Urinary incontinence is troubling no matter the time of day, but it is particularly upsetting at night because it disrupts your sleep. Nighttime urinary incontinence comes in two forms: adult nocturnal enuresis and nocturia. The former causes you to wet the bed while you’re asleep, and the latter wakes you up several times a night to go to the bathroom. Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN can help you with your urinary incontinence. Here are some tips you can do at home to keep everything dry while you sleep.
Nighttime Incontinence Strategies
You don’t have complete control over your urinary incontinence but there are things you can do to help stave the symptoms some of the time. Before you hit hay each night
- Don’t drink water or any other fluids a few hours before you go to bed
- Don’t drink bladder-irritating fluids such as alcohol or caffeine at nigh
- Elevate your legs while you watch TV at night before you go to bed
- Use compression stockings while you elevate your legs
- Train your bladder to hold your urine throughout the day
All of these things won’t cost you a dime, except for the compression stockings. When you avoid fluids and elevate your legs, you give your body a chance to purge all the urine before you to go bed.
Things You Can Buy to Help
If you find that you still have trouble throughout the night, it might be time for some professional help. We can examine you and prescribe medication to help you release all your urine prior to bed. We can also prescribe medication to relax your bladder compressions. If you are wetting the bed, a bedwetting alarm will wake you up at the first drop so you can hop out of bed and head to the bathroom.
If you still have trouble, it’s time to take a deep breath and, without feeling ashamed because you are not alone, purchase a plastic mattress cover and urinary incontinence briefs or pads. Don’t be embarrassed. Millions of Americans suffer from urinary incontinence. It’s normal for us to lose control of our bladders as we age and these products protect our mattresses and night clothing from urination.
Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN would be happy to discuss your concerns over urinary incontinence. Call our medical facility in Stockbridge, GA, at 770-474-1919 to set up an appointment with one of our medical professionals. We’ll help you stay dry throughout the day and at night.
