Our dreams will continue after a quick word from our bladder.

March 28, 2009 9:52 AM

PeeingFilter: Why do I always have to pee when I'm falling asleep?

Is there some physiological reason (I'm not really interested in behavioral reasons - I get that psychologically, I'm probably hardwired to do this out of habit) why I have to pee whenever I start to fall asleep?

No matter how many times I pee *before* I go to bed, I always have to get up and pee one last time right after I've started falling asleep. Always. If I don't, it's too uncomfortable to actually make it from 10% to 100% asleep.

I'm sure that by now, Pavlov has a lot to say about my bladder, what I'm wondering is if there's some kind of biofeedback that would influence sleep + bladder function.

posted by grapefruitmoon to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

I have a similar issue with my bladder at night when there are no outside distractions. I have a slight structural problem with my "plumbing" so have to go a lot. But can ignore it for long periods of time when concentrating on work or some activity. Not at night when there's nothing to distract my attention from the very slight urge. Sometimes just changing my position in bed helps. I read somewhere that a magnesium tablet before bed helps calm the overactive bladder. It seems to help, but can't say for certain it's not just a placebo effect.
posted by lazydog at 11:24 AM on March 28, 2009

Needs a little more background.

What are your pre-sleep rituals/habits?
What time do you normally eat dinner/what do you drink, what time do you go to sleep?
Do you consume caffeine after a certain time of day?
Does the same phenomenon occur even when you're taking a nap in the middle of the day?
Are you experiences different when you're high/drunk?
Are we talking about hearty (16+ seconds) pisses or 4-second trickles?
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 11:32 AM on March 28, 2009

Response by poster: What are your pre-sleep rituals/habits?
I do have to take meds before bed, which necessitates some drinking of water. I take meds, shower, then read.

What time do you normally eat dinner/what do you drink, what time do you go to sleep?
8PM/green tea or water/11PM.

Do you consume caffeine after a certain time of day?
No significant amounts of caffeine after 6PM.

Does the same phenomenon occur even when you're taking a nap in the middle of the day
Yes.

Are you experiences different when you're high/drunk?
N/A. (Seriously. I have a totally unrelated to peeing medical condition and can not imbibe of any non-medication related drugs. Or alcohol.)

Are we talking about hearty (16+ seconds) pisses or 4-second trickles?...
Something in between. Clearly I *needed* to pee judging by the amount, but it certainly is not anything to write home about.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:38 PM on March 28, 2009

Same thing happens to me when I'm having trouble falling asleep -- if I'm lying awake for an hour, I'll have to pee three or four times. And it's hearty enough. So, I think something is kicking in and saying "yo, produce urine!" when I'm in the half-asleep state. But it obviously slows down a lot when I'm all the way asleep, because I can sleep through the night (or most of it).
posted by wyzewoman at 4:47 PM on March 28, 2009

It's possible you're not emptying the bladder entirely before you hunker down for the night, even though it feels otherwise. Talk to your doc about this and see if a bladder scan for post-void residual is in order. It's non-invasive, pain free, and might provide an answer.
posted by arachnid at 6:24 PM on March 28, 2009

Low vasopressin secretion?

Do you wake up bursting for a pee or get up subsequently during the night to pee again?
posted by the latin mouse at 2:08 AM on March 29, 2009

~ Are we talking about hearty (16+ seconds) pisses or 4-second trickles?

Great, now every time I pee, I'm counting off Mississippis in my head. Thanks.

32 this morning, at a slow count, wow
posted by paisley henosis at 1:19 PM on March 29, 2009

Best answer: When you lie down, your blood is more easily filtered through your kidneys without having to fight gravity while standing and going about your day. It is easier for fluid to move horizontally than vertical. Nocturia by definition is frequent urination at night. Which for your case it would be "almost nocturia" :) . While you are recumbant, fluid that may be outside of your blood vessels is returning to circulation to be filtered by your kidneys. If you have any condition that makes even more fluid leak out of your vessels; that could worsen your situation. Like you said, by now it could be a habit, but a true physiological routine of bladder filling when you lay down. Could you say how many minutes pass between lying down and needing to get up to pee? Do you believe you are peeing enough during the day? Acceptable level is >30ml/hour. Are you drinking enough during the day? 2000ml? If you are male; have you had your prostate checked? Do you have a weak stream? Any trouble starting the flow of your stream? Any starting and stopping of flow during urination? Any pain?
posted by kgreerRN at 6:32 PM on March 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thank you, kgreerRN!!

Nah, I'm not having any problems - I drink plenty, I'm peeing just fine, it's just a weird habit and I was wondering why my body wanted to do this. You have answered my question fabulous! Thanks!

(I am female and prone to UTIs, so I do spend a disproportionate amount of time considering "How much am I peeing?")
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:16 AM on March 30, 2009

Ooohh me too! I am as well prone and that seems to fuel my interest and "control" of my bladder and habits! I know too well what you mean!!
posted by kgreerRN at 4:27 AM on March 30, 2009