Bed wetting help

purplegirluk1

Hi,

I was talking to my sister today about her daughter, my neice, she is nine and a half and wets the bed almost every night, more than once. My sister will not put her in pull-ups any more as she thinks that she wont learn this way, my mum makes her use them when she stays over and on holidays. They have been to the doctors, told she would grow out of it, now they are being told she can have some kind of tablets (sorry I am not sure what they are) when she is 11. The thing is my sister and her children have not had an easy life, my sisters ex husband is an abusive alcoholic. He is in out out of their lives and the two children have really suffered because of this. Now I am no expect but it seems possible that the bed wetting has a lot to do with this. My sisters ex husband never dealt with the wetting well, he was often angry etc. What can I suggest to my sister? Has anyone any experience of bed wetting related to emotions and fear farther than a medical issue? Any advice would be brilliant. My sister is at a loss and also says she is not keen to use the tablets, though as I have said I do not know anything about this treatment.

fernliebee

Is she being referred to a specialist or just under GP. A family member was referred to a specialist and had the alarm to wear to bed, and it worked within a few weeks he never wet the bed again. I'm also no expert, but regardless of reasons for wetting the bed this may still solve the initial problem, though the emotional issue should be dealt with too. Maybe the specialist could put her in touch with someone who she could talk to about her issues, they must get people with emotional issues all the time, you would think.

Hope they get it sorted soon, it must be really de-moralising for her DD at 9, and I bet she is missing out on sleep overs and the like because of it.

purplegirluk1

Thank you for the reply, as far as I know she has only seen the GP but on many occasions, each time being told that she will grow out of it and that she needs to be 11 to take the tablets. I have just read about the alarm, it does look interesting and could be a good suggestion. The problem is I should imagine that my sister will not have spoken about the emotional issues as she is also suffering and probably doesn't want to admit this could be the reason.

bumpybecky

I'd ask for a referral to the enuresis specialist (they help people with bedwetting problems). In most areas they accept referrals from 7 years old. There is no reason to wait until 11 for the medication, my daughter started it when she was 9. I can understand the reluctance to using drugs, but in our case the alarm didn't provide a long term solution (it solved the problem for approx 9 months, then she relapsed, but this is very unusual). for my daughter it's partly inherited (family history of late dryness) and partly an emotional thing (she's very sensitive and has had some problems, the wetting is always worse when she's not happy about things).

Also I'd ask for a referral to CAMHS to get some help with the emotional issues. They can provide family counselling (sp?) and support to help the children get over what has happened in the past.

I really hope they get something sorted soon. Bedwetting can put so much strain on the family

scottishchick27

I don't know about the emotional aspect to her problem but my DD (7 nearly 8) also wets the bed quite regularly and we bought this alarm http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Latest-DRI-Sleeper-Bed-Wetting-Bedwetting-Alarm_W0QQitemZ200389108015QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Health_Beauty_Mobility_Disability_Medical_ET?hash=item2ea81f212f&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262 about a month ago. While it hasn't completely cured the problem yet, I don't have to change the sheets every night as the alarm wakes her before the bed gets wet. I took her to see the doctor last week as she has brownie camp in a fortnight and they have given me tablets to stop it happening while she is away. I don't want to go down the medication route yet but I was under the impression that if I wanted to then it would be available to us. I'd get her to try a different doctor if she wants the tablets for her.

HelenKA_2

I second the enuresis clinic suggestion - I think it very wrong of the gp to dismiss this at her age by saying she'll grow out of it. The clinic will have paediatric specialist nurses who will (should, anyway) help the mother and the neice in all aspects and will be able to refer if they feel needs be to councelling.

The thing that helped in our case was actually drinking more during the day time - before 6pm and not caffine based drinks at all. We did do the alarm which helped a bit but it was the drinking that made the difference. If she has a couple of days that are not so well watered I know she'll wet the bed so we do have to be on top of the liquids every day.

Mado

She needs to talk to the school nurse if the GP is unhelpful.
I had mentioned DS2 to her in the questionnaire and she phoned me in the summer to know if he was still wetting the bed.
Since he is, she sent me the paperworks and we have just been referred to the enuresis clinic. Will tell you all after the appointement.

I really could do without the expensive and smelly dry nights....

Greener_Grass

I myself was a bed wetter till 13 :eek::eek::eek::o Completely stress related, I was often screamed at every time I did this, threatened that they would show my sheets to my friends, not allowed drinks, had the alarms everything. Nothing stopped it. Only when I went to live with my dad at 14 and I was out of the stressful situation did this stop. Noone ever recognised that i was wetting the bed due to stress but instead it was made out I was an evil child for wetting the bed for so long. I would say stress/ anxiety is probably a huge factor in a child wetting the bed at 9.

I know I haven't had any useful advice but just wanted to share my experience

jog

Hi,

Contact your School Nurse, in our area, they are the ones who do the enuresis work and issue alarms, and will refer on to the paediatricians if needed.

If you don't know who your school nurse is, ask at school for her contact details, you don't have to tell school why you want them.

The School Nurse would also be able to refer to CHAMS or there may be an alterenative support / councelling service in your area.

The GP is wrong to leave it, I would get a second opinion via the School Nurse. She can then write to the GP and let him know what is being done.

Jog

fernliebee

purplegirluk1 wrote: »

Thank you for the reply, as far as I know she has only seen the GP but on many occasions, each time being told that she will grow out of it and that she needs to be 11 to take the tablets. I have just read about the alarm, it does look interesting and could be a good suggestion. The problem is I should imagine that my sister will not have spoken about the emotional issues as she is also suffering and probably doesn't want to admit this could be the reason.

I don't think it needs to be specifically emotional problems to get the alarm, this family member was a very well adjusted, confidant young man, but he just slept very deeply, and needed his sleep. The alarm worked wonders.

The thing is, that all the GP can do really is give the tablets (not until 11) or refer to a specialist and obviously this costs money! :rolleyes:

Personally I would either go and see a different GP, and make sure I told them everything!! Or go back to same GP and get tough. I would make it quite clear that I am tired of being fobbed off and wish to be referred to see a specialist! Take it to the top! It's for her DD best interests after all, as it can be no fun for the little girl, never mind the stress and worry it is causing her mum.