My husband is 88-years-old and was diagnosed with vascular dementia 18 months ago. Lately, he has been getting up every 1/2 hour or so to urinate, all night long most nights. He doesn’t have this issue during the day. I’m unsure if he’s thinking he needs to go due to his dementia that is rapidly progressing or if it could be for another reason. Thank you for your thoughts!
Eg urine sample for UTI strains, bladder & kidney function, medications with side effects?
Incontinence is a known effect of brain changes of those with dementia. But if it is something else, something with a cure, of course it is better for all to aim for that.
If cure is not possible, then contain: the right incontinence briefs + bed protection + something to help sleep better/longer?
It's exhausting, I know, as I had to get up with him as he was a fall risk. So neither one of us were getting any sleep.
We tried pretty much all the bladder spasm medications and none worked. His urologist also put Botox in his bladder as that is supposed to help calm the bladder down, but that too didn't help.
I would even get up and hold the plastic urinal for him so he wouldn't have to get up so much. And of course by this time he was wearing Depends as well.
After about 8 months of no sleep(which about killed me)his urologist finally recommended that my husband have a supra pubic(permanent)catheter put in, and FINALLY we were both able to sleep through the night. And I only had to empty his catheter bag twice a day. It was a Godsend for sure.
So talk to your husbands urologist and see what he recommends.
I wish you both the very best as I know how very hard this is.
Some increase of trips to BR is normal. But it is still reportable to the MD.