“My father has been urinating less since his stroke. What is the connection between the two?”
My father had a stroke last year post, and since then he has been urinating less often. My father refuses to ask why this happens with his physician, but when I asked, he suggested that there could be a connection. What is the connection between the two?
4 Answers
Probably less fluid intake
http://www.strokesmart.org/article?id=106
<http://www.strokesmart.org/article?id=106>
Bladder & Bowel Function After a Stroke
Problems with bladder and bowel function are distressing, but common for stroke survivors.
Urinary Retention
Also common among stroke survivors is urinary retention: when you do not completely empty your bladder. If untreated, it can lead to bladder stones, reflux (reverse flow of urine back to the kidneys) or a urinary tract infection (UTI). UTI symptoms include:
* Urine with a bad smell, cloudiness, blood or sediment (solid deposits).
* Burning when urinating or around a catheter.
* Fever and chills.
* Cramps in lower abdomen or side.
* Pain in lower back.
* Frequent urination or feeling like you have to go to the bathroom even though your bladder is empty.
Treatments
It is important to be sure and drink plenty of water to dilute your urine. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, special treatments might be needed for conditions that cause urine retention. In these cases, your doctor might prescribe a drug to enable you to urinate better. Inform your doctor of other drugs you are taking because they could be the cause of your urinary retention.
Ongoing Problems
Despite all attempts to correct them, you can still have problems.
* Use a catheter, if needed. Ask your doctor which type is best for you.
* Try pantyliners, waterproof underpants or disposable adult diapers.
<http://www.strokesmart.org/article?id=106>
Bladder & Bowel Function After a Stroke
Problems with bladder and bowel function are distressing, but common for stroke survivors.
Urinary Retention
Also common among stroke survivors is urinary retention: when you do not completely empty your bladder. If untreated, it can lead to bladder stones, reflux (reverse flow of urine back to the kidneys) or a urinary tract infection (UTI). UTI symptoms include:
* Urine with a bad smell, cloudiness, blood or sediment (solid deposits).
* Burning when urinating or around a catheter.
* Fever and chills.
* Cramps in lower abdomen or side.
* Pain in lower back.
* Frequent urination or feeling like you have to go to the bathroom even though your bladder is empty.
Treatments
It is important to be sure and drink plenty of water to dilute your urine. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, special treatments might be needed for conditions that cause urine retention. In these cases, your doctor might prescribe a drug to enable you to urinate better. Inform your doctor of other drugs you are taking because they could be the cause of your urinary retention.
Ongoing Problems
Despite all attempts to correct them, you can still have problems.
* Use a catheter, if needed. Ask your doctor which type is best for you.
* Try pantyliners, waterproof underpants or disposable adult diapers.
There is a relationship between urinalysis retention and stroke. Patients with higher association include those with history of diabetes, cognitive impairment, aphasia (language dysfunction), poor overall and/or functional status. Diabetics may have neuropathy that affects the bladder sense of fullness or in coordination of the muscles and nerves involved with urinating. Aphasia and cognitive impairment may prevent the patient from alerting caregivers that they need to void and therefore “hold it”. Poor functional status (weakness, poor ability to walk, bed bound) may prevent independence with urinating and again causing patients to “hold it”. It is also important to consider other causes. If there is impaired swallowing fluid intake may be decreased resulting in relative dehydration. Underlying prostate hypertrophy may be uncovered and by itself or coupled with any of the above issues would result in urinary retention. The first thing to determine is if there is a problem with the urinating mechanism or is there dehydration or avoidance of urination.
Richard Grant Hunter
Neurologist
Really need more information for a good answer. A number of possibilities including fluid retention from the stroke, lack of exercise from the stroke preventing mobilization of excess fluid in the body, decreased fluid intake due to impairment of thirst or drive, and hormonal damage in the brain from the stroke, to name a few. Suggest you carefully observe what has changed in his behavior. Then present this to his physician & see what he can make of it.
