Could being a caffeine addict for several years have permanently messed up my bladder?

When I was in college, and for the first couple years of grad school, I absolutely LIVED on caffeine... I had probably 4-6 cups of coffee a day, and more if I needed to stay up all night and work on stuff. It wasn't good for my body in general but was especially bad for my bladder... whenever I had coffee in my system I had to urinate MUCH more often than normal -- like maybe 1-2 times an hour or more! -- and I had really intense urges to go with a relatively small amount of urine. It wasn't bad enough to lose control while awake, but I would frequently wet my bed if I had caffeine in my system late at night (on nights when I was able to sleep, anyway!).

Anyway... I finally realized what I was doing to my body and got off the caffeine habit about 3 years ago... but I still have occasional bladder urgency, and wet the bed occasionally, but not nearly as badly as before. Could many years of abusing caffeine have messed up my system in this way? Is this likely to be permanent?

I did have a bedwetting problem as a kid growing up, until I was about 12... and older if I had too much to drink at night... so I don't know if my childhood bedwetting condition just never went away completely, or if the caffeine has had nasty long-term effects on my bladder. Anyone else experienced anything like this, or have any ideas?

Some people are born with smaller bladders than what is "normal."
You may have such a condition.
Caffeine is stimulators so check into foods or drinks that may have "hidden amounts of caffeine in them, soda, and tea, chocolate to name a few.
Start reading labels and see what the connection is between caffeine levels, or other additives in your diet.

Ive been doing research on caffeine as a drug, and its a normal thing. It should go away eventualy but for now just dont eat or drink anything but water about 2 hours before bed...i myself am one of the addicts. Report It

Well yes,
it happened to my g-ma,
And now she has to wear dipers for the rest of her life!

Maybe it's not a bladder problem, but a kidney problem. Caffeine and sugars are dirutetics, meaning they mess with your electrolytes and make you dehyrated. It definitely could have had an effect on your kidneys. I'm not sure about it being permanent though, I hope not! You should definitely ask your doctor about this, and hopefully get on some sort of treatment. In the meantime, you need to make SURE to stay very hydrated at all times if you want to give your body a chance to heal - drink your recommended 8 glasses a day (that's only 4 of the average household large-sized cups) MINIMUM. Good luck!

my dad is 70 years old, he drinks 8 cups a day. the dr. told him it was ok to drink as much as he wanted. i drink 12 cups a day an have been for 20 yr. now.

try a doctor -- i doubt its the coffee.