Adult Bed Wetting

Adult bed wetting is an embarrassing condition, but also one that often signals an underlying health concern and therefore should be investigated by a medical professional. Understanding the causes of adult onset bed wetting (also known as secondary enuresis) will better help you prepare for such a visit while reflecting on how this condition has affected your life will allow you to convey to your GP the strain it puts on you. Developing a few coping strategies should also help reduce the instances of bed wetting as well any embarrassment surrounding the issue.

Causes of Adult Bed Wetting

Adult bed wetting is often a symptom of a physical or mental health condition so it is important to think about when your nocturnal enuresis started and if it could be related to other symptoms of a medical condition. Adult bed wetting has been linked to:

• Aging and a general loss of control of reflexes and the urinary system.
• Infection, inflammation or stones in the urinary tract.
• Cancer of the bladder or other area of the urinary system.
• An undiagnosed neurological disorder.
• Diabetes.
• Prostate cancer or enlargement.
• A side effect of medication, particularly diuretics which encourage encourages urination.
• Consumption of beverages throughout the day, particularly prior to bed.
• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Unacknowledged stress or other mental or emotional distress.

Adult Bed Wetting and It’s Effects on Your Life

Aside from being an embarrassment, adult bed wetting can add stresses and strains to an individual’s life in a variety of ways. Communicating how this condition has affected your life should motivate your GP to carry out necessary tests and find a diagnosis and treatment. Many people suffering from secondary enuresis must cope with:

• An inability to sleep in the same bed as a partner or spouse.
• Curtailing travel for fear of being exposed.
• Being forced to use bed wetting pads or rubber sheets.
• Sleeping in disposable undergarments or with removable pads in case of accidents.
• Interrupting sleep in order to urinate and attempt to avoid accidents.
• Increased laundry requirements due to soiled pyjamas and sheets.
• Increased cost of replacing bedclothes and mattresses more frequently.
• Feeling of shame, anger or of being a failure.

Coping Strategies for Adult Bed Wetting

When adult bed wetting is due to an underlying health concern there may be targeted treatments available to help cure or at least curtail it. There are also coping strategies any adult coping with nocturnal enuresis can try in order to alleviate this condition. Many individuals have had success in lessening the frequency of bed wetting by:

• Limiting beverage consumption in the evening.
• Taking medication with a diuretic effect during the day.
• Avoiding caffeinated beverages at all times, but particularly in the evening.
• Urinating on a set schedule during the day and evening to lessen involuntary urges at night.
• Setting an alarm at night to allow for timed urination.
• Consuming alcohol in moderation at all times, day or night.

Bed wetting may be an important clue to a physical or mental health concern, but it is also embarrassing for many adults. Understanding what could be causing your nocturnal enuresis, how it is affecting your life and if there are any common coping strategies you could employ to lessen the frequency of bed wetting should all help you better control and treat this condition.