BATHROOM DREAMS

[jackiegram]

I  recently read a question posed to you regarding a man with nocturia who recently began having "dreams" that he needed to urinate. I dont feel like you really addressed his concerns, since I have the same problem and feel like you totally ignored the problem.  Let me explain this in a different way.  I am 47 years old, female  and have no prior history of bedwetting.  About a year or so ago I began having dreams that I needed to urinate and in my dream I am sitting on the toilet urinating.  Obviously  since I am asleep and vividly dreaming that I am sitting on the commode I cannot make the concious distinction of dream vs reality so I end up urinating in bed while in my mind and in my dream I am urinating on the toilet.  I always wake up immediately afterwards and discover that I was only "dreaming" that I was sitting on the commode and i am laying in a puddle!!!!  I do not have a UTI and have no urinary problems while awake.   The problem is the dreaming!!!!  How do I stop myself from dreamming that I am sitting on a commode urinating??????


This discussion is related to Intermittent Adult Bedwetting.

[Magiabella]

Since I did not see any one address this, I thought I would throw out there my story.  First signs of my medical issue: started getting the strong taste of sour lemons then salt in my mouth,  second was having dreams of urinating, through the course of several years I started to have to go to the bathroom more and more frequently through the night.  Began to sometimes not hold it very well trying to get to bathroom.  Muscle weakness and pain increased in my body.  Finally after losing vision in my left eye everything came together.  I had diabetes insipidus.  Brought on by a rare pituitary issue.  This type of diabetes is rare but often goes undiagnosed for a long time.  They don't look for it.  Chapped lips, despite how much fluid intake there is.  If you go to the bathroom less than 3 hr intervals you may have this.  At night you should have the ability for at least 6 hrs or more before needing to go.  Prostate is different bc they' dribble when the go.  Insipidus patients have a flood of water and it usually is clear.  At my worst I was up every hour through the night.  Just another thought for you to consider.

[Sunshine779]

Although I am sad for everyone dealing with this, I am also so glad to hear, that this seems to be a much more common issue than I thought. I was afraid I was going crazy.

I am a 36 year old female and have had the toilet dreams/bed wetting issue for many years. I would say they started in my early 20's.

At first I just dreamed I was on the toilet, started peeing and then felt the pee on my legs, which woke me up. Most of the time it was just a little pee in my underwear that didn't even make it's way to the sheet yet.

Then I started worrying about doing it again so I started to go to the bathroom as the very last thing I do before bed.

After a while it progressed in me dreaming I was on the toilet and then actually peeing in bed, but not waking up until I had peed a lot. In my dreams I always feel like I just can't pee straight, that the pee keeps running down my legs and I try to pee really carefully.
I would always wake up immediately after the accident happened.  

In trying to avoid these incidents, I now go to the bathroom right before crawling into bed, then I usually read for a while and then go to the bathroom again, even if it's just 15 minutes later.

Sometimes I really wake up at night to go pee. I can not turn the light on or I am unable to fall back asleep. So I usually go to the bathroom in the dark, but when I sit on the toilet I go through a routine of feeling the toilet, looking around, forcing myself to open my eyes, thinking rationally "Am I REALLY awake?" and only then I let go and pee.
Well, my mind is now playing tricks on me and I am going through this same process in my dreams. Just like most of you have mentioned.

Last night I had the toilet dream again, but this time it was worse than ever. I dreamed that my family and friends were ready to go out at night and I had to go pee really quick. I went to the bathroom and peed and peed and peed. It just wouldn't stop. In addition, it went everywhere. I dreamed that I just could not pee straight and that it went all over my legs. I was so annoyed in my dream because everyone was waiting on me and here I couldn't stop peeing and had to clean myself up too.
After I was done I went on to dream that I hadn't even gotten dressed yet and everyone was annoyed that they had to wait for me.

Eventually I woke up and realized, that everything was wet and that I had to go to the bathroom.  I thought that I just had one of my night sweats again (I get them a lot and wake up soaking wet). The fact that my bladder felt full, made me not think of having peed my bed.  
I was too tired to go to the bathroom and continued dozing, but my brain was awake. I remembered my toilet dream but thought to myself, that I would have woken up after peeing.   Then I felt around some more and realized, that my upper back wasn't wet (which it would be with night sweats). So I smelled under the blanket and could definitely smell urine.
I was horrified. Up until now I have NEVER continued to sleep after the incident.

According to a lot of things I have found online this can be caused my stress and psychological problems. I do deal with Anxiety and Depression and am also under a great deal of stress right now.

This is so embarrassing and disgusting. I am afraid to sleep anywhere but at home in case this happens.  

[singerjill]

again, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone.  This happens to me once every few months.  I'm always dreaming that I'm peeing, or that I can't find a toilet and really have to go.  Most of the time, I wake up and rush to the bathroom, but sometimes, by the time I'm actually awake, a little bit has already come out and my underwear is wet and a small part of the sheet is wet.  It's gross.   I always get up, go to the bathroom, clean myself, change clothes, change the sheet and go back to sleep, since iti usually happens about 1 or 2 hours before I'm really ready to get up.  It's so ANNOYING!!!   I wish there was some kind of solution.  I'm going to try talking to myself about it, like someone suggested, and see if that helps.  Glad others wrote here.  If anyone has solutions, please write!

[Deedee_R]

This is a good suggestion. I have another one that has worked for me. I've had the peeing dream since I was a kid and I'm 65 now. I can go quite awhile without having it and then the dreams will start again. This is how I control it....the mind is a powerful thing. For about three days right after I get in bed I tell myself "If I have to go to the bathroom, wake up quick! It's an emergency! If I am LOOKING for a bathroom, wake up quick! It's an emergency!" I know this has worked because as I've started hunting for a bathroom, say in a dept store or someone's house, or even just have the urge to pee, I suddenly wake up. :)  And I realize what has happened. This will last for quite a while but if I start having the problem again I start my bedtime talks/requests again. It's amazing how many times if you give your brain instructions it will do it. :D

[smitty10]

I read your response and solution regarding the pinching.  I really didn't believe that it could have any affect - but thought "what the heck" and decided to try it.  The first two days of pinching myself, I didn't have pee dreams.  Yesterday was day three.  Last night, I had a dream - I was in a public place as usual for these dreams.  When I got to the stall, I remembered that I was supposed to pinch myself.  I couldn't feel anything.  I looked down at my thigh and it looked like I was pinching goose flesh.  I pinched harder and still couldn't feel anything.  I told myself that I was dreaming and had to wake up.  Wow.  I can't believe this actually worked.  I'm trying not to get to optimistic, but I have a couple of questions.  1.  Did this method continue to work for you?  2.  Do you think I will need to pinch myself for the rest of my life?  Thank you so very much.

[freindtoall]

I feel your pain, not only in the "Sleeing Pee" syndrome, but in the "gray divorce" syndrome.  My hubby and I were both overweight and he left me at 23 years.  I didn't start having this problem until after the divorce, but I really don't think it is related, but I did read somewhere that stress makes it more likely...
I know that it has been over a year since you posted this, but I just wanted to give you a word of encouragement. My divorce has been final now for two years and, though I am alone, I am much happier than I was when I was married to someone who didn't want to be in the marriage.

[medicinebag]

Its unpredictable when the pee dream will occur.  I just learned to be ready for it. When it happens, I'm usually dreaming that I'm in a public place like a restaurant, fair or some festive event  Then as some other posters describe, there is a sense of urgency as someone is waiting for you outside.  Then the struggle begins between my brain telling me to go ahead and pee its safe hurry because people are waiting on you and your conscious telling me that I am not really sitting on the toilet and don't fall for the trick again. But physically I am paralized because I can't move or feel anything while sitting their in that tiny stall.  I finally used the paralysis as a way to measure if the dream is real or not.  Often while peeing in the dream it is very hard for the pee to come out as I feel this terrible strain. I figure its my bladder fighting to help me hold it in as to not be tricked again. Then I decide I will pinch myself as hard as I can and If I can't feel that pinch, I convince myself not to keep peeing no matter what even though the dream seems so real. It then becomes a battle because I pee a little and even though it hurts something tells me to keep going its safe to pee. Then I pinch myself hard again. If I can't feel it the I don't pee no matter if it hurts or not. Then the discomfort, which is real, usually wakes me up in time.  Then I am awake and go to the real toilet.  I then pinch myself and it hurts, so I know I'm not dreaming, The trick is to pinch yourself hard in the dream and if you don't feel anything don't give in no matter what.