Excessive Potting

Updated on March 16, 2009
K.N. asks from Westlake, LA
17 answers

Hello everyone,
I am at whits end, I do not know what else to do so I am looking for any advice, suggestions, or just anything. My 3 year old son has been potty trained for about 4-5 months. He has done great very few to no accidents. He has been able to hold the bathroom for quite some time.(When I say that I mean 1-2 hours) This past week his teacher informed me that he had been using the bathroom very often and thought he might have a bladder infection or something because that was not like him. So on Wednesday my husband brought him to the doctor. They checked his urine and it was clear. The doctor said it could be irration or the tube in his boy part was not working properly (not closing completely) and if that was the case we would need to see a specialist. Well by the next day at school he would use the bathroom and not long after completely wet his pants. He did this 3 times. (It was getting worse) So Friday I asked his teacher to chart his bathroom use. It was 3 times each hour. I brought him back to the dr a different one. He looked at me like I was crazy and said it was normal for his age and most kids his age are not even potty trained. He tested his urine again and did blood work everything was clear. He said it would eventually go away and there was nothing we could do. I was very upset because I know my son and this is not normal for him I know something is not right. Last night he was crying because he kept going to the potty so much. it was like every 10-15 minutes. He does not drink more than he normally has and he is not eating as much. Any advice or same experience???? Help!

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B.W.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Have you changed anything in his diet that may be a bladder irritant? For example, artificial sweeteners are bladder irritants and can make some people feel as if they need to go..... a lot!

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D.L.

answers from Tulsa on

This baby needs his blood sugar checked immediately. He could have Juvenile Diabetes. I don't want to scare you but, This is a symptom of it and gets overlooked in little guys many times. If you don't know anyone with a glucomater, you can purchase one at the store for about $10. It will have a few test strips with it and you can test his sugar yourself. Anything over 90 to 100 should be called to the doctor immediately. and if it is over say 160 or 170 go to the er. Good luck. I also would see a urologist as well. If you pediatrician is dismissing you, it's time for a new one. Good luck

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A.J.

answers from Baton Rouge on

you obtained a second opion and that is great.
Now do what was suggested make an appointment for a specialist to see him.
Keep in mind that the second doctor may be right.,
I think it is great that you did not hesitate to obtain
a second opinion.

God Bless

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L.J.

answers from Tulsa on

K.,

Please find a specialist in your area. Mother's instincts are rarely wrong. If you believe in your heart there is something wrong - and your son is crying out of frustration.....find a Dr that will listen to you.

Best of luck to you and yours.

L.

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T.P.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

I agree with trying to see a pediatric urologist. If you suspect that something is wrong, it very well could be. Be persistent if pediatricians don't listen to you. So many pediatricians poo-poo concerns away. It may help if you tell them the teacher is concerned as well.

My 3 year-old son easily goes 4-6 hours without voiding. Of course that depends on how much he drinks. If your son does have bladder/kidney problems, the best thing to drink is cranberry juice. I suffered from constant UTIs as a kid, so I remember well. I think it's OK if the juice is mixed with other flavors (like grape or peach) to make it taste better.

While you are keeping a chart of his voiding, you might also want to note how many ounces of fluid he is drinking. Is he drinking excessively? That will help clear his bladder, but also make him need to go more frequently. If you bring this info. to the pediatrician or urologist, it may help as well.

Now that I think of it, bladder spasms could cause this type of problem. If perhaps he was embarrassed once by accidentally wetting himself, he may have decided to force himself to go really often to prevent it happening in the future. When you force yourself to go, sometimes it cacn make your bladder muscle a little hypersensitive, causing spasms which actually make you go more often and could cause him to wet himself too. There are medications for this though. As a pediatric PT, when I have patients with this problem, I usually have them play games to strengthen their abdominal muscles as well...such as hanging upside down from your lap and trying to "sit-up" or hanging from monkeys bars and trying to raise up their knees. Good luck!

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N.M.

answers from Texarkana on

is your doctor a children's doctor or just a regular doctor could make the difference but I disagree with the doctor something is wrong I think you should take him to a specialist don't take any chances I had my boys potty trained all the way by 4 that way a night too it could be what the first doctor said it could be good luck

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A.K.

answers from Tulsa on

Questions is he also thirsty all the time.If so I would ask for a diabetes test just to make sure. I also would get going back to your dr or a new one until someone gives me the answers I need. You are the best one to know if your son is acting like himself.

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M.B.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Hey K.,

I agree with the other posters. Take your son to see another doctor and the specialist. You may even need to change doctors. There are alot of things that could be causing this, but your doctor blowing this off as normal without getting more inventory from you is poor medical advice. Your son does not sound like the normal regression or relapse after being potty trained. He is obviously as upset by this, as are you. You are the mom and you know your child better than any doctor. Now you just need to find a doctor that listens to their patients and parents.

I will be praying for your little man, this is uncomfortable and embarrising. May you find out what is going on and have a resolution soon.

God Bless,
MB

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J.C.

answers from New Orleans on

Did the Dr. Check for diabitis? At any rate, I switch Dr's. There is obviously something wrong, and you need a Dr. who will take it seriously. Definately go to a urologist. There are different conditions which cause frequent urination.

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B.A.

answers from Huntsville on

Get your son to a specialist, do not wait, something is wrong.

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A.L.

answers from Tulsa on

Hi K.! Please, please get your son to a dr. ASAP and insist that they run tests! This was my daughter's first symptom of type 1 diabetes- she was going potty constantly and in excessive amounts because she was toxic. Is he also extra thirsty? It could be a UTI but even with that- he could become very sick. I would try to find someone today- an urgent care center or something so that you can get this figured out. Please insisist, insist, insist that they check his blood sugar!! It's a simple little finger poke. DO NOT wait another day. Please let us all know when you find out! Blessings and prayers to you!

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K.S.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hi there, I'm a nurse and I think you should take your son to a pediatric urologist. If he is crying because he has to potty that much than he may be in some pain and there could be a deeper problem with the kidneys. Although his urine checks out good, your his mom and you know him better than the doctor and you know this isn't normal, at least a urologist will check things out for you and help you to relax some.

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C.C.

answers from Dothan on

Be sure to assure your child that youlove him adn accidents happen to everyone. KEEP AFTER th DR.

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J.H.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Get a referral to see the specialist, and get a second opinion. If YOU know something is going on that's not right, trust your gut.

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J.B.

answers from Birmingham on

Hi K.! I am a Certified Pediatric Nurse and work in a pediatric endocrinology clinic. I agree with the suggestions to get his blood sugar checked!!! The doctors that you took him to should have already done that! His urinating that frequently should have been a big red flag for them. Is he thirstier than usual or lost any weight in the past few weeks/months? I hope you seek another opinion ASAP! Please let us know what happens. God Bless you and your family and may your son be better soon!!!!

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B.W.

answers from Huntsville on

K.,

You are the mom. You know your child best.
Please see another doctor. What you've described seems unusual to me. (I am also a mother of a 3 year old.)

Make sure you see a specialist.

My sister-in-law thougt one of her son's eyes looked unusual..it was bulging out (the actual eye ball). The regular pediatrician didn't take her seriously on several visits. She went to two other doctors before one took her seriously. It ended up her 18 month old has glaucoma and the pressure in the one eye was alarmingly high. So, it was a good thing that she was persistent.

Good luck. Always go with your gut.

B.

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K.S.

answers from Fayetteville on

This is not normal, especially if he has never done this before! Try to get him to a PEDIATRIC urologist.

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