Getting up in the night to pee (female)

mrs_mum_3

Can anyone help?
In the dyatime I'm a normal person (well for a 47 year old) I drink normally and goto the loo every 2-4 hours
At night, it's a completely different matter!
Once I get into bed and start trying to drop off I'm soon reminded of the need to go to the loo. I'm out of bed and up to the loo every 10 - 15 minutes passing tiny amounts of urine, back in bed but 10 minutes later back on the loo.
I drink red wine but have recvently knocked this off toward bedtime
I have tried decaff tea and recently, because this hasn't helped have now switched to cranberry juice.
I'ts not a recent thing, been going on a few years but it's now doing my head in and leaving me exhausted in the day time
When I do drop off or on those occasions when I manage to get straight off I may wake up after a few hours to go to the loo and then just drop straight off to sleep but the problem seems to be in the first part of the night when I'm just lying in bed trying to drop off.
Does anyone know what could be causing this or suggestions as to how I resolve it?
(BTW - if relevant 2 pregnancies and children age 8 and 4)

XXX

kitschkitty

Sorry, but I think it's something you need to discuss with your doctor, be it a medical or lifestyle issue, they can give you advice and management/treatment options.

FelinePrincess

Hi Mrs Mum,

I actually have a similar problem to you! Whilst waiting to go to sleep, I get up frequently (probably same sort of frequency as you but not sure) to use the bathroom, most of the time the amount is so small it's like I didn't even need to go! Just like you I'm fine once I'm alsleep but I do wake up every few hours to use the bathroom, then go straight back to sleep. I'm a bit better if I'm really, really tired, if that the case I usually only wake up once or twice.

I always thought this was an OCD of mine, well the getting up constantly till I fall asleep part. I rarely drink alcohol (but it doesn't seem to affect it one way or another), don't drink tea or coffee but I do drink quite a bit of water, little and often. Actually, each time I get up in the night I always have a mouthful of water before going back to sleep which probably isn't helping matters!

With all this waking up and going back to sleep I do feel like I have a very poor quality of sleep, and constantly feel tired throughout the day. My cat, who sweetly wakes me up throughout the night to snuggle isn't really helping matter either!

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and your not the only one, I've always thought it was an OCD thing of mine, but do let me know if you find out otherwise!

mrs_mum_3

Thanks - hoping it's more a lifestyle/habit/age issue than medical though!

mrs_mum_3

Hi Feline Princess - we crossed!

I am thinking/hoping it's more of a touch of OCD myself - especially as I can go for ages in the daytime without needing the loo

Do I lie there (subconsciously) thinking I'm never going to relax if I need a pee and so keep telling myself I need one.

I wish my brain had an on/off switch! :cool:

vax2002

Drink more wine...

mrs_mum_3

vax2002 wrote: »

Drink more wine...

Thanks
I would need to drink a heck of a lot these days before it knocks me out - other side of that problem is that I wake up a few hours later and can't get back to sleep!
I have no idea why but crashing out and then waking up and being unable to drop back off is a common problem with the booze

XX

FelinePrincess

I'm pretty sure it's OCD in my case, and hopefully your too. I think it's because I really hate it when your just about to fall asleep and you realise you need to pee, so if I'm lying in bed for any amount of time without falling asleep then I get up to go to the bathroom because I'm worried if I don't I might reach that stage where I'm just about to fall asleep and have to get up.

Like you I'm perfectly fine during the day!

I'm really want to sort this out though, not only am I loosing sleep over it but I will be going on a spa break next month and I'll be sharing a room with either 1 or several people and I don't want to annoy everyone but my obsessive getting up in the night!

I've been thinking for a while I should just stay in bed instead of getting up to try and cure myself, but it actually seems easier to just get up then lie there with my head telling me I should go to the bathroom, so I always end up getting up instead. Can't think of any other way to fix an OCD though apart from fighting it!

mrs_mum_3

FelinePrincess wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it's OCD in my case, and hopefully your too. I think it's because I really hate it when your just about to fall asleep and you realise you need to pee, so if I'm lying in bed for any amount of time without falling asleep then I get up to go to the bathroom because I'm worried if I don't I might reach that stage where I'm just about to fall asleep and have to get up.

Like you I'm perfectly fine during the day!

I'm really want to sort this out though, not only am I loosing sleep over it but I will be going on a spa break next month and I'll be sharing a room with either 1 or several people and I don't want to annoy everyone but my obsessive getting up in the night!

I've been thinking for a while I should just stay in bed instead of getting up to try and cure myself, but it actually seems easier to just get up then lie there with my head telling me I should go to the bathroom, so I always end up getting up instead. Can't think of any other way to fix an OCD though apart from fighting it!

Same here - it's easier to get up and go rather than fight it - I'll have a trawl around the www and see if there's more info out there hopefully it's jsut a case of finding some evening drink which causes less bladder irritability.

Thanks - glad to know I'm not the only one!

ashaput

I don't think pregnancy or having child has something to do with this. Go to see your doctor. Just wish it is not something bad.

mrs_mum_3

Omigosh - you lot are worse than my mum!

I'll ring the doc tomorrow and get an appointment - they have a late night on Thursday for working folk so hopefully I'll get an appointment then
XXX