enuresis

I have spent a lot of time researching this. There is definitely a correlation between children with ADHD and/or learning disabilities and enuresis. Alarm systems work for some children (Travis International has a particularly good system) but it didn’t work for my son. His situation may be especially complicated because he has had a kidney transplant and other medical issues. He may also have sleep apnea which may also be a part of the puzzle.

Some children resolve this when they take essential fatty acids which are an excellent nutritional treatment for ADHD (see The LCP Solution: The Remarkable Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia by Dr. Jacqueline Stordy).

Another treatment that addresses the neurological issues of enuresis is neurofeedback which also addresses ADHD, sleep disorders and anxiety. Apparently neurofeedback is controversial in some quarters but the more I learn about it, the more scientifically valid it seems and we are about to embark on some treatments. You can surf the internet to get a lot of information about it. The main thing is that you have to go to a very experienced practitioner who really knows what he/she is doing. They can look at your son’s brainwaves and determine if they have a sleep disorder (and ADHD) that is contributing to enuresis. It is an objective measure. Good luck and let us know if and how you tackle this problem!

We had success with an alarm with my daughter (it happened to be the Palco brand, but there are others I’m sure). She is not ADD, but has LDs due to a head injury. Most important was understanding that she was such a deep sleeper that no alarm was going to wake her up. Therefore the plan was that I would wake up when the alarm went off and consistently wake her up, explain that she needed to get up and walk to the bathroom and try to urinate and then she needed to change her clothes and put a towel over the wet spot in the bed. She also had to change her bedsheets in the morning. My job was also to keep the tone pleasant and encouraging at all times. After only a month she learned to wake up when the bladder called and she has never bedwet again. After all it is easier to get up and simply go to the bathroom than to have to get up anyway after getting wet AND have to change clothes and change her sheets in the morning too. We kept a reward chart that was also a big motivator for her, because she earned something (not too expensive) that she really wanted. Alarms fail for children whose primary problem is deep sleep when the parents expect the alarm to wake up the child.

Both my own ADD sons had this problem too. Their attention spans didn’t wake them up and I’ve read there is a correlation.

Our approach was to wake them up before we went to bed -usually around 11 or even 12 -and have them go to the bathroom again then. We also didn’t encourage big drinks of water or juice after dinner time.

It helped a lot and eventually they both got to the point where they could manage it on their own.

Dear Amyf,
I might have an answer to your problem. My daughter is 10 years old and has adhd along with enuresis. Battling this for years, going to urologist saying there is nothing wrong just and immature bladder. (She has both day and night time accidents). Ask your doctor about Ditropan. A bladder tranquilizer.
This has really made a difference in Angelas life. Gives her better control.In PM
No milk or citrus fruits or juice-tends to stimulate the bladder. Try this you might have some success. AND before you go any where or leave from any where have them do a “BATHROOM CHECK”.

Hope this info helps you
Ditropan comes in liquid form Angela takes 1 tsp a day)

Marie

Let me know how things go!
[email protected] wrote:
>
> A new question. Are there many of you who are dealing with
> night time bed wetting? Both my guys are add/adhd, one is
> 91/2 the other is 12. I have been to the doc, we have nose
> spray which works ok except they can only use it occasionally
> like sleepovers and the like. Have you used any of the alarms
> systems? I understand it is most likely part of their
> immature nervous system, they have been tested for other
> causes.I just feel bad for my guys especially my 12 yr old
> when he has more accidents at times than his younger
> brother.The past 2 weeks have been especially bad for him.
> Anyway, just wanted to ask what has been successful for you
> all or if there are other folks dealing with this too.Thanks.

I saw my kids’ pediatrician today for med refills and discussed the bedwetting problem. He has previously prescribed ddavp nose spray but it could only be used occasionally. He told me today that they have it in pill form(the ddavp) that the boys can take each night for up to 6 months. It had to be ordered, let’s hope this helps. Doc says if not, the next step is the urologist. The nose spray works when they use it so I am hoping for success.I asked about the ditropan, he said it was used for urge incontinence often for older ladies and sometimes younger kids, he said it was not appropriate for my guys’ usually occasional night time problem. But thanks for all your info folks, I surely appreciate it.

My 13 yr. old ADHD,LD son has the same problem of night time enuresis. Both my husband and I were bedwetters. We never tried the alarm. We tried the DDVAP both spray and pill with little success. The Dr. told us that when adolescence kicks in it will go away….and guess what, now he is only wet 2-3 nights/wk. I hope this is a good sign. It does get in the way, and it is time for it to go away, poor kid.We do praise and encourage him.

So far so good, the tablets seem to be working. Keep my fingers crossed :o) I will let y’all know the long term results. Thanks for your info.