9 year old boy day and bedwetting

[Kempo]

Hi I don't know where to turn. My son has just turned 9 and has always been wet at night and is partially wet during the day. We have seen community nurses who basically told him bluntly to drink more and that is that. Two years ago the doctor put him on medication but that didn't solve the problem. We do struggle with his behaviour and find It all a bit of a battle. He doesn't seem to mind that he is wet. We are concerned as he has a residential with school in 2 months and he is worried about wearing pullups at night. I have just made another doctors appointment but find it hard to get any help further than that. What if there is a problem with his bladder? Can anyone recommend anything else I can try please? We are very worried for him but he doesn't seem to care or realise how unpleasant it is smelling of wee. Thanks in advance.

[CN4321]

I'm not sure I have any advice as to what you can try, but just to let you know my son is nearly 8 and struggles with a similar thing. He has been constipated since he was a baby and they say the issue with his bladder is that it doesn't empty properly and twitches when he needs the toilet which causes the leaking. He is now pretty much dry at night thanks to using a bed alarm that we got off Amazon. The first month or so was tough with it going off lots of times, but it eased off after that and once he was dry for 2 weeks we said he could remove it. He did have a relapse and we started using the alarm again and it seemed to fix itself again after a few weeks.

Good luck

[sudoko5]

we had similar advice about drinking more- my son can go all day and drink nothing. So we just have to constantly put a drink I front of him. school is an issue however as they dont make him drink. they tell him to but do not ensure he has. Strong urine makes the bladder want to go more so im told as it irritates it but lack of drink can also lead to constipation.

[MrsSquirrel in reply to sudoko5]

We have had the same problem. We told school we needed an individual healthcare plan. This is commonly drawn up for children with bladder or bowel problems. I spoke to head and Senco and requested that someone (not the teacher preferably as she has lots of other things to do!) needs to be the responsible adult to monitor and make sure water is drunk. We send a bottle in with marks on side - 1/3 by 10 am another by lunch, last by 2.15 If this does not happen his care needs are not being met, and school need to take responsibility. They in in loco parentis and need to step up. Yes its a pain, yes it needs to happen.

We have a start chart in homework book and staff give him stars when he has completed the full bottle. Like your son, ours does not feel thirst and would go a full day without. We have to supervise fully at home.

We are now on tolterodine and under a consultant after being 2 years under continence nurse team. We told school that water is part of his medical treatment, as dehydration leads to worse problems when wee is concentrated and irritating bladder.

We have trialled using pads/pullups at school for part of the day as his frequent loo trips to void 30mls have been so disruptive.

Hope this helps x