When you have incontinence, you’ll do anything to avoid having an embarrassing accident. And it may seem logical to think that restricting fluids will help you avoid one. While cutting back a little may help, it also may hurt you. Drinking too little can cause dehydration, which means your body can’t function like it should. When you don’t drink enough your urine also can become very concentrated, which can cause bladder irritation (meaning that it may actually cause you to have an accident). And, if you do leak, concentrated urine has a much stronger smell, which may make your leak more noticeable to others. The tip is finding the right balance between too much and too little.
Below are some tips on how much you should be drinking, and how to find your magic number.
Drink Enough To Stay Hydrated.
This will vary from person to person, but for most, 6-8oz glasses per day is enough. You can also look to your own urine for clues on if you are well-hydrated – in general, lighter-colored urine means your’re more hydrated, and darker, yellow-colored urine means your urine is very concentrated and you may need to drink more.
Use A Bladder Diary.
A bladder diary is a great tool to track the relationship between what you eat and drink and your incontinence. Use it for a few days and pay close attention to how your fluid intake plays a role in any accidents or urges you may have. This will give you a good indication on whether or not your drinking too much or too little as it relates to your incontinence.
Limit Fluids Before Bedtime.
If you suffer from nocturia or bedwetting, try limiting the fluids you drink before bedtime. While you don’t want to limit your water intake too much throughout the day, keeping fluids to a minimum an hour or so before bed may help curb some of the nightly bathroom trips you’ve been making.
Pay attention to what you drink.
Water is always a good choice, but other drinks may actually cause you to go more simply because of what’s in them. Minimize caffeinated, sugary, and carbonated drinks. And decrease or eliminate alcohol consumption. All of these have been known to irritate the bladder.
If you’re thirsty – DRINK!
Cutting back on fluids, especially when you’re thirsty, can cause dehydration and lead to more problems. Your body needs water to function well and thirst is the number one indicator that you need to drink more. Keep this in mind especially when it’s hot outside, or you’re working up a sweat in the gym – listen to your body and never put off your thirst because you’re scared of having an accident.
Remember, everyone is different so there is no one right amount that you should be drinking. Experiment and find out what works best for you, and most importantly, pay attention to your body and stay healthy.
Want to learn about some ways to fit more water into your daily routine? Read this: How To Drink More Water
5 Responses
I am 75 years old and I periodically pee a little in my underwear prior to getting to the toilet. How can I stop this.
Padezco de incontinencia de urgencia y he empezado un tratamiento pero tuve una infección de colli y eso me aumentó las ganas de orinar No Consumo líquido a partir de las 7 de la tarde y duermo toda la noche sin necesidad de ir al baño Aunque duermo con sedantes pero igual no siento la necesidad
I have a weak bladder. How many mugs of water should I drink?
I have FND with violent tremors. Am 78 female also get terrible bouts of interstitial cystitis. My incontinence level is really bad. I can drink half a cup of camomile rea with a tiny bit of honey and have to pee 4 times in an hour. My urine is not strong in smell or colour.
I cant walk properly or use a wheelchair due to the tremors which render my left side pretty useless. I try to eat food that has sauces as the thicker liquid doesn’t go straight through.
I am I doing the right thing as I know my fluid intake is very low? Help appreciated.
Roz Rayner-Rix Ms.
I always knew the importance of hydration in regards to overall health. It’s not always easy to drink as much as is recommended. Now that I have been diagnosed with heart failure, my cardiologist recommends that I drink even more water…4 liters per day! As you can imagine what that does to someone that is incontinent. I’m trying to do what is suggested. As a result, my diaper use has increased. I can live needing to wear diapers. Having heart problems is another story,