How do I stop going for a wee in the middle of the night every night?

[Gettingonabitnow]

Just that really. I stop drinking fluids latest 7pm, sometimes have a tiny sip around 10 to swallow a tablet. But I’m waking up in the night pretty much every night needing a wee - and it’s not just the sensation of needing a wee, it’s a proper full bladder wee! I’m then awake and don’t get back to sleep for a while. It’s tiring me out.

Grateful for any suggestions. I’m 45 btw. Thanks x

Yep, a nocturnal wee is normal for me as well. I try to limit the amount of water I have, but if I have too little, I then get a night one leg cramp.

Another one where starting HRT and vaginal estrogen sorted it out, went from 2-3 wakings a night to pee to zero within 2-3 months.

I doubt anyone needs all that water. It washes out all the good things like sodium, and it can cause dangerous hypernatremia. But if it works for you, go for it. There's a lot of water in what we eat too.

The function of kidneys closing down to prevent uribe production is hormone based. When children get dry in the night it is because this kicks in, the loss of hormones as we age reinstates it, but fortunately the sensation is familiar in adults so we wake.

I’m the same. I’ve started on vaginal oestrogen and although it’s helped reduce bladder leakage (another unwelcome side effect of menopause) it hasn’t stopped me waking in the night.
I make sure I don’t drink after 7pm, and I’ll go to the loo a couple of times between 7 and 10. Empty my bladder at 10.30 ish before bed, read a book for twenty minutes and I need to go again. I’m convinced I have a second bladder like cows have a second stomach.

I was told by a nurse some years ago that getting up in the night is a habit, and if you ignore it for a couple of nights you'll get out of the habit. This did work for me, but only if I avoided tea after about 4pm. I have got back into the habit now though and I think I'd wet the bed if I tried to hold it in!

Are you very overweight? I was morbidly obese and started waking to pee when I was about 42. It has stopped now since losing the weight, I can’t remember how much I had lost when it stopped but it’s been a long time so maybe about 5 of the 10 stone I have lost? I honestly thought it was just something that came with age/peri but after 9 years I managed to stop it by losing weight.

(not judging you btw, but it can definitely be a factor)

Re the blood tests , apparently if your periods are finished it can useful to get a level before you start on HRT
Whenever I’ve seen a gynae (had lots of issues with HRT bleeding - ok now) they’ve wanted to know my levels before altering any treatment.

This👆It’s just pretty normal for many people after a certain age including men .

Restricting fluids will only make things worse. Once you have reset your hormones like this it is very difficult to go back. Try cutting out tea coffee and alcohol, but I doubt whether it will stop it.

What time do you drink coffee until? I used to have my last cup at around 4 but have now switched to decaf from midday - I no longer wake in the night for a wee and if I do wake for any reason I usually fall straight back to sleep.

If you are 45 there could be a few reasons -

vaginal atrophy

large fibroid pressing on the bladder (this was my reason)

your sleep is interrupted and when you wake up body just senses the needs to pee (HRT / magnesium can help)

your room too cold?

It's normal as you get older.

Drink aloe Vera water

I take vaginal pessaries and still go to the loo once during the night.

I'm pre menopausal so can't say for sure but I have had phases where I have needed a wee in the night and it has become habit. What I do is try to ignore it as long as I can. Sometimes eventually I will need to get up and go, especially when I first start trying to ignore it but eventually I will have nights where I drift off again and at the moment I rarely get up in the night.

I have to do three wees immediately before bed to properly empty my bladder. One downstairs before coming up, then one upstairs when I start my bedtime routine, then one immediately before I get into bed. Sometimes if I get chatting to DH or distracted then it’s out of bed for a fourth. But this means I’m totally empty and sleep through. If not I’m up at 11/12ish!

I thought it was normal to get up in the night to wee. I’ve been doing this since my late 20s, probably even earlier. I remember being able to sleep the whole night when I was at uni but that stopped pretty quickly. I thought it was normal. Several of my housemates at uni used to get up to use the loo at night.

could you have sleep apnoea? I used to get up at least once a night, sometimes twice. Since Ive been on CPAP I sleep right through and dont even need a dash for it in the morning

Don’t ask this site. Schedule an appointment with your PCP (primary care physician) to discuss. You’ll likely be referred to a urologist.

IMHO, medical questions have no business being posted on social media sites.

Sweeteners can irritate the bladder, likewise certain brands of coffee (and tea) are more acidic and do the same @Gettingonabitnow

This was me ages 42ish - at 45 I begged for HRT for other symptoms, and lo and behold, I noticed I no longer woke in the night!! I’m 53 now and still don’t. I also take vaginal oestrogen. It’s definitely worth considering

Half a tea spoon of bicarb in a glass of water a couple of nights a week before bedtime

Do not restrict fluids. It makes your bladder smaller and causes other issues

I take vaginally oestrogen but that didn't seem to make much difference although was helpful for the atrophy and UTIs. What does seem to work is pumpkin seed oil. I don't restrict fluid intake at all but as long as I take thr pumpkin seed oil soft gels regularly, I rarely have to get up in the night. Previously I was up at least once and occasionally as much as three times a night.