fluid intake, be more cognizant of what a senior is drinking and when. Water is e'er the best choice for proper hydration.

Bladder Book Training

This technique helps to increase bladder control and book in those who take a small functional bladder capacity (FBC). The training involves drinking large amounts of fluid during the daytime and refraining from voiding for every bit long as possible—up to two to 3 hours. Through grooming, one's functional bladder chapters increases, making voids more infrequent. This method may be especially helpful for those with diagnosed overactive bladder, a condition in which the muscles of the bladder contract frequently and involuntarily. Men experiencing symptoms of enlarged prostate should consult a healthcare provider for alternative behavioral therapy options, since bladder volume training can upshot in distending or stretching the bladder.

Bed Wetting Alarm Systems

A bed wetting alarm is a device that awakens a senior from sleep as soon as an accident begins. Multiple variations of these alarms be, which may include vibrating or sounding alarms and even wet-detection devices that can be fastened to the underwear or a pad on which the individual sleeps. Once awoken, a senior tin stop the period of urine, stop voiding in the bathroom and return to bed. Eventually, the trunk is conditioned to wake up with the urge to urinate before wetting the bed. Like bladder volume training, this treatment choice takes some weeks to piece of work, requiring motivation and commitment. Information technology is non as effective if the alarm goes off multiple times per nighttime due to multiple bed wetting episodes from decreased FBC. Although, in many cases of bed wetting, a bed wetting warning device helps the user overcome the condition.

Scheduled Night Voiding

While this choice does not treat the underlying problem, information technology may be helpful in preventing soiled linens. This technique involves setting an alarm during the night at a random time to wake up and urinate. Information technology is important to set the warning at random times so that the bladder does not grow accustomed to elimination at a scheduled time during the night.

Pharmacological Therapy

Different medications are available for the treatment of nocturnal enuresis. These may be used alone or in conjunction with some of the behavioral treatments listed above, although the latter approach has proven to exist more effective.

Many studies have shown that, while pharmacological handling lonely may be effective in lowering the number of wet nights a person experiences, the medicine is often effective simply as long as it is taken. Relapse rates are high once handling has stopped because the medication just manages symptoms. Information technology does non target the underlying condition or causal factors of bed wetting.

Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS)

If less invasive approaches to treating nocturnal enuresis have been unsuccessful, surgical procedures like SNS may be recommended. The sacral nerves located in the lower back are responsible for sensory and motor impulses throughout the lower body. Sacral nerve stimulation for overactive float involves using electricity to stimulate specific fretfulness that control muscles involved in bladder part. SNS is recommended for people with moderate to severe urge incontinence and for whom other treatments take non been helpful or for whom prescriptions are contraindicated.

Clam Cystoplasty

This is a surgical process that is performed to reduce bladder instability and increment bladder capacity. The float is partially cutting open and a small patch made of the senior's intestine is attached between the 2 halves to increase the volume of the organ.

Detrusor Myectomy

This surgical process involves removing a portion or all of the exterior muscle layer from the wall of the float. The goal is to reduce the strength and frequency of bladder contractions and therefore alleviate urinary symptoms of overactive bladder similar urge and urgency.