DS wees too often at school - 8 yo

[jambomum]

DS is 8 yo - teacher has asked me if he has a problem as he repeatedly asks to go to loo. I think he just wants a break from the lessons, but I'm slightly worried as I do find that sometimes, he'll go to toilet, then literally 5 mins later say he needs again.
I put it down to being an 8yo boy, who doesn't concentrate on much other than lego, books and tv.
Anyone had a similar thing that has been a medical problem?
Am aware that it could also be a psychological thing; anyone any experience of that?

Thanks

[PeterParkerSays]

A lot of weeing can be diabetes - any other signs that you're aware of?

I doubt he's doing it to get a break, if he's going a couple of times in the same lesson, 5 minutes apart.

Not bullying - someone poking him in the back etc? Could the teacher move him and see how it settles?

[bigTillyMint]

Does he go frequently at home? If not, it could be a case of work avoidance especially if you say he easily loses interest?

[jambomum]

PeterParker - certainly not losing weight ! nor drinking a lot. Type 2 diabetes in family but not until middle age. Will keep an eye on that.
Last year's teacher said the same thing, but I wasn't aware that it had continued until I saw teacher this week. ( can't be a serious concern of teacher as waited until the open day when I went in, to tell me about it??!!)
TillyMint- I've not noticed him going frequently at home, but he does that thing when we're out, where we have to return to the loos in John Lewis 5 mins after we'd left.
Just not sure whether to tell him that he must alter his behaviour, or whether it is likely to be something medical, so he can't.

[SandStorm]

My first thought, which could be completely wrong, was that maybe he's anxious about going in the school toilet and so only does a little dribble at a time which would mean he still has a reasonably full bladder on his return. Could it be something like that? Could you ask him if he goes for a big wee or a little wee each time?

[SydneyB]

I had the same thing with my 7 yr old. It was also at home as well as school. Sometimes she'd go 4 times in the space of 1/2 hr! After a few visits to the GP to rule out UTIs I found this thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/709643-Anyone-heard-of-pollakiuria-It-means-frequent-peeing/AllOnOnePage.
We talked all this through with DD and it really seems to have done the trick. We now talk about 'big wees' and 'little wees when she's just a bit a worried about something'. She's also still not dry at night and I think was anxious about that and worried about accidents. Day time dryness took a while too and she was still having the odd accident in Reception and so I think all this stuff was anxiety-inducing for her. Obviously you should talk to your GP too!

[jambomum]

Sydney B this sounds entirely possible. He is quite lacking in confidence and worries about things a lot. I just wish I could pour confidence into him. Maybe I need to think about some help for both him and me.

Thanks for your tip about 'big wees' and 'little wees' that sounds like a great idea.

[SydneyB]

DD is a worrier too. When I explained how the bladder works she definitely seemed to get it and it has made quite a difference I would say. Good luck!

[bigTillyMint]

I think you should take him to the GP just to be sure. My cousins son was only diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because my aunt was worried about how often he went to the toilet.

And the big wees and little wees talk sounds like a really good idea too

[DUSTIN]

This thread could have been written about my DS. He is the same age and his teacher last year told us he was asking to go to the toilet a lot and it is happening again this year. Our DS has been to see a paediatrician and has had flow tests etc. The paediatrician wasn't worried and said he probably wasn't emptying his bladder fully and so needed to wee again a short time later.
Probably a good idea to have DS checked out to rule out any medical problems though.

[jambomum]

Dustin - thx I'll do that first.