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Original poster

Do you wake up to go toilet during the night?

143 replies

changingchaali · 07/04/2024 00:02

Just wondering really.
My friend thinks I have a problem because I wake to go wee during the night. I've always done it. Not an age thing but I drink loads of water during the day
She reckons she never has the urge and can sleep for 12 hours
I also remember my ex never getting up to wee either
It's fine right? Please just tell me she has an iron bladder lol

OP posts:
Vettrianofan · 07/04/2024 08:40

Onelifeonly · 07/04/2024 07:33

I don't think I did when I was younger (under 50, say). But yes I often do. I avoid tea close to bedtime which helps. But I also often wake up briefly for no reason and sometimes go to the loo then if I don’t go straight back to sleep, even though I'm not bursting. However I've heard that the more you do this, the more you'll wake up to do it - which I think is true.

Yes this has crossed my mind too. Perhaps I have trained myself to wake up all these years and now it's habitual.

AllTheMiniEggs · 07/04/2024 08:40

No, never. Sometimes I forget to go when I get up as I don't usually need to.

Hoglet70 · 07/04/2024 08:58

Yep, always have. I drink loads throughout the day and evening, take two pints of water to bed and it is totally my own fault!

Turtlegurl888 · 07/04/2024 09:00

Vettrianofan · 07/04/2024 08:36

Top Trumps on how many litres of water one can drink in a day...

So far on this thread, 2L, now 3L....

Any manage 4L in a day?

Show quote history

I really don't think 2 litres is a lot to drink in a whole day at all. I probably drink about 3 litres between waking at 5am and sleeping at 10pm and I don't feel like I drink enough/to excess. But I suppose it depends what you're doing. On warmer days easily 3.5 litres or more. Weird thing to snark on? You drink as much as you need to surely depending on your activity level, medical needs, etc. If I drank any less than 2 litres a day I'd have a banging headache.

NecessaryNC24 · 07/04/2024 09:03

Sometimes once, but many other times I dream about trying to get to a toilet but never quite getting there Grin.

StMarieforme · 07/04/2024 09:12

Only when I'm following Slimming World!

I have just had to come off it (again) as it makes me pop all day and pee all night. Can't be doing with that.

Normally, at 61, I sleep all night without needing the loo.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 07/04/2024 09:15

I don't, never have done. I have a cup of tea just before going to bed and drink plenty throughout the day.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 07/04/2024 09:16

I do but these days only once. Used to be several times. I tried to talk to midwife and gp about it and just got told I must have not worked hard enough at my pelvic floor exercises.
Turned out to be a fibroid. After that was removed it was like magic, suddenly I was sleeping better.
Gynaelogical care is so shit in this country.

fieldsofbutterflies · 07/04/2024 09:16

Yes, at least once every night and I have done my entire life.

Rosesanddaisies1 · 07/04/2024 09:18

Only since being pregnant. Can you try and drink earlier in the day, and less/nothing in evening?

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 07/04/2024 09:19

No, I don't sleep well but never need to get up for a wee in the night.

I drink 2.5 litres of water (plus tea & coffee) in the day but must have all the liquid out of my system by 11pm!

InferiorDesign · 07/04/2024 09:19

Yep, usually once. Last night five times - sigh

SevenSeasOfRhye · 07/04/2024 09:20

Usually more than once - it is psychological as I can't drop off with a partly full bladder even if I'm not desperate.

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 07/04/2024 09:21

@Vettrianofan I'd be concerned if someone wasn't drinking at least 2 litres of water a day, it really isn't a lot.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 07/04/2024 09:23

Blythe1973 · 07/04/2024 07:51

@Pinkpinkpink15

Not doubting at all! Just never had this conversation before and made me really think I must have a rubbish bladder.. I only drink about a litre and up twice in night but I drink a cup of tea before bed. I always assumed anyone who drinks two litres would be up all night it just goes to show it's not true! What an eye opener. My DH up twice and says oh it's because I drink loads. This is a great thread lol

@Blythe1973

then why say. Wow as if

???

Really rude.

Elebag · 07/04/2024 09:26

Never. I'm 49 and drink lots of water.
I don't have caffeine after about 3pm though and I don't drink alcohol.

EBearhug · 07/04/2024 09:41

Not usually, though I did recently with a UTI.

I have had to at times in the past, usually when I'm going through insomnia (my body's go-to stress response) - and then my bladder gets in the habit of it, and I need to train myself out of it, by putting off going as long as I can, so I go from 4am to 5am to 6am and eventually through to my normal waking time. It can take a week or two.

marmitegirl01 · 07/04/2024 09:50

Yes I did once or twice every night. But since being on HRT I wake up once every two weeks or so.
It's helped so much with my sleep.

SallyWD · 07/04/2024 10:02

I find it hard to sleep even if I only have a little urine in my bladder. Maybe my bladder is sensitive but I get this tickly feeling in my bladder and just have to empty it.
I always go (twice) just before sleeping then wake up 20 mins later before I'm in a deep sleep, to go again. Then wake up in the middle of the night for another wee!

Shellingbynight · 07/04/2024 10:05

Yes, I have always woken up in the night for a wee.

I can remember just one single night a couple of years ago when I didn't wake up till 7 and was amazed I hadn't needed a wee in the night! It has never happened again...

mondaytosunday · 07/04/2024 10:37

Yes - not when I was younger though. Post menopause it's at least once and can be three times a night. Can't tell you what age I started to get up but don't really recall having to when I first got married (40).
But I can go hours and hours during the day and have friends that go every two hours.

Justalake · 07/04/2024 10:38

I sometimes wake up around 3-4AM for a wee. However after waking up properly at 7AM I always need a big wee

valensiwalensi · 07/04/2024 10:48

I have always needed to get up and pee since I was little! DH doesn’t

CrushingOnRubies · 07/04/2024 11:02

I only go in the night if I'm having a bad nights sleep for whatever reason

I remember something from a uni lecture. That your bladder is more active / creates more urine when you're lying down than standing up. But that's counteracted by your body resting during sleep. But if you're a light sleeper you produce more urine as you're lying down. Age also is a factor especially as older people tend to be lighter sleepers.

This mechanism is also why you need a wee first thing in the morning because as you've slowly woken up lying down your body produces more urine.

And why men have "morning glory " because the wee presses on the prostate which creates an erection

jojojojoj · 07/04/2024 11:13

I limit the amount of liquid I drink in the evening on a work night so I don't need to visit the toilet during the night. I try and drink a lot in the morning and afternoon. It is one of the reasons I rarely drink beer or wine in the evenings.