Urinary retention and bedwetting

[trisha1957]

I am new here...have only posted two times
I am not diagnosed  with MS yet. I have several lesions most in the periventricular white matter and the corpus callosum. Radiologist report states either MS or Chronic Microvascular Disease.
My question is does MS cause Urinary retention during the day and bed wetting at night?
I don't drink alcohol and I try to limit my fluid intake at night.
Sometimes during the day I won't go all day long and then remember I better go.  It is hard to urinate...like I have to sqeeze every drop out.  I recently started wearing Depends at night.
Any ideas?
Thanks!!

[Lulu54]

Welcome! You may not have noticed this is a pretty old conversation and many people might not bother to take the time to read it.... but I did!  and here is my thinking-

Incontinence is a huge problem with MS - much more common than people talk about, so that's why I am willing to share my experiences and knowledge.  OBviously I am not a man, but many of the techniques that work for women also work for men....

Intermittent self-catherization helps to really empty the bladder and allow some freedom to get away from the bathroom. IT is a bit more complicated for men to perform because of all the extra 'tubing' you have to negotiate, but it can be mastered.  

Drugs - there are a bunch out there and perhaps you have tried some with no luck - give a go with some others and keep experimenting until you find one that works for you.

If drugs don't work - talk to your UROLOGIST  (you have one, right?) about doing botox for your bladder.  I had it done in July and can't begin to tell you how great it is to go for 6-8 hours without feeling the urge to go.  The leaking and sudden spillage stopped for me immediately after the botox procedure.  

Botox is very often used for men, especially men with spinal cord injuries and is appropriate for MSers  too. I wrote about it in detail and you should find it by searching for Botox in this community.

good luck and don't give up on regaining control - Laura

[BuzzMonkey]

I just found this forum searching for MS and wetting the bed like an infant.
I am 45, dx 2008, dr says back to 92
lost the ability to finish sexually with wife the same time I started to wet the bed and my pants at work.
when I go to the bathroom I sit there for 30 minutes trickling then when I think I am finished and stand up. Got to go some more.   Then at wrk I got to go right now. When I am stuck in safe room with money I can not just walk away and bam. I wet my pants. Black jeans help hide it and sure as hell. It only happens on the days I dont wear a pad. I put a plastic sheet on bed but can not fathom wetting on my wife. She is supportive but I am to the point of eating a bullet. (J/K cant. Have 5 kids)
Just dont know what to do and needed to vent where you wont laugh.

[Buffy1970]

Sorry for not getting back to you.  I am sorry to hear that you are having to quit work.  I can understand and I know that knowing you need to stop will not make it any easier emotionally.  Good luck and don't forget to stay active with your friends here who know what you're going through.  

I've been trying to come to terms with being disabled by symptoms for months and haven't been able to move forward.

As for the doctors... they work for you.  However, keep in mind that other than "do no harm" there is no further duty in the grand USA.  Something that should be changed but for now is a fact.  Research what should be done in your apt (write it down) and ask the doctor to tell you the results of each test or tell you why it wasn't done.  Would have helped me tremendously.

Best of luck!!!!

PS - if you have any more imaging done make sure the doc is sending you to a radiologist with a good rep (maybe ask on this forum).    If you have concerns about imaging center ask doc to send you somewhere else.

[trisha1957]

Thanks for your input.  A week from today is my last day of work after 31 years.  I just cannot do the job anymore because of memory and cognitive problems.
But now that I'll have plenty of time......I plan to get very agressive!  Just because I am 54 they seem to dismiss me.  But I showed my neuro a copy of an MRI I had done 11 years ago which showed one lesion.
Now I have more and he has the nerve to have his nurse call me and tell me that there is no change from the previous MRI.  They also discovered a small fluid filled cyst in the middle of my cervical cord.
So, watch out Neurologists in this area....I am going to demand a diagnosis, or they can completely rule out anything.  One way or another..
My sister and her husband live in Nashville and both are in the music business.  She wants me to come to Nashville and stay with her and see a Neuro there.  I may just do that.  

[trisha1957]

Thanks for your input.  A week from today is my last day of work after 31 years.  I just cannot do the job anymore because of memory and cognitive problems.
But now that I'll have plenty of time......I plan to get very agressive!  Just because I am 54 they seem to dismiss me.  But I showed my neuro a copy of an MRI I had done 11 years ago which showed one lesion.
Now I have more and he has the nerve to have his nurse call me and tell me that there is no change from the previous MRI.  They also discovered a small fluid filled cyst in the middle of my cervical cord.
So, watch out Neurologists in this area....I am going to demand a diagnosis, or they can completely rule out anything.  One way or another..
My sister and her husband live in Nashville and both are in the music business.  She wants me to come to Nashville and stay with her and see a Neuro there.  I may just do that.  

[grannyhotwheels]

This is definetely a symptom of MS... I went through it for years... I would suggest you go see a Urologist... There are medications that can help with the retention and bed wetting...

Up until mine became a surgical matter the medication did help for a while... Just like most things the earlier you get treatment for it the better your out come will be... Hang in there and keep us informed...

I'll be praying,
Carol

[Buffy1970]

I don't have a problem with wetting yet but have had a problem with retention for almost two years now.  My gyno gave me a tip before we realized I was having neuro issues.  He suggested that after going I stand/finish and then sit again and see if anything else will fall out.  My problem is that muscles want to keep everything in... I I'm not sure if this will help (or if it even helps me... .)

I haven't been diagnosed either and rather hope I am wrong about possible MS.  Good luck with your quest for answers.  My only other tip is to know what the doc is supposed to do for in-office visits.  I found out that not one o f the three local beuros gave me a complete in-office exam... didn't watch me walk or stroke the bottom of my feet.  I didn't know untila doc did a complete exam that showed neurological issues with these most basic tests.

[jensequitur]

Yes, definitely MS can cause urinary retention and bed wetting.  I've had problems with retention, and urge incontinence (wetting myself when I cough, sneeze, or throw up.)  I think I also have problems with fully emptying my bladder, as I've had more UTIs recently.