Urinary Frequency

Pearls for Parkinson's: Tips for Daily Living with PD. 

To watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H9fjA2RQWX8

Going to the bathroom more often than you used to?
Feeling like you just went… and need to go again?

In this episode of Pearls for Parkinson’s, we break down why urinary frequency happens in Parkinson’s and a few simple strategies that can help you feel more in control.

 Listen now to learn what’s really going on - and what you can do about it.

To support more programs like this: https://wiparkinson.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support-pearls4pd

Wisconsin Parkinson Association 
website: https://wiparkinson.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wiparkinson
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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Pearls for Parkinson's. Here is this week's Daily Living Tip. Hello, friends. Welcome back to Pearls for Parkinson's. Today we're talking about urinary frequency in Parkinson's. If you feel like you're going to the bathroom more often than you used to, you are not imagining it. This can be one of the common symptoms we see in Parkinson's. So why does it happen? Well, Parkinson's, as you know, doesn't affect just movement. It also affects automatic control systems of the body, and that includes the bladder. Normally, your brain helps the bladder store urine and sends a gradual signal when it's time to go. In Parkinson's, that communication gets disrupted. The bladder muscle becomes more overactive and starts squeezing sooner than it should, even when it's not very full. So instead of slowly filling and giving you time, you're going more often, sometimes with very little warning. And over time, this can start to affect your routine, your sleep, and even your confidence when leaving the house. So what can you do? One of the most helpful strategies is timed voiding. And that means going to the bathroom every two to three hours instead of waiting for the urge. And this helps keep the bladder from going too overactive. Point. Another really helpful tip is something called double voiding. After you've finished urinating, wait a few seconds and try again. Sometimes the bladder doesn't fully empty the first time, and this can reduce that feeling of needing to go shortly after. You can also gently massage the abdomen around the bladder area to help with voiding more. Take a look at bladder irritants. And I know we know that caffeine is an irritant, but oftentimes don't realize that it's in coffee, tea, and soda. Carbonation and artificial sweeteners can also make the bladder more sensitive. Now, a lot of people think, well, I'll just drink less water or just less fluids, but that can actually make things worse because concentrated urine irritates the bladder. So instead, it's really about balance. Another piece that can be overlooked is constipation. A full bowel can actually put pressure on the bladder and make urinary frequency worse. And since constipation is so common with Parkinson's, keeping things moving regularly can really actually help the bladder symptoms too. It's also important to take a look at medications and timing. Some medications like diuretics or water pills increase how much you urinate, especially later in the day. And some Parkinson's medications can contribute to fluid retention, which may then shift later and increase your urinary frequency at certain times of the day, especially overnight. So the point is if you're noticing patterns, it's worth looking at the timing and talking it through with your provider. And when that sudden urge hits, pause, take a breath. And sometimes that signal will just settle down enough to give you a little bit more control. So most importantly, don't just live with it. Be sure to talk to your neurologist about your urinary symptoms. That might seem counterintuitive. It's your bladder, not your brain. But this is a very real and common part of Parkinson's, and there may be additional strategies or treatments that can help. And if you found something that works for you, we would love to hear about it. Share your tips and your strategies in the comments so others can learn from you too. This is something we can work on so it doesn't end up working against you. I hope you like this episode. If you do, hit that like button, share it with a friend or a support group, and tune in next Monday for more pearls for Parkinson's. The Wisconsin Parkinson Association is a grassroots organization funded by people like you. To support more local programming like this, visit wiparkinson.org.