Thanks for all you good people here willing to share your experience. I dont feel quite so alone after finding this site.
Thanks.
Mom has started going to the bathroom every 5-10 minutes just lately. She had an UI so I know how damaging those can be but that is not the case this time. I dont know whether she is forgetting that she just went or what the deal is.
I dont think that she actually needs to go this often because when she is a sleep she doesnt wake to go but about 4 -5 times a night.
Is this like the "eating thing" and she is just simply forgetting that she just went ? Anyone else having this issue?
Then she refused to pee in a sterile jar here at home and couldnt understand why she couldnt do it at the hospital lab.
What a freaking fiasco.
Finally got her to go and the dip stick said "negative"
JessieBelle, I also look at the many trips a day as exercise. That and going to the table are often the only times she gets out of her chair anymore when we're at home.
Panapal, I think my MIL does forget she just went. Just like sometimes she forgets we just ate. I haven't discussed it with her dr. yet, but I think she does have weak muscles. A lot of times, the trips are because she is constipated, but she won't admit to it, she just keeps going and trying to "go" . I have to really watch her and read the signs. Since she still toilets herself, sometimes it's a challenge.
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Therefore, Panapal, I would recommend that your Mom makes an appointment with her primary doctor to discuss this situation. If any medicine prescribed doesn't help, then it could be a case of your Mom forgetting she had just used the bathroom. Hopefully the medicine will allow her to get a good night sleep, as having to get up so often is very disruptive to one's sleep.
I'm 62 years old and I've already noticed changes in my bladder/pelvic muscles when I cough or run water. I can relate to what she is going to at 88. Women have a harder time with this than men. If she doesn't have a UTI, you may want to work with her to strengthen her pelvic muscles as much as she can. I wouldn't expect too much when it comes to elder women, however. It may be more helpful to you to look at it as her getting some exercise with her frequent trips.
Now, there is one big problem with it. It is hard to go anywhere when they have the urge to urinate frequently. You may want to withhold liquids before you go places (but encourage them at other times!). That may decrease her need to go when it will be most inconvenient.