Bed-wetting Blues Adults Face

Involuntary bed-wetting impacts adults. 

Have you heard of nocturnal enuresis? It is involuntary bed-wetting, which impacts adults. You may have wet the bed as a child, or have a child that wets the bed. They usually grow out of it, and it stops plaguing them at least by age 7 or 8. But what about adults? 

Approximately 26 million American adults are affected by urinary incontinence and 1-2% of those experience bed-wetting. Adult bed-wetting does happen, and it is uncomfortable, embarrassing, and frustrating. But it is real.

There are any number of reasons an adult may have nocturnal enuresis: neurological disorder, prostate obstruction, diabetes, overactive bladder, complications from childbirth or other medical issues, can all increase risk factors for adult bed-wetting.

What can you do about it? No one wants to tell their doctor they wet the bed at night. That is too embarrassing. So instead, far too many adults hide or “manage” the condition, and limit their life to do so. They start staying in. They isolate. They stop living the way they once did.

This is not a good solution. While it can lessen the embarrassment of others finding out, it does not solve the problem or add to quality of life. But rest assured, there are things that can be done to beat the adult bed-wetting blues.

Step one: Talk to your doctor.
Your doctor can help determine the reason for bed-wetting, reduce risk factors, and help you create a treatment plan to help solve the problem. But that can’t happen if you don’t talk to him/her.

Step two: Change your lifestyle.

What you drink, eat, and do can impact night time wetting. Be sure to hydrate, but cut yourself off a few hours before bed. Use the bathroom right before turning in for the night. Use an alarm mat if needed, or wake yourself up during the night to use the bathroom. Cut out foods that trigger incontinence.

Step three: Manage your symptoms.
Find the right products to help protect you, your mattress, your skin, and your dignity. There are all kinds of absorbent products available, many specifically designed for night use. The right products can help you get through the night with confidence. Size, fit, and style matter.

Step four: Work on a treatment plan

Don’t just treat the symptoms, look for solutions. This could be bladder training, medication, Kegel exercises, surgery, or something else. Talk to your doctor and pursue treatment.

Step five: Keep living.

Don’t let nocturnal enuresis stop you from living and enjoying life. Find ways to manage and treat and continue pursuing goals and passions despite the condition.

The CareGiver Partnership is a great resource for those adults who wet the bed. They have helped provide answers to questions about subjects like nocturnal enuresis for almost ten years. They have a highly knowledgeable, all female team of Product Specialists ready to offer help, and offers a free and convenient Incontinence Product Finder tool on their site which helps you quickly and easily sort through over 650 different incontinence products.

Try our Incontinence Product Finder to avoid wasting money on trial and error.

Further Reading: 

I Wet the Bed, Do You? 

Should You Use Incontinence Bed Pads? 

Help support this ad free blog by answering several questions about caregiving here. It will take just two minutes. 

Call us. We're here to help.

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.