We've been noticing that our 5.5 yo ds has been going to the bathroom constantly for a couple of weeks. At first we thought he was just yanking our chain, if you will, in the stores. Then noticed he was doing it at home, then on a trip last weekend he went 3x in 15 - 20 min. I picked him up from preschool today and his teacher said he went probably 8x in 3 hrs and she had never had him do this before so wanted to make sure she told me...

I have checked him for a fever repeatedly, asked if was having any pain (and listed off areas he could be having pain, burning or irritation). He always replies no. No pain anywhere. His eating and drinking havent changed.

Needless to say I called the doctor immediately and they are getting him in first thing in the morning. We have to go to the lab first and that should be interesting. I may make my dh go and help him with that whole thing.

I feel very unsure about this whole thing. Have your kids ever acted like this? Could this be a phase or a way to get attention? Or do you suppose he has an actual medical problem? Which I am really hoping is not the case. Because then I will feel awful for not calling the doctor 2 weeks ago.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 02:05 pm:

Well, excessive thirst and frequent urination *can* be symptoms of diabetes, or a blood sugar problem. *CAN* be, not necessarily ARE.

Best thing is to see the Dr., get the blood work done, that should answer your questions.

By Conni on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 02:39 pm:

Karen, I just got off the phone with his teacher. She wanted to make sure we were taking him to the doctor. She said her nephew has Juvenile Diabetes and they caught it because he was having the *frequent urination* symptom. She said she asked ds at school if he was hurting anywhere or hurting when he went potty and he told her 'no' too...

In a way, I wish she hadnt told me that. *sigh* It'll be another night of no sleep for me again. I am watching him like a hawk now. He has been to the potty 2x in 1 hr...

By Kaye on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 02:55 pm:

That is exactly what I was going to say karen.

It may be nothing, and it could be something. You are doing the best thing by going to the doc now. He may have a bladder infection and just isn't having much pain. Good luck and keep us posted.

By Tink on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 04:31 pm:

Just to reassure you that it could be something different, my youngest dd had a bladder infection for 6 weeks before we realized what was going on. She was going potty very often but she'd just been potty trained and we thought she was just playing with the accomplishment. She did have a few accidents and I started asking her if it hurt when she peed, etc. and she always said no. She had a check-up scheduled anyway and that's when we caught it. She never complained of pain or burning and never had a temp. We had to do two rounds of antibiotics but she hasn't had another problem with it. Good luck at the doc's tomorrow. {{{Conni}}}

By Luvn29 on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 05:31 pm:

My dear son did this around the same age. It drove us all crazy. He was constantly going to the bathroom. He didn't have any urinary issues, we even took him to the dr. Turns out, he just was not comfortable with the slight feeling of having to use the bathroom, so he would go and barely get anything out because he was going so often. It then kind of became a habit, but somehow, he just grew out of it. Not sure exactly how or when, but this may be nothing at all, but it's definitely good to take him in to be checked...

By Cat on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 05:33 pm:

Let's just hope for a bladder infection, 'kay? Simple, and easily taken care of.

Both my boys have given urine samples before with no trouble at about that age. Blake will probably love peeing in a cup.

Let us know. {{{{{Conni}}}}}

By Conni on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 07:24 pm:

Well, he better like peeing in it since dh informed me he cant go with us. He has a class. Maybe my Dad can take him? lol There are just times when the adult male needs to handle things for these boys, ya know? grrr He is at an age where he likes to have Dad's help a bit more than Mom's. Which doesnt bother me! When I was young I would have died if my Dad had too help me pee in a cup. lol Nope- only Mom was allowed in the bathroom with me.

Tink and Luvn29- Thanks!! Thats what I was hoping too hear. My sister called her friend (she is a nurse) and she said 9 times out of 10 it is a UTI. So I should stop obsessing over the Juvenile Diabetes comment. lol I feel a little better now.

By Pamt on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 09:05 pm:

Conni, both of my boys did this. Noah, age 9, still does. One morning at Sunday school when he was about 4 he peed 14 times in a hour!!! They kept a count. Somedays he'll go 3-4 times in 30 minutes, but when he's really engrossed in something he doesn't go nearly as often. I've had him repeatedly tested for UTIs and diabetes. He also drinks gallons of water each day, BUT he's very active and plays physically hard and sweats a lot because of it. He's always come up clear---not even a UTI, so don't worry too much. It is a good idead to get him checked though---and be sure to let us mother hens know.

By Groovepickle on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 08:45 am:

Keep us posted on the outcome. I'm also guessing it's a bladder infection. I used to get them constantly when I was a kid until my Mom figured out I had a reaction to the bubbles we used in the bathtub. And don't feel bad, one time when my Mom brought me to the Dr. and I had to pee in a cup, I was probably about 5, I peed and it was mostly blood! She almost died!

By Tink on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 12:48 pm:

Any news yet, Conni?

By Conni on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 01:36 pm:

We're back home. No infection... and no glucose in his urine either. They think something is irritating his bladder. We have too take him off anything with red dye & no pop for 2 weeks. In hopes of flushing whatever it is out. If not better he has to go back in. Our nurse's ds had the same thing, she said that she finally took him to a urologist and he said cut out red dye first and we'll go from there. She said he hasnt had any trouble since she did that!!! Apparently red dye is horrible.

I know that at his school they give them punch too drink somedays with their snack. Around Christmas he had ALOT of candy and junk--I'm sure every piece had red dye. ;)

Do you know that pretty much everything in the grocery store has red dye? Even things that arent RED! lol That was a long trip to the grocery store.

Thank you so much for checking on him!

By Tink on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 03:03 pm:

Well, that's a bit of a mixed blessing but a sensitivity to red dye is certainly easier to work around compared to diabetes. I don't know how much soda Blake drinks but caffeine is a common culprit for the "sudden urge" and cutting it out can make a huge difference. Good luck!

By Mrsheidi on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 09:23 pm:

Bless your heart, Conni, and your son's! I know how hard it is to shop for things to eat when there is a specific thing you have to avoid. Grrr...
{{Conni}} Hope he gets better soon!!!

By Kaye on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 12:47 pm:

When we had to take my son to the doc, we had to cut out what they called the 4 c's/ Caffine, carbonation, Citrus and Chocolate. they say those are big triggers for bladder issues.