Asperger's/ADD and daytime wetting?

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My little boy (eight - edited because the number came out as a smilie. heh) seems to have wetting issues. He has about 7 seconds to get to the restroom after he notices that he "has to go" He wiggles/fidgets but I think some of it might be stimming, it doesn't hurt anyone and it's normally when he is in a good mood, but I have to ask him frequently "do you need to use the restroom, or are you just wiggly?"

I was wondering if anyone else had/has overcome or still suffers from this/has a child that still suffers from this. The urologist has suggested a "potty" schedule of every 2.5 to 3 hours until June to make sure it is not an overactive bladder.

When I as him if he has to go, half the time he will think a moment, then say "I just do not know." but when he DOES know, he has only about 7 seconds to get from wherever he is to the bathroom. He has to carry a change of clothes in his backpack and wears sweats for quick ... access.

It this common?

When I was a kid it happened once in a while, but not regularly. It would sneak up on me and then bam....
I was also a bed wetter.

He should grow out of it, I bet.

This happened to me ALL THE TIME. I don't think I had ADD, or maybe I had it and was overcompensating. I think what was happening was that I had to hyper-focus to experience and understand things, and needing to go to the bathroom didn't register until it was too late. Explained another way, going to the bathroom interrupted what I was focusing on, so I unconsciously ignored having to go.

I was punished for doing this because my mother thought I was being obstinate. Once my dad admitted to her that he had had the same problem, I wasn't punished for wetting myself again.

For anyone out there who is frustrated with you're kids' soiling themselves, they probably can't help it, signals just aren't registering. And when you think about it, who would want to do THAT in their pants to send a message?

Z

P.S. I grew out of it, but not until the 2nd grade and bedwetting, not until the 4th grade.

Still, I doubt this is AS related. maybe I've been lucky, but I don't have to REALLY go very often, and things lock down if I slip up, so no accidents.

Still, I could see things failing in any one of several areas, and an accident being possible.

Maybe not, but in my case was clearly a problem of neurological development. The signal wasn't registering or something was blocking the signal.

Z

I can't remember if I ever had this problem when I was a kid... I'm Adder.

I do have a problem in that I keep putting off going to the bathroom if I don't go immediately when I sense the need to.
I keep getting distracted until it's finally an emergency... or almost.
I'm 47.

Most of the time it's just a brisk walk for me, some occasions I do not make it before I 'leak' a tiny bit.
This is all about my reading the signals and making my mind focus on that need instead of wandering off on other things.
At work, I'll tell the folks I'm working with that I'm going to the potty (we have a board to check off where we are), then sometime later someone will ask me, "Didn't you say you were heading to the bathroom?". Oh yeah... and off I go!

This is one reason I love camping/living outdoors... I can stop and go anytime... anywhere!

He ends up REALLY having to go about each time I don't ask him if he has to go or is just wiggly. I normally just send him to "try" regardless of his answer. He is in second grade (they did a simplified IQ test and he seems right on target there) and half the times the kids in his class will raise their hands and say "He has to go to the bathroom, Ms. Smith!"

Still, he ends up wetting himself about 3 times a week on average. We will have a good week, then the next one will be about every day to twice a day. They checked for infection, and no sign. The Urologist has classified this as "most likely a behavioral issue". Thus the potty schedule is born. I sent a note in with him for the teacher to start just sending him every 2.5 to 3 hours. Maybe if he just gets used to going on a set schedule the urge will just kind of follow him. If it is part of his routine, instead of a break from it, I am hoping he has a lot less "wet" days.

I think he has over-sensitive senses. His bed sheets need to be "cold" (soft cotton) and his comforter has to have a certain feel. He likes an almost dead quiet (not likely with 3 brothers), and gets a little stressed if he has to wear something other than his favorite outfits, and needs to ALWAYS have socks on. BUT, if he wets, half the time he will just sigh and sit in it. We have to ask him if he is wet when we smell it half the time. Then send him into the bathroom and bring him a change. I just don't understand that.

I have asked him (found him sitting there VERY wet playing a video game) if he likes to be wet, he thought a moment and said "Acccctuuualy, not really." Me: "You are wet now, don't you want a change of clothes?" Him: "(sighs) yes (sounds very annoyed)." Me: "Go into the bathroom and put those in the tub, I will bring you some new ones." Him: "(sigh) now?" Me: "Yes, now." He gets annoyed that he is wet, but it is equally annoying to have to change. People have asked me why I don't just put him in pull-ups, (which would fit, his Kindergarten brother and he are of a height, and he weighs a little less.) If I put him in pull-ups he would just decide that he didn't need to bother to try anymore.

I am just hoping that I can keep up the "potty" schedule, I lose track of time soooo often, I think that I am going to have to set the microwave timer or an alarm clock for it.

Its possible that he is so wound up in whatever he is doing that he 'tunes it out' a little. I stil have that problem and i am 31. I cant tell you how many times i have nearly wet my pants just from wanting to finish something i am working on without interruptions. I dont usually feel any warning from the ol' bladder until i REALLY have to go and then i am booking it to the restroom. WHen i am engrossed in something i just tune everything else out. Wish i could give you a solution, but i am still working on one for myself.

I am 27 and have aspergers. Dont sweat it because you are not alone, I have baan in diapers most of my life, i need them 24/7 now. Its not so bad, I just have learned to accept it as a part of who I am. I were abana xplus brand, thay can hold 64 oz. I have to change 5 times a day.

Well, we've been on the potty schedule for a little while now, and we have only had one accident. And, it was not the same issue. (we have a mirrored shower door, he was busy watching himself make faces in the mirror while he went and kind of only remembered to pull down his pants, so the underwear did not fare well.)

So glad this just seems to be a remembering to go thing.

So, try set schedules ! if there is nothing in your bladder you are less likely to "spill" heh. (he still sighs half the time when I say, "when was the last time you went? I think it's time to try again." The other half he says "oooh, yeah, it's been a while, I better go and try." He hasn't said so directly but I think he enjoys not being wet. (and my goodness, I wouldn't blame him.)

I need to wear the pull-up style Depends. I'm also 33. I've had to wear them for a little over a year.

Detren,

I'm glad you're finding something that seems to be helping out.

The only thing I can think of in relation to my issues is this...

When I do it 'right', I feel the urge and the thought pops up in my mind that I need to pee/poo and I should go to the bathroom now.
If I go now, then I won't be in such a rush later if I put it off.
It's nice when I can break away from my current train of thought and do this.
I'm teaching myself to remember the 'idea' that it is better to stop what I am doing and go take care of business rather than do it in, "Just a minute!".

In your case, I wonder if it would help asking him to describe what he thinks are the signals his body gives him when he has to go pee.
Have him describe it in as much detail as he can. Perhaps by having his mind go through this thinking exercise enough times, something in his mind will be triggered into action the next time he actually feels these signals he has described.

One other thing I thought of is training him to be able to break away from things like his games when there is something to do.
It can be needing to go to the bathroom or getting up to let the dog in/out, or stopping to get up and have a snack or drink.
My idea is that you would start out by telling him before he starts playing a game that at a certain time he will need to get up and do some particular thing.
When that time comes up, you interrupt his game, remind him of the task, then make sure he stops what he is doing and goes to complete the task.

Maybe even make this a game?

I was thinking that this might help him learn break that hyperfocus of his so he would even head to the bathroom when those signals came up.

Just brain-storming here... some of this has helped me with my ADD/HD, although I'm still trying to perfect it!