How To Get a Good Night's Sleep Despite OAB/Incontinence

Get a good night's rest despite having an OAB.

Having incontinence can take a real toll on your ability to sleep. Getting up several times a night to use the bathroom means disrupted sleep at best. Sleep deprivation due to incontinence can have emotional and physical effects. In fact, in a study done on the effects of incontinence, most report that their sense of normalcy is impacted by sleep disruption. In addition to that, there are some other dangers. For example, leaking on the way to the bathroom can put you at risk for falls. So what can you do to get a good night’s rest despite having an overactive bladder? Consider the following:

1. Understand what is happening. Nocturia is a condition or name for having multiple bathroom visits during the night. The more you wake up at night to use the bathroom, the more your sleep patterns get disturbed. Constant sleep interruption takes its toll. It can leave a person feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and even depressed. Understanding that these symptoms may be caused by lack of sleep can help you treat them, and in doing so get a better night’s rest.

2. Invest in some great absorbent products. There are many products designed specifically for overnight use, that can allow the wearer to stay in bed. These absorbent products are designed with absorbent cores to wick moisture away from the skin, keeping it healthy. They have flexible leg and waist holes to protect against leaks. They are a great way to protect your bed and yourself and get the sleep you need. In addition, there are bed pads, rails, lighting and other products designed to minimize the inconvenience and improve safety if the urge to go strikes at night.

If you are unsure about what absorbent products to get, consider sampling before you buy a case. You can find samples of over 100 products.  

Try our Sample Service to avoid wasting money.

3. Try therapies and treatments to relieve symptoms. There are different options for treating incontinence. Some involve therapy, some involve bladder training. There are medications, surgery, and other procedures. Talk to your doctor about what the best options are for your specific case. In the meantime, consider daily Kegels exercises to help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, and thus reduce the urge to go, as well as the risk of leaking due to stress or pressure.

4. Don’t let embarrassment isolate you. This may not seem like a way to get a good night’s rest, but some of the sleep disruption that occurs due to incontinence has to do with anxiety and stress related to incontinence. Talk to your doctor, join an OAB community, get emotional support from family and friends. Find a way to cope with an overactive bladder and feel part of a wider community because of it, rather than letting it isolate you.

5. Be conscious about fluid intake before bed. It is important not to allow yourself to become dehydrated as this can worsen the symptoms of incontinence, but that does not mean you have to guzzle water before bed. Cut yourself off a few hours before you go to bed.

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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