Bedwetting condition is known as Nocturnal enuresis. It is involuntary urination while asleep after the age at which bladder control usually begins. It a result to emotional stress in adults and children. It is commonly associated with a family history of the condition.
It is an embarrassing medical condition that can strain relationships, marriages and social life. One can’t sleep away from home for fear of relatives and friends finding out. It affects both genders and can cause discomfort if not treated like it is in the case of one advertising sales agent in Nairobi, Martin Madii of 38 years old.
He has been wetting beds since year 2017. He claims that the problem started as a moderate incontinent condition before it gradually became harder to turn off taps; ”It never hit my mind I could be suffering from a certain condition as there were no signs to raise suspicion. More so, I didn’t have the courage of facing the doctor and disclosing my condition. The first time it happened I was sober but in deep sleep, by the time I felt the urge of the call, half of the ladder had already emptied on the bed.”
While the first two wet nights didn’t give him sleepless nights, repeat wettings got him worried and he sought medical advice. He was diagnosed with a hormonal problem after seeking medical advice. His body was not producing enough antidiuretic hormone hence resulting in too much production of urine while sleeping. His current bachelor status is a result of three women leaving after being unable to tolerate wet bed sheets.
H explains; ”I took the initiative of seeking medication after my third wife took our beddings outside, insulted me as neighbors watched and then took off. I was embarrassed that she left without notice.” He says that the condition can lead to stigmatization for a man married to a woman who doesn’t understand or tolerate the situation.
Treatment is recommended when there is a specific medical condition such as bladder abnormalities, infection, or diabetes. It is also considered when bedwetting may harm ones self esteem or relationships with family and friends, only a small percentage of bedwetting is caused by a specific medical condition, so most treatment is prompted by concern for the victim’s emotional welfare.