Adult bedwetting + combat PTSD??

I haven't been able to find any relation online but someone I care about very deeply was in Iraq for a year and went through some awful stuff (the tank he was driving hit a roadside bomb, he was hospitalized, his squad leader was killed, then he lost about 5 other buddies before and after that incident) he still has big time mental stuff going on and he never had a problem with the bedwetting before, does anyone else have any experience or knowledge with this?? Like I said I can't find a relation between that and PTSD but he was recently diagnosed with PTSD... Please no mean answers this is someone who fought for our country so don't make light of it. Thanks!

I'm very sorry to hear of what your friend has gone through. I agree with the other answers that the bedwetting is almost certainly related to the PTSD. I haven't had PTSD but have struggled with bedwetting on and off all my life, including as an adult, and stressful situations of any kind (your friend's experiences certainly qualify!) definitely make the bedwetting much more likely. Stress (and I imagine also PTSD) causes sleep patterns to change so that you simply don't "feel" your bladder getting full during the night, so if it gets full to the limit, it just empties automatically while you're still asleep.

From what I've read, this symptom in adults is more common if the person had a significant history of bedwetting as a kid (past the age of 6 or 7 -- you might ask your friend about this), but it can apparently happen to certain people even if there was no such history. Treating the source of stress (the PTSD) should likely clear it up, but if it doesn't, a urologist should be able to help.

One last thing, bedwetting happens to a LOT more adults than you would think. About 1-3% of kids who wet the bed at age 10 simply never "outgrow" the problem (the number may even be higher, as you can imagine it is often under-reported!), and plenty of others (like myself) continue to have problems off and on as a result of excess fluid intake, insufficient sleep, fatigue, or stress. It is an EXTREMELY personal and embarrassing problem, but at least your friend should know he is not alone. If you or your friend would like to talk more about any of this, you are welcome to send me an e-mail through my profile.

I am 100% sure that the PTSD is causing the bedwetting, no doubt about it at all. Believe me, I have seen cases like those ones and bedwetting is the symptom that patients have and really upsets them. Do not panic about it, as soon as he gets treat it for it, it will go away little by little. He needs therapy and some medication for PTSD.
Like I told you, I am absolutely sure that the bedwetting is being caused by the extreme anxiety and depression he must feel. He needs to talk about it with the doctor who diagnosed PTSD so he can help him with proper therapy and meds.

Yes, bedwetting is a symptom of PTSD.

I knew a marine who was in Viet Nam, and he had the same problem. It eventually cleared up, but it took time.

But, there is no reason to have to wait and suffer with this side effect anymore. There is therapy fine-tuned for PTSD and medication now that is available.

Have your friend seek help from a psychiatrist. He'll most likely be prescribed medication to help with his immediate problem, resulting in him feeling much better about himself.

Then, therapy comes into play to help him deal with all the trauma he sustained. Some psychiatrists provide therapy, others recommend a therapist who specializes in PTSD.

I question his present therapist who gave him the diagnosis but not an answer to alleviate it.

Have him see a psychiatrist pronto. He'll be fine much sooner than my friend.

i think thats sad i cant say eneything because i dont know but im crying right now so i hope this is no jok
but good luck