62 year old man urinating frequently in the night

[flutterby77]

My dad is staying with me for a month, the toilet is next to my room and I am a very light sleeper. I can hear him getting up to urinate probably around 7-8 times in the night. The last time he went twice in a half hour period. I know he's had PSA testing a while back and was also tested for diabetes at the time which was negative. Quite apart from the negative effect on my sleep this can't be normal or sustainable, has anyone got any experiences to share as I think I need to talk to him about this. I don't think it's as frequent during the day but I probably wouldn't notice it as much.

[TimidLividyetagain]

Can also be an enlard prostate causing not fully emptying bladder but constant urge to wee

[mando12345]

My husband has this and has an annual psa test which is always fine, so if they have checked the psa then no worries there.
With regards to the diabetes can you find out his blood sugar level, sometimes gps don't tell people when they are pre diabetic.

I was diagnosed (just) pre diabetic a few years ago, I took it very seriously once I got my Blood sugar down to normal levels I no longer had to get up in the night to wee, and still don't.

[booellesmum]

My dad had an enlarged prostate and needed to get up 5/6 times a night.
The hospital put him on tablets that were meant to help but made no difference at all.
He was meant to go back to discuss surgery but refused to go back.
He did not have cancer btw.
I think your dad needs to see his GP as the disturbed sleep can't be great for him either.

[flutterby77]

Thanks so much! I do have a BGL monitor as my son gets hypoglycaemia. He is overweight and I wouldn't be surprised if he had type 2. Does it have the same symptoms as type 1? I might ask if he wants me to test him. The effect on his sleep is devastating, he is always dropping off and he suffers depression. If it's like this every night it's not surprising. My mum died 18 months ago and I know she used to keep on top of things like this for him, I live a long way away and see him rarely so I'm surprised at this although I knew he had issues. I'll ask him about the last time he had a psa.

[mando12345]

Sorry forgot to say my husband does have an enlarged prostate hence the annual psa test. He manages not to get up to much at night by not drinking too much in the evening.

When I was pre diabetic I was always tired, if I say down after lunch I would fall asleep. Once I got my blood sugar normal I felt so much more alert!

[mando12345]

Sorry to hear about your mum.

[CMOTDibbler]

If he doesn't go a lot in the day, its most likely benign prostatic hyperplasia - the prostate gets bigger with age and basically blocks the bladder outlet so men don't empty their bladder properly, have a very slow 'stream' and can find it harder at night (I guess in the day you can ignore a fullish bladder but can't settle at night).

Its easily treated with tablets initially, or a very minor operation to open things up inside - my dad had it done and even though he's in very bad health he was back out the same day, no pain, and it made a massive difference

[PollyPerky]

Your dad is not that old for this.
Going that often at night is not good. (DH gets up once or twice and has an enlarged prostate as do most men over 60.)

There are various possible causes. First is he really needs a thorough check up at the drs. My dad has kidney disease (he's in his 90s) and goes to the loo many times a night as the kidneys work better at night with old people. He passes hardly any urine daytime.

Your dad could have diabetes, or a urine infection, or an enlarged prostate, or even a bladder tumour. He needs to see his GP.

[RTKangaMummy]

Sorry about your Mum 

Please get your dad to GP ASAP

Ask for a PSA and a digital rectal exam my DH has prostate cancer and so IME he needs the exam as well cos low PSA doesn't always mean no PCa

It depends which particular type of cancer it is whether is gives out high PSA

Look on prostate cancer uk org they are brilliant also you can ring their helpline the nurses are amazing, you can ring as well as your dad to talk it all over

There is also info on there about other problems with prostate that aren't cancer, there are several of them and hope your dad has one of them, but please get him checked out ASAP

Good luck

[RTKangaMummy]

here is the link again hope this one works

[Davros]

As well as all the great advice above, a male friend told me that giving up caffeine transformed his nighttime weeing problems