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Bob raises his hand—though he would rather not! Accidents do not happen every night but once feels like plenty and twice is too many.
Parkinson’s can affect the autonomic nervous system and interfere with messages between the brain and bladder. That may cause urgency, frequent urination, nighttime trips, or urge incontinence—when the bladder shouts “Go!” but forgets to give Bob enough time to get there.
Parkinson’s can create an unfair race:
the bladder moves quickly, but Bob has the Parkinson’s pace.
Stiffness, poor balance, freezing, trouble leaving bed, or wrestling with clothing may prevent someone from reaching the bathroom before the bladder charges ahead.
In Bob’s case, dry mouth and a dry throat make him drink more. When he drinks heavily late in the evening and his medication and exhaustion make him sleep deeply, he sometimes awakens startled after urination has already begun. Bob can usually stop, get up, and finish in the bathroom—but his bladder occasionally starts the race before Bob is fully awake!
Parkinson’s is not always the only explanation. Urinary infections, constipation, an enlarged prostate, diabetes, pelvic-floor problems, sleep apnea, diuretics, and other medications can contribute. Trouble starting, a weak stream, or feeling that the bladder never empties deserves evaluation.
A urologist can perform a quick bladder scan after you urinate to measure the post-void residual—the urine left inside. A bladder diary can reveal nocturia, meaning waking at night to urinate, or nocturnal polyuria, when an unusually large share of your urine is produced at night. That is not necessarily urine retained during the day; the diary and scan help distinguish the two.
Bob would not simply stop drinking water:
dehydration and constipation may follow right after.
It may help to drink more earlier, reduce large drinks near bedtime if the doctor agrees, avoid evening caffeine or alcohol, and urinate before bed. A night-light, clear path, scheduled trips, and protective underwear may prevent accidents and falls.
Record drinks, medication times, bathroom trips, urgency, leakage, and nighttime awakenings for several days. Take it to your doctor or urologist.
And Bob says:
Bob drinks for his throat till it’s no longer dry,
then sometimes sleeps very deeply as the nighttime rolls by.
Sometimes he awakens—the race has begun—
puts on the brakes, then gets up for the run!
His bladder starts racing while Bob’s moving slow—
and that is one contest Bob would rather not know.
A pad or a plan is no reason for shame;
bladder trouble is medical—it is nobody’s blame.
So, mention the problem and get the right care;
you may find an answer or help waiting there.
When the bladder cries “Hurry!” with no time to spare,
Bob grabs his cane and says, “I’m getting there!”
But if Bob arrives late after giving his all,
he says, “Next time, dear bladder, please give me a call!”
@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, It's more frequent than ever. When I get to the toilet, I have to be sure I've truly emptied my bladder. Even when I'm certain it's empty, it doesn't completely feel that way.
Yes at times
Yes! @A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. More later, when my hands are working better.
Yes, cannot go without a pad almost every day.
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