Still another question from Dr. Park

Do any of you get up to go to the bathroom at night?
If so, how many times do you go?
Is it a lot of urine or just a little bit?

[Sarahsmom46]

Yes.  On average at least 1-2 times every single night, but sometimes more especially on weekends for some reason.  Usually only a little urine.

Disclaimer - I'm in the final testing stages for a comprehensive workup for MS, and doctor is leaning in that direction.  Regardless, I do have a neurological issue, hence why I thought a response to your question (MS members0 might be helpful.  You can count me or not depending on why the question is being asked.  :)

[opie74]

Every night within the first hour, 3 times.  I can usually make it until the wee hours before the next one.  I sometomes skip the wee hour trip if I have had lunesta.  the first trip is alot, the nex couple of early trips are not so much.  It is enough that I can't sleep because of the sensation, but not much.  If I have a trip in the wee morning, it is alot.  

I am interested to see about this. My neuro wants me to go see my gyno to check for problems.  My next reg appt with him is in June, I am going to wait until then.

Opie Ann

[Eyesnlegs]

Couple of times every night - first time more volume than the second time

[Lulu54]

I impersonate Lionel Ritchie and go ALL  NIGHT LONG some evenings - 3,4,5 times.  Other nights I can go 2-3 hours before being awakened with the urge to go.  Rarely is it a false alarm - I am producing sufficient amounts of urine to understand the urge.

If I self-cath before bed, fully emptying my bladder, AND take a lunesta, I can make it 4-5 hours without arousing.  I try to limit the sleep aid to one or two nights a week.  

L

[Karen99]

Rarely and only if I drink a large amount of fluids.

[hbananas]

1-2 times a night, not much urine.  Used to be 4+ times before starting CPAP.  I have TM, not MS (at least so far.)

[bearsmum]

When my bladder is behaving normally, usually once a night with normal amount of urine, but when it is on its "my gosh I need to go NOW" behaviour, it can be numerous times and its only a dribble

bearsmum

[Khiba]

After switching to Lyrica from Gabapentin and getting off Tramadol, and adding a quart of green smoothies and several ounces of green juice each day, I no longer have to get up at 2 and 4 AM to empty my bladder. I can go all night till 5:30 or 6 AM now. What a blessing.

Khiba

[Erin0313]

  I get up at least 2 times every night to go. Sometimes just as I am falling asleep and then other times I sleep for 1 or 2 hours before the 1st trip. The 1st time is always a good amount of urine and the rest is just enough to feel the urge and make the trip to be more comfortable.

Erin

[Quixotic1]

I am diagnosed.  I awaken twice to urinate most night and do a moderate amount each time.

Quix

[shoshin]

Usually once for a good amount. Twice on bad nights and some nights not at all (but I usually wake up feeling dehydrated with a really dry mouth the next morning).

sho

[PastorDan]

I am undx, so use this as you wish, but I go habitually before turning in, and sleep all night.  In the morning, I have to do a quick assessment whether the dog or I most need immediate attention.  He usually waits.  Volumes vary depending on my fluid intake the previous day, which I've always tried to keep high, since I've had multiple kidney stones.

[Heather3418]

My fluid intake before bed, may mar what you are really looking for.....

I drink Diet Soda up until the time to go to bed.  (Much to my dentist's and Urologists dismay)  I awaken several times a night to hitch a ride on the "piddle express."  Because of my higher fluid intake, I surmise that is the reason I awaken several times.  I have also been diagnosed with Neurogenic Bladder.

My output is probably around one cup on each trip to the 'loo.'

Heather

[essdipity]

I get up almost every night at least once, often more than that if I'm not sleeping well (which is frequently).

My output is generally quite large, but then I have the most stretched and distended bladder in captivity. Cathing hasn't seemed to have reduced capacity at all.

ess

[uk2]

3 to 4 times but its only little and i go often and little during the day.

I have had trouble with urine retention and kindey infections since i got ill.

[saveone]

dx = demylinating disease/white brain matter disease

detrol didn't work so the urologist changed me to vesicare.  That seem to be helping.  Without the meds I am up every two or three hours without much output.

[tbnboys]

Hi,

     At least 3 times every night. Amount is alot.

I was on Detrol LA but it did not work.

[opie74]

It is me again.  Lst night, I went 6 times in 2 hours.  Every time I roll-over, i feel the urge.  It bothers me so bad that I can't sleep.  It varries from 1/4 to 1/2 cup after the first two trips.

[Lulu54]

Dr. Park, Do you have enough answers to tell us what this poll was about and how it fits into sleep disorders?  

[rudyhorse]

At least twice, mind you I have no diagnosis yet.  Usually in the beginning of the night.
And by the way you say the nicest things ! LOL hahahahe

[mae1]

I always get up between 2 to 3 times a night........

[ps103]

I read somewhere (I wish I'd kept it) that pills like Vesicare, etc. can cause memory loss.
I usually wake up and must rush to pee in morning (sometimes not making it) so I sleep with a light pad and cut out the pills altogether.  

But then again- I've had MS for about 17 years, and try to avoid meds. I know the drug companies probably don't agree with me but I'm doing ok.  I take classes/ stay involved/
depend on the LORD and keep my mind going.   ps103

[jensequitur]

Hesitancy/urgency is not a constant symptom, but it is a frequent visitor.  When it's around, I go around two times a night, and normal amounts each time.  During the day it's half a cup at a time.

Right now I'm not having that problem (yay!)

[deborah0904]

one time per night (Rarely 2 times)  alot of urine

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Well, again it looks like the vast majority of the respondents to my question have various degrees of nighttime awakenings to go to the bathroom. I won't get into the possible MS reasons why this can occur, but if you also have a sleep-breathing problem, that's a good reason to have to go, as Laura alluded to in Lionel Ritche's song, "All night long."

If you stop breathing once in a while, tremendous vacuum effects are created in the chest, and blood flow to the heart is diminished. When breathing starts again (after you wake up), blood suddenly rushes back into the heart distending the right atrium. This makes the heart produce ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide), which essentially makes you pee more (since it thinks you have too much volume in your bloodstream).

Another recent study showed that in a group of people who had to get up frequently to go to the bathroom at night, the reason why they got up was due to breathing stoppages, rather then the bladder being full. (Incidentally, the same reason was found for night sweats in women during menopause). This is why in many cases the total volume is not too great. One other study showed that even daytime urgency and urinary frequency could be related to sleep-breathing problems.

Repeated arousals at night can also cause a relative confusion of your involuntary nervous system, which can aggravate problems with your gastrointestinal system, genitourinary system, and reproductive system.

Many of the symptoms described here sound more like neurologic complications of MS, but there are also many of you that probably also have a significant sleep-breathing problem. Notice hbananas' comment about not having to go as much after starting CPAP.

[Lulu54]

Funny how all of this possibly fits into a bigger picture.  A while back I wrote in my journal about Tai Chi class and how I figured I could at least master one part. I then  had to confess that I had failed miserably at something I had done all my life - breathing!  When I started to really focus on my breathing it became apparent that I wasn't doing it right, and probably hadn't done so for years.  I still find myself holding my breath and I would bet that happens in my sleep as well.

I'll be talking to my cardio about a sleep study when I see him in a few weeks.
Laura

[sllowe]

Wow, Dr. Park, thank you so much.

I did not participate in the poll since I limit my water in order not to wake at night, but I was so looking forward to your response.  Thank you for once again for educating us and for opening our minds up to this!

[ps103]

Hi again,  I wanted to say you are so funny.  I bet you're a writer.  Anyway,  I'm so glad you asked Dr.K about alternative therapies.  I've tried a few years ago, including coffee-like high caffine meds (alternative pharmacy)  and a few others. And some other's things I wish I hadn't. (including FDA approved things)

But I was glad to hear that maybe my Ins would cover neuromuscular therapy- maybe this could help my neck pain.  So thanks for asking your question.

Also,  the Dr is RIGHT about EXERCISE  I wish when I was first diagnosed 17 years ago that I'd pushed myself to walk more.  Everyone out there just diagnosed:  LISTEN! Get out there and WALK while you can - even if it's for 20-30 min per day or RUN if you can: go, rest, go, rest, just GO!  (I'm talking to myself too.)
that's what we have to do.  Remember, too, MS does NOT have you- that's NOT who you are-  You just happen to have MS - don't let it RUN your life.  Think about what you CAN do- not what you can't do.  And it should not be your center- you can be disagnosed with other things- believe it or not.

Ok- that's my lecture for the day.     ps103

[Salamander2]

I've been lurking for awhile, but had to respond to your post.

I am up 2-3 times a night.  If I just urinate until I feel I am done, it's not much.  But if I sit and strain,  I can usually get at least 50cc more.  I don't know if the multiple trips to the bathroom are related to retained urine or if I do really need to get up several times.  So, I guess my answer is yes, I get up several times a night.

Salamander2