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Sleep and going to the bathroom a lot on steroids
Ok, let me drag this moose on the table because i have not seen this topic come up. I have been on steroids for over a year and a half tapering down from 40 to 3. One of the common threads I see is having to rest a lot. What I have not seen is having to go pee a lot, and sometimes I better get there or else! Has anyone else had this experience, or am I dealing with just getting older?
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@npostusa, I can relate to what you are going through. My PMR is in remission but I also had frequent urination mostly due to an enlarged prostrate (I think). Prednisone can cause excessive or frequent urination according to what I've read. Mayo Clinic has some information you might find helpful:
-- Overactive bladder:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/overactive-bladder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355715
You might want to discuss the symptoms with your doctor. I was put on tamsulosine which is a generic Flomax to help with my problem of frequent urination due to not being able to empty the bladder.
Thank you, this is helpful - I have noticed a decrease in my bathroom visits as I have been tapering off. Different than a prostate issue, I could not believe the amount of times I went and the amount of fluid that was eliminated. It was crazy to go that much in one hour so to speak.
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2 ReactionsI had the very same problem with frequent urination day and night but mostly at night. Getting up to go to the bathroom hourly when I should be sleeping wasn't good. Sleep apnea was the problem at night. I'm thinking the sleep apnea was related to prednisone use because of extra fat around the area of the neck that might have led to obstructive sleep apnea.
https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/news/20170327/curbing-sleep-apnea-might-mean-fewer-night-trips-to-bathroom#:~:text=%22It%20is%20known%20that%20untreated,of%20the%20need%20to%20pee.In any case, a CPAP machine seemed to stop the frequent urination during the night while I was on prednisone. I still use the CPAP machine even though I don't seem to have the apnea so much anymore since coming off the prednisone. I sometimes sleep the whole night without CPAP and maybe make one bathroom trip. I just use the CPAP machine because I'm used to using it.
Otherwise during the day I think an enlarged prostate was part of the problem. It didn't help to be on prednisone because I was probably retaining fluids. If it wasn't frequent urination it was excessive perspiration. I think my body was always trying to expel extra fluid one way or the other.
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1 ReactionOh boy, yes! When the feeling comes on, I’d better get to the bathroom pronto. Poop more too, though I don’t know if that’s the prednisone or having changed my diet to more plant based fare.
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1 ReactionHas any anyone else been asked by their doc to monitor glucose levels daily or weekly because taking prednisone for PMR might be causing frequent urination? I have been getting up several times a night and my doc wants me to start checking glucose. I'd rather not!
I have a small bladder, and waking often hs long been a problem for me. What has helped, even with prednisone exacerbating these troubles, is not taking in liquids after about 4 rpm.
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2 ReactionsI have the same problem up about 4 to 5 times a night
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1 ReactionYes, I have this problem. Getting up too much at night. Trying to balance that with not getting dehydrated. Also either constipated or diarrhea. My whole system seems out of whack from prednisone. I am trying to decrease from 7.5.
@npostusa Thanks for bringing this subject up! Same problem.