tammyw Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Recently my son who is 5.5 started having pee accidents. He says he doesn't know it's happening. This is VERY unusual for him. He still stays dry through the night (has for years). He pees regularly and drinks only water throughout the day. Today he peed right before piano lesson. Then he finished and played on my iphone while his sister had her lesson. 45 minutes after he last peed, he jumped up and ran to the bathroom and had an accident. I took him to the ped last week as I was worried about possible bladder infection - the test was negative and they didn't find anything worrisome. A friend has suggested I maybe take him to the urologist which sounds like a good idea. I am of course worried. I'd love some words to help me figure this out and ease my mind. (I also posted this over at mothering.com - I am hoping I can hear some stories that this is no big deal). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caedmyn Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I don't know if this is the sort of thing you're looking for, but my older two are sensitive to a naturally occurring food chemical called salicylates (found in most fruits & vegetables, spices, many oils, and some other things I can't think of ATM), and their main symptom is what I call flood peeing. Basically they suddenly have to pee and they can NOT hold it. DD is almost 6 and will have a slight accident (slightly wet panties) every once in a while (like once a month) because she just doesn't stop playing in time. When she has a salicylate reaction, it's like she realizes she has to pee and two seconds later her clothes are wet, the chair has a puddle on it (if she's sitting), or her socks are wet and the floor has a puddle on it (if she's standing). So that might be something to consider if his diet has changed recently or if he's been exposed to anything that could interfere with the way his body processes toxins (ie recent dental cleaning, 5 year booster shots, chemical exposure, etc). http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info has more information on salicylates. Also, low magnesium levels can cause frequent urination. I know if I'm not getting enough magnesium I sometimes wake up 2-3x/night to pee. Epsom salt baths (20+ minutes in very warm water w/2 cups of epsom salts) are a good way to raise magnesium levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 my dd had accidents at almost 4, when she had been fully trained over a year. It turned out she was having absence siezures at the time. Absence siezures are those short siezures where one stares into space for brief periods. She didn't wet every time she had a siezure because found her siezure count over a thousand a day. I started noticing the longer siezures of 30 seconds or more. Occassionally during the longer seizures she wet herself. Basically it was because she had no muscle control during the siezure. First she was treated for the siezures. Then we discovered the siezures were because she had celiac. So, no seizure meds, she's just gluten free and hasn't had a seizure since going gluten free. Now, that I've terrified you. More likely your ds is going through a phase where he doesn't want to be bothered dealing with going to the bathroom. My older ds had a few friends who did this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 oh yes. I forgot about salicylates. My bladder is overactive when I have too many salicylates, but I make it to the bathroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Another possibility is constipation. I'd probably still see the ped urologist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 It can be a chiropractic issue if he's taken a tumble. And being 5, of course he has taken a tumble. :rolleyes: Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockhopper Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Please have his blood glucose checked. Sudden, frequent urination is one of the top symptoms of Type 1 (also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes. It's easy to check, life-threatening if not treated and great peace of mind to be able to rule out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Please have his blood glucose checked. Sudden, frequent urination is one of the top symptoms of Type 1 (also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes. It's easy to check, life-threatening if not treated and great peace of mind to be able to rule out... Eeks. This is scary :( I'll look into this also. His diet hasn't changed a great deal though he has become more picky in the past year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Please have his blood glucose checked. Sudden, frequent urination is one of the top symptoms of Type 1 (also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes. It's easy to check, life-threatening if not treated and great peace of mind to be able to rule out... This. ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Please have his blood glucose checked. Sudden, frequent urination is one of the top symptoms of Type 1 (also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes. It's easy to check, life-threatening if not treated and great peace of mind to be able to rule out... This. ASAP. Diet has nothing to do with Type I diabetes, and it can rear it's ugly head at any time. My niece was diagnosed just shy of her 4 year birthday, so your DS is not too young to be manifesting signs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 This. ASAP. Diet has nothing to do with Type I diabetes, and it can rear it's ugly head at any time. My niece was diagnosed just shy of her 4 year birthday, so your DS is not too young to be manifesting signs. You guys have me really scared now :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 I just made an appt to take him in tomorrow morning again. I will ask about the Type 1 diabetes and also about a possible referral to a urologist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 All of the above :grouphug: Also - is he on any allergy meds? I know that many can make a person have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but with no actual infection..... My younger son had accidents until he was about 5. He'd get so involved in whatever he was playing he wouldn't notice he had ot go until it was too late..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 All of the above :grouphug:Also - is he on any allergy meds? I know that many can make a person have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but with no actual infection..... My younger son had accidents until he was about 5. He'd get so involved in whatever he was playing he wouldn't notice he had ot go until it was too late..... No medications at all. This is just SO new and random that it makes me nervous. If he'd always been one to get distracted, I'd say maybe it's just him, but he's never been one to be so distracted he can't go pee. And it's happened when he's doing just regular stuff also. Hoping it is nothing big, but thankful I can see the doctor early tomorrow to get the ball rolling on figuring this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 :grouphug: Type 1 diabetes was my first thought, too. I hope it isn't. Keep us posted.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Honestly, I would guess that it is just a phase. My son went through it. My son's first grade teacher said it was pretty typical. <shrug> I do think it is wise to get it checked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 When you're at the dr ask also about PANDAS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 my dd had accidents at almost 4, when she had been fully trained over a year. It turned out she was having absence siezures at the time. Absence siezures are those short siezures where one stares into space for brief periods. She didn't wet every time she had a siezure because found her siezure count over a thousand a day. I started noticing the longer siezures of 30 seconds or more. Occassionally during the longer seizures she wet herself. Basically it was because she had no muscle control during the siezure. First she was treated for the siezures. Then we discovered the siezures were because she had celiac. So, no seizure meds, she's just gluten free and hasn't had a seizure since going gluten free. My son had absence seizures at this age. The "pee" accidents were one of the signs... For him, seizure meds were required for a few years. He's fine now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 When you're at the dr ask also about PANDAS. What is this? From what I see doing a quick search, I see this: " PANDAS is an abbreviation for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections. This diagnosis is used to describe a set of children who have a rapid onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders such as Tourette syndrome (TS), following group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections such as "strep throat" and scarlet fever.[1] The proposed link between infection and these disorders is an autoimmune reaction, where antibodies produced by the infection interfere with neuronal cells.[2]" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 My first thought was constipation, followed up by diabetes. Good thing you're taking him in! My 5yo has issues with accidents because of constipation. The solution was to regularly use miralax to regulate her and she's much better at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 My first thought was constipation, followed up by diabetes. Good thing you're taking him in! My 5yo has issues with accidents because of constipation. The solution was to regularly use miralax to regulate her and she's much better at this point. No constipation in him. He's very regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 No constipation in him. He's very regular. I thought this too...until we had an x-ray. :001_huh: I have no clue how she held that much bowel in her stomach and still was capable of going everyday. A good indicator of that, I learned, would be what the bowel actually looks like. See if you can sneak a peak next time before he flushes. It should be peanut butter consistency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 What is this? From what I see doing a quick search, I see this: " PANDAS is an abbreviation for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections. This diagnosis is used to describe a set of children who have a rapid onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders such as Tourette syndrome (TS), following group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections such as "strep throat" and scarlet fever.[1] The proposed link between infection and these disorders is an autoimmune reaction, where antibodies produced by the infection interfere with neuronal cells.[2]" To be honest, I don't know much about it. Abbeyej's son suffered with it though, and I vividly recall her posts on his health. My outsider's view of the situation was that the child in question had sudden-onset OCD behaviors as well as urination accidents. It was related to having strep, though if I remember correctly, one doesn't always know when one has had strep. PANDAS in Abbey's son was difficult to diagnose, but once they knew what they were coping with there were meds that healed the problem. As far as I am aware, Abbey's son is doing well now. I offered the possibility just to make sure you could ask your dr about this, not to frighten you unnecessarily. Of course your child's problem may have a more benign cause, but if you're going to the dr asking about diabetes you might also ask about PANDAS. You might also try sending a pm to Abbeyej for better information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I thought this too...until we had an x-ray. :001_huh: I have no clue how she held that much bowel in her stomach and still was capable of going everyday. A good indicator of that, I learned, would be what the bowel actually looks like. See if you can sneak a peak next time before he flushes. It should be peanut butter consistency. bowel? do you mean stool? there shouldn't be stool or bowel in the stomach :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 does he have any congestion/allergies/sinusitus? I know it sounds bizarre, but when 2dd was very small, she started having accidents with a sinus infection. After delivering mulitple babies, I noticed I had more control issues when I had a sinus infection. for both my daughter and myself, when the infections were cleared up, so did the other stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 We went to the ped again this morning. Last time we were there and they ran the urine test, they had checked for diabetes - no problem there. Really there are no problems. On the way out of the office, my son tells me that really, he was just tired and didn't make it to the bathroom. What??? I honestly don't know what to believe at this point. He has said he wanted to quit karate because he was afraid of having an accident, yet now he's telling me he was just too tired to go to the bathroom. Something doesn't jive. He's a very smart five, but I'm feeling a little unsure about what's going on. I'm less concerned about it being a physical issue though. Sigh. I guess time will tell. No accidents today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockhopper Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 We went to the ped again this morning. Last time we were there and they ran the urine test, they had checked for diabetes - no problem there. Really there are no problems. On the way out of the office, my son tells me that really, he was just tired and didn't make it to the bathroom. What??? I honestly don't know what to believe at this point. He has said he wanted to quit karate because he was afraid of having an accident, yet now he's telling me he was just too tired to go to the bathroom. Something doesn't jive. He's a very smart five, but I'm feeling a little unsure about what's going on. I'm less concerned about it being a physical issue though. Sigh. I guess time will tell. No accidents today. So glad you ruled out diabetes - or another serious physical issue! Of course that leaves you w/ the conundrum of what IS going on, and what to do... Maybe just downplaying the issue for a while? If it's a stress response to something, the more attention you give it the more stress is creates. Can you think of something that might be causing him stress? Or try a reward system? So many dry days = new book, or bag of M&Ms or... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 It seems since this all went down, and I've dropped the issue of trying to figure out what's wrong, the accidents have stopped for the time being. Who knows why they started but maybe we're through it already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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