Regaining night-time continence after stroke

[Tressa999]

My husband was totally incontinent after stroke but has gradually regained daytime control, though he often asks for urinal only when it's urgent, which makes for some hectic scenes.

Does anyone have suggestions for regaining control during sleep?  I reject the suggestion that's often given to restrict fluids in the evening.  Plenty of fluid helps keep the blood thin, and frankly I'd rather a flood than thick blood.

Caregiver222, in one of your posts you mentioned helping 100 year old woman regain bladder control.  Was that just in daytime?  what do you do about night?

[caregiver222]

Yes, malatonin reduces the incidence of night time urination. The very last thing you want to do is restrict fluid intake to eliminate urinary incontinence. Unfortunately I have heard thos practice recommended by several RN's who got their credentials by sending in boxtops. There are some medications which are prescribed. There are degrees or urinary incontinence. There is a difference between a little bit of leakage and wholesale urination. Taking Cinammin and chromium GTF (Glucose tolerance factor) will reduce the problem, but not end it.

[Tressa999]

Does melatonin have any effect on nighttime urination?  My husband never has bowel incontinence, only bladder.

[Tressa999]

"if possible, use a facility in the bathroom away from the bedroom as much as possible. Using a urinal at the bedside conditions the release of urine while in the bed."

Interesting idea and perhaps part of his problem.  My husband uses a plastic urinal when he's in bed or in wheelchair.  Unfortunately, I can't transfer him alone and doubt I could get rehab aide to help me each of the many times he needs to pee, altho they're happy to help me get him on the toilet for bowel movement.

He does take a lot of vitamin C and he does have some blood sugar instability (110-160) which we're trying to control with diet and cinnamon and gymena sylvestre etc.  His supplement includes chromium but I'll check whether it's the GTF form.  Just bought one today that includes small amount of vanadium.

[Radak]

While adequate fluid intake is indeed important, you need to check with a professional about its role in blood thinning and whether you could restrict fluids before bedtime and remain OK.
Good luck!

[caregiver222]

Night time incontinence is sometimes due to a disturbance in the circadian rhythyms. The circadian rhythyms induce peristalsis, the contractions that push fecal matter down through the intestines. One was to reset these rhythyms is exposure to 45 minutes of sunlight between 6 A.M. and 9 A.M. Easier said than done. There are sensors within the eye that set this cycle. Another way is to use a few drops of melatonin every evening at the same time. Melatonin is a hormone, a very powerful signaling substance, and it inhibits the bowel from evacuating. It is an old trick of people who transport the elderly on airplanes to give them melatonin to prevent them from having a bowel movement during the plane trip.

[caregiver222]

Everyone is different. In general you want to use the toilet at regular intervals, before bedtime, in the morning, and thirty minutes after meals. Urinary incontinence is a complicated situation, because there are other mechanisms besides stroke that can cause the problem. Getting blood sugars under control can sometimes help in eliminating urinary incontinence. This involves (for starters) eating cinnamon, taking Chromium GTF (Glucose tolerance factor), and drinking an adequate amount of fluid. You need a professional insulin utilization work-up.  Also, vitamin C is a diuretic, and C supplements, often prescribed post stroke, can cause urinary incontinence. Both bowel and bladder control are conditionable, and if possible, use a facility in the bathroom away from the bedroom as much as possible. Using a urinal at the bedside conditions the release of urine while in the bed.