Causes of Bed Wetting: Eat, Drink, and Wet the Bed
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by Sue LaPointe
Well, we’re on a roll with causes of bed wetting theories. Here’s one that seems to make sense. I’m still pretty much sold on the idea that it’s a hereditary issue - but it seems like if there are other causes of bed wetting, they may be more controllable. If it’s just heredity, you kind of have to wait it out until your child reaches the pre-set magical age of dryness. By nature not especially patient, the idea of waiting it out doesn’t appeal to me.
So, here’s what I’ve learned about the food and drink leading to bedwetting theory.
Chocolate
Oh no! Say it isn’t so! Well, actually it’s not necessarily the chocolate; it’s the caffeine in chocolate that may cause bed wetting. What does caffeine do? It stimulates the body, including the bladder. So that evening cup of cocoa or slice of chocolate cake may be a problem. (Gosh, now I’m craving chocolate!)
Soda
Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. Carbonation is rumored to do strange things to immature bladders. Actually, for any adults who drink soda, you know first-hand that a can of Coke is a ticket to the restroom. It’s an effect that’s compounded by caffeine - and the sugar’s probably not helping matters either.
Oranges and Grapefruits
OK, if you’ve actually got a child who will eat grapefruit, I’d like to hear about it! But oranges are another story. I get a strange reaction when I eat oranges (and raw cranberries for some reason) - my face gets hot and I feel kind of funky. So, I’m assuming it’s possible to be allergic to citrus. The citric acid is the most likely culprit. Try cutting back on the orange juice and citrus in your child’s diet to see what happens.
Spicy Stuff
There are some spices out there that could probably be rated pharmaceutical grade. Think of the effect Chinese mustard has on your nose! No doubt some of these spices have an equivalent effect on the bladder. Salsa, Asian food, and other hot, hot, hot foods may be contributing to the bedwetting problem.
Food Allergies
I’ve heard of people whose children are allergic to everything from eggs to wheat, and have to say that dealing with bedwetting is nothing compared to the trouble they have to go through just to feed their children. Couple a serious food allergy with bedwetting, and it’s enough to make you want to retreat to the bath tub for the next ten years! Some allergies cause bladder spasms - which of course, means a bedwetting accident. It’s not just food, either. Some people are really sensitive to preservatives, dyes, and other additives. It doesn’t seem that the only effect of a food allergy would be bedwetting, though. So don’t throw out all your groceries just yet. But if your child has multiple challenges, it’s something to consider. You may have to shop around for an allergist - so be prepared.
So what do you do if you discover your child’s bedwetting problem is caused by a food sensitivity? It’s not like being allergic to a cat - get some shots or send Fluffy to live with Grandma. You’ll have to enroll your child’s compliance on this (so what else is new?). Get your child to see the value, the what’s-in-it-for-me of staying away from what may be a favorite food. Dry nights are pretty valuable - and your child may come to see the tradeoff as worthwhile. The sensitivity may be temporary, too - and that should help.
After all, just the thought of never being able to eat chocolate is cruel and unusual punishment.
While these are all possibilities for bed-wetting, there is one other main reason that has not been mentioned - Sleep patterns. The normal sleep pattern looks like this \^^^ , with the peaks being the REM (Rapid Eye Movement). The bed-wetters pattern looks like this \_____ , a very deep sleep pattern with the person waking up tired and wet. There are medicines available to treat this disorder.
Over the ages there have been many gimmicks and home brews used to stop the bed-wetter, most of them just scared the piss out of them, but few addressed the real issue. Some of my favorites are spankings (thanks dad), electricial shocks (thanks mom), and no drinks or ice cream or food after dinner, and my all time favotite is - Humiliation - it does wonders for a childs self asteem.
Whether its you, a loved one, or your child that wets the bed, have patence and understanding; there is a solution that the two of you can find together.
My wife has started to urinate in our bed at night lately. She is 35 years old. She is Chinese. She goes to the bath room before we go to sleep. She does not show signs of having Fibroids. She has told me that she has urinated in bed about 4 times a year since being a teenager. When she was a child she urinated quite often in bed. This past month she is doing this once a week. This week it has been twice. Any ideas besides psycological? We were thinking of seeing a chinese herb specialist who is the best in this city for curing aliments and disorders.
I would be very gratful if you could supply me with the address/es of firms that sell these medicines for sleep disorders thanks