DS wees too often at school - 8 yo

[jambomum]

DS is 8 yo - teacher has asked me if he has a problem as he repeatedly asks to go to loo. I think he just wants a break from the lessons, but I'm slightly worried as I do find that sometimes, he'll go to toilet, then literally 5 mins later say he needs again.
I put it down to being an 8yo boy, who doesn't concentrate on much other than lego, books and tv.
Anyone had a similar thing that has been a medical problem?
Am aware that it could also be a psychological thing; anyone any experience of that?

Thanks

A lot of weeing can be diabetes - any other signs that you're aware of?

I doubt he's doing it to get a break, if he's going a couple of times in the same lesson, 5 minutes apart.

Not bullying - someone poking him in the back etc? Could the teacher move him and see how it settles?

Does he go frequently at home? If not, it could be a case of work avoidance especially if you say he easily loses interest?

PeterParker - certainly not losing weight ! nor drinking a lot. Type 2 diabetes in family but not until middle age. Will keep an eye on that.
Last year's teacher said the same thing, but I wasn't aware that it had continued until I saw teacher this week. ( can't be a serious concern of teacher as waited until the open day when I went in, to tell me about it??!!)
TillyMint- I've not noticed him going frequently at home, but he does that thing when we're out, where we have to return to the loos in John Lewis 5 mins after we'd left.
Just not sure whether to tell him that he must alter his behaviour, or whether it is likely to be something medical, so he can't.

My first thought, which could be completely wrong, was that maybe he's anxious about going in the school toilet and so only does a little dribble at a time which would mean he still has a reasonably full bladder on his return. Could it be something like that? Could you ask him if he goes for a big wee or a little wee each time?

I had the same thing with my 7 yr old. It was also at home as well as school. Sometimes she'd go 4 times in the space of 1/2 hr! After a few visits to the GP to rule out UTIs I found this thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/709643-Anyone-heard-of-pollakiuria-It-means-frequent-peeing/AllOnOnePage.
We talked all this through with DD and it really seems to have done the trick. We now talk about 'big wees' and 'little wees when she's just a bit a worried about something'. She's also still not dry at night and I think was anxious about that and worried about accidents. Day time dryness took a while too and she was still having the odd accident in Reception and so I think all this stuff was anxiety-inducing for her. Obviously you should talk to your GP too!

Sydney B this sounds entirely possible. He is quite lacking in confidence and worries about things a lot. I just wish I could pour confidence into him. Maybe I need to think about some help for both him and me.

Thanks for your tip about 'big wees' and 'little wees' that sounds like a great idea.

DD is a worrier too. When I explained how the bladder works she definitely seemed to get it and it has made quite a difference I would say. Good luck!

I think you should take him to the GP just to be sure. My cousins son was only diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because my aunt was worried about how often he went to the toilet.

And the big wees and little wees talk sounds like a really good idea too

This thread could have been written about my DS. He is the same age and his teacher last year told us he was asking to go to the toilet a lot and it is happening again this year. Our DS has been to see a paediatrician and has had flow tests etc. The paediatrician wasn't worried and said he probably wasn't emptying his bladder fully and so needed to wee again a short time later.
Probably a good idea to have DS checked out to rule out any medical problems though.

Dustin - thx I'll do that first.