Insomnia Because I'm Peeing So Much

[munchkinette]

I'm not sure if this is related to the gluten-free diet, or maybe too much of a replacement food, or something unrelated altogether.

Basically, I'm a mess because I can't get enough sleep. I'm up 3-5 times per night peeing. This isn't just the urge to pee, followed by one ounce of urine. This is more like the release of major water retention during the day. I am probably 2 whole pants sizes bigger when I go to bed than I am when I wake up in the morning. I don't understand why. Sometimes I pee a lot during the day, sometimes I don't.

There are some days I eat more salt than I should. Other days I have next to no salt and lots of potassium, especially when I'm on the paleo diet. Some days I have an alcoholic drink or a diet soda, other days just water. Some days I have grains, some days none. I decided to stop taking benadryl before bed to see if that helps. I'm still big as a house. Sometimes I can see it in my face. I feel like there is something out of whack with the hormones that control my kidney function. Any thoughts of what to try next? I can't get into see the doctor until the 3rd week of July.

[trents]

I have this problem as well, only I'm a middle-aged male. The doctors were just sure it was due to enlarged prostate but I knew, like you, it wasn't the "dribble" effect. I was voiding large volumes during the night. A urologist had me catch my urine and measure it for 2 or 3 nights and there was the proof. He put me on a medication called desmopressin which took care of the problem. It is usually used in pediatrics to help small children stop wetting the bed but the principle is the same. It is a hormone that quiets the kidneys. Normally, the body produces this naturally and allows us to sleep at night but some people don't produce enough of it as they age. It's not cheap, though, and insurance companies probably won't cover it after an initial trial period because it is being used in a nonstandard way, i.e. outside of pediatrics. There do not seem to be any side effects. Having said all that, I assume you have been checked for diabetes.

[ravenwoodglass]

If you are eating any processed foods could you drop them for a bit and see if it helps? Since you don't see the doctor until the 3rd can you call his office and see if you can get a fasting blood sugar and A1c done along with any other blood work and a urinealysis done now so he has the results in front of him when you go to the appointment? That way he may have some answers for you at the appointment.

[munchkinette]

Good note on the processed food. I had a lot this weekend, but in general, I eat very little processed or restaurant food. I haven't been checked for diabetes lately, but I remember all my levels being normal when I had my last physical exam last summer. That's a good idea about getting my labs done now. I have done a sleep study and I know I have very mild sleep apnea.

I often use my gran's health problems as a guide for what I could expect if I don't stay gluten-free, because it seems like I got a huge proportion of her genes. She was diabetic for several decades, but it wasn't triggered until pregnancy. I know that when she was really old she was retaining a lot of water, like some kind of edema. (A lot = 20 lbs) I'm trying to figure out from my mom why that was.

[Coolclimates]

I have this exact same problem. It's amazing how much I have to pee at night sometimes. I do take a sleeping pill and it does help as I don't wake up so often. But I just got back from my trip to Iceland and I'm not sure if it's jet lag or what, but the night before last I woke up to pee about 5 times and it was over 64 ounces! I use a bed pot so I don't have to get up each time to walk to the bathroom. It was crazy.

I feel like I do most of my peeing throughout the night, and I don't think it's because I drink too much liquid. If anything, I don't drink enough liquids. It's very strange.

I have other sleep disorders including restless leg syndrome and insomnia. If I wake up in the middle of the night and just have to pee a little, I cannot get back to sleep until I void it out. It's very frustrating. I also have to go frequently throughout the day (more than the average 32 year old person, I think). Some days are worse than others. I notice if I'm nervous or under more stress, I have to pee more frequently.