How can a doctor help you solve the problem? The doctor will conduct tests and come up with a diagnosis regarding your child’s condition. He will start by asking several questions about your child’s medical history, bed-wetting patterns, and toilet habits.

It pays to know what to expect when you visit the doctor. Particularly, it would be better to know beforehand the questions the doctor may ask so that you can provide accurate answers. Some of the doctor’s questions may include the following:

Schedule a doctor visit to discuss child's bedwetting

-  Does the condition run in your family?

-  How long has your child been wetting the bed? When did it start?

-  How often does he wet the bed? Does it wake him up?

-  Have your child had dry nights before?

-  How often does he urinate at daytime? Does he have problems with controlling urination?

-  Are there particular foods, drinks, or activities that seem to cause your child’s condition? Does the child drink beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol?

-  Is your kid going through any kind of stressful event or life changes in the family? Does the urination occur more frequently when he is stressed?

- Does the child feel pain and other symptoms when he urinates?

- Does he have a history of urinary tract infection?

- Is there a history of diabetes in your family?

- What other symptoms are present (e.g., pain in the back and abdomen, fever, etc.)?

- What medications does your child take?

- How are things going on at home and at school for your child?

- Do other family members know the problem? How is your child’s condition treated within your family?

- Do you punish the child for wetting the bed?

Next, the doctor will conduct a physical exam on your child. Also, urine tests such as urinalysis, urodynamic studies, and urine culture will be done to check if your child has diabetes or infection. Your child will be checked as well for bladder and urinary tract problems. If the doctor thinks there is something wrong with your child’s body, he may recommend that your child have an X-ray so that the bladder and kidneys can be checked for abnormalities. Your child’s abdomen, urinary opening, and rectum will be checked as well.

Finally, the doctor will make a diagnosis related to bed wetting and discuss your options when it comes to treatment. Take heed of your doctor’s advice so that your child can stop wetting the bed soon.

Indeed, enuresis has many unpleasant effects on both the child and the parents. But these effects can be minimized if parents do away with all the misconceptions and learn the truth about their children’s condition.  The following are the myths and facts about enuresis that every parent should know:

Myth 1: Bedwetters are too lazy to control their urination
This assumption is not only inaccurate, but also destructive because it only makes the child feel bad about himself. The truth is, bedwetters have no control over their condition.

Myth 2: Children who wet their bed have emotional or mental problems
This misconception may have stemmed from the fact that autistic children usually wet their bed. That is not the case in most bedwetters. Although enuresis results in psychological problems such as low self-esteem, these problems do not cause children to wet their bed. But stress and other emotional issues such as divorce of parents or death of a loved one can trigger enuresis in children who previously have had dry nights.

Myth 3: Wearing diapers at night will slow down the process of getting rid of the habit
Experts say that using diapers does not prevent a child from outgrowing enuresis on his own. In fact, diapers offer some benefits. For the bedwetters, diapers prevent them from getting wet and cold when they wake up. For parents, diapers spare them the burden of changing the bed covers or washing the mattresses frequently.

Myth 4: Fluid intake before bedtime causes enuresis
Yes, restricting the amount of fluid intake before your child goes to sleep can lessen the volume of urine released during nighttime. However, drinking liquids before bedtime does not cause the child to wet his bed.

Fact 1: Enuresis is hereditary.
If there is a history of enuresis in your family, your child is likely to become a bed wetter. Three out of four children who suffer from the condition have a family history of enuresis.

Fact 2: Some bedwetters have a functionally small (not anatomically small) bladder
This means these children quickly feel a full bladder, so the urge to urinate is frequent.

Fact 3: Bedwetters find it hard to rouse from sleep, which keeps them from responding to their body’s signal to urinate

Fact 4: Hormonal imbalance causes enuresis
Some children lack the amount of anti-diuretic hormone that signals the kidneys to produce less urine while they sleep. The result? More urine at nighttime.

Fact 5: Enuresis may be a symptom of underlying medical conditions
If your child suffers from bed wetting, it is likely that he may have one or two of the following diseases: diabetes, urinary tract infection, sleep apnea, spinal cord problems, and constipation.

Bedwetting could be a symptom of underlying medical conditions

It is recommended that you visit a doctor to have your child checked and to get advice on the possible treatment methods to stop enuresis.

Of course, adult enuresis is very embarrassing. It is enough reason to get teased by friends and colleagues and to shun friendships, relationships, and enjoyable activities in life. However, adult bedwetters must recognize the fact that they have the condition and need to seek medical help.

The first step in properly dealing with adult enuresis is determining its possible causes.

Adult enuresis is very embarrassing

Stress
Stressful situations and emotional struggles may cause a person to pee during his sleep. There are ways to manage stress and control enuresis. These include listening to music, performing relaxation and breathing techniques, or engaging in sports and physically challenging activities.

Natural aging process
As people age, their body deteriorates. This leads to slower movements and reflexes. Thus, the older an adult gets, his urinary control decreases.

Fluid intake
Drinking excessive amounts of liquid just before hitting the sack may cause a person to wet his bed.

Coffee, tea, and alcohol
Coffee, tea, soda, and other beverages with caffeine content trigger production of more urine in the body. Alcohol, for its part, makes the control in the bladder muscle weaker. Avoid these drinks especially at night to keep yourself from wetting the bed.

Diuretic medications
There are drugs that can trigger enuresis. For example diuretics are taken to prevent heart failure caused by kidney problems. However, taking the drug can take its toll on your urination control at night.

Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) imbalance
ADH controls the release of urine by the urinary system. If the body lacks this hormone, chances are the person will experience wet nights.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)
UTI can cause problems in releasing urine from the body especially during sleep. A tumor or swelling in the lower urinary tract can also cause involuntary wetting at night.

So what is the best thing to do if you are prone to wetting the bed? First, you can train your bladder to empty urine at particular time intervals. Pelvic muscle exercises are a good way to be able to control urination at nighttime. This workout, which makes the bladder muscles stronger, must be done two to three times every day for at least four weeks.

If you are taking diuretic drugs, take them during the day or at least eight hours before bedtime. Visit your doctor to find out the medication options you have to be able to cure enuresis.

Controlling adult bed wetting is no different from that of children. The only difference is that you are in charge of your own body (not your parent), so be careful when considering the different treatment options available for your condition.