Night time urination / apnea issues

[Tigerlily]

One of my biggest symptoms that improved my first night on CPAP was my night time visits to the bathroom to urinate. Pre-CPAP it was about 3 times a night. Once on CPAP, it went to ZERO!!! Occasionally I woke up once a night, but that was rare. My habits did not change as far as how much fluid I drank daily. I was AMAZED by that. Then I read that night time urination can be one of the biggest indicators of having sleep apnea...as much if not more than severe snoring.

Anyways....I have been on CPAP for almost 2 years and only lately (the last several months) the urge to pee while I'm sleeping is strong, but not enough to wake me up right away, so when I do wake up, my bladder ACHES big time! I go, but not a lot, not for how much it aches.

Any ideas what is going on? Am I regressing? I have lost 30 lbs in the last few months, I thought that might make my apnea better, but this urination issue has me puzzled.

Thanks in advance!

[Logies101]

I had the same problem with getting up to use the restroom constantly before CPAP, I had no idea that it was a symptom of sleep apnea. The medical community really needs to get on the ball about educating people of the signs of sleep apnea in my opinion. Anyway...as to your recent recurrence of needing to go does it correspond to any changes in your AHI? Have you noticed any other problems of sleep apnea that have increased? I am still new to all of this but maybe your Dr can order another sleep study or maybe a visit to a Urologist to see if there is a problem unrelated to sleep apnea.

[Tigerlily]

Nothing too terrible, but I do seem to be showing more "centrals". Whether they are real central apneas or not, I'm not sure and I don't know if they would be related.

[Logies101]

I'm not sure about the centrals. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will jump in. But I've also heard of a condition called cystocele, it's when the wall between the bladder and the vagina weakens and the bladder presses into the vaginal canal. This causes the same symptoms of feeling like you have to go badly but only a little comes out each time but it's also associated with having to go frequently so I don't know. I would see your primary or gynocologist if it persists if it were me.

[Tigerlily]

Bump

[Wulfman...]

Bump

Medications?


Den

.

[cathyf]

How old are you? There are lots of problems with urination when you approach menopause. I second the suggestion of making a gyne appointment, as they are a lot more experienced with dealing with incontinence and various and sundry other urination problems.

[BlackSpinner]

You have been tested for a UTI? (Says the person currently on her 3rd and stronger dose of antibiotics) My early symptoms were similar. No burning just a painful bladder.
The other possibility is a pelvic prolapse. Because the bladder sinks down and tries to birth itself, if you are female, it feels like you need to pee constantly or that your bladder hurts. Another thing I can testify from personal experience - sigh.

[bill-e]

It may be the case of awakening because of your sleep disorder and then realizing that you have to go rather than the urge to urinate waking you up. If the urge to go actually wasn't waking you up then it's possible that now that you sleep better you can make it through the night.

[justmeagain]

Also possible, have you tested for diabetes? Another frequent urination problem...bummer.

[mon]

I have been told that there is a hormone that is released every time you have an untreated apnea, its function is to arouse you to take a breath. This hormone should not be released as regularly as it is when you have untreated OSA. When you treat the apneas, the hormone is not released as often. This hormone also makes you produce more urine so when you use a CPAP machine you don't produce the same quantities of urine.
I would say the reason you have been producing more urine of late is because you are losing weight. As you burn up fat, you lose fluid and that's possibly why you are urinating more frequently. I would expect while you are dieting you will continue to urinate much more.

[Julie]

Mon - are you a doctor, or just like to speculate with other people's health?

[Tigerlily]

Bump

Medications?


Den

.

Just my thyroid med. for hypothyroidism. I've been on the same dose for a couple of years.

[Tigerlily]

How old are you? There are lots of problems with urination when you approach menopause. I second the suggestion of making a gyne appointment, as they are a lot more experienced with dealing with incontinence and various and sundry other urination problems.

I'm almost 40. I didn't know there are urination problems with menopause....interesting. I don't know that I am at that stage yet, though it is a possibility. I will go to the gyn. sometime soon.

I just assumed it was linked with my apnea because that is the first thing I saw improvement with.

[Tigerlily]

Also possible, have you tested for diabetes? Another frequent urination problem...bummer.

Yep, recent bloodwork was good, no diabetes, everything else fine, except my thyroid and apnea which are both being treated.