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My mother constantly asks to go to the bathroom, very often within five minutes of going. Twice she asked me to take her to the bathroom while she was sitting on the toilet she has been tested and retested for a UTI, always coming up clean. What other underlying causes could there be, or is this just another symptom of dementia?

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That's a question for her urologist for sure, but perhaps she's not emptying her bladder completely, or perhaps she has an overactive bladder, both of which are very common with the elderly.
Her urologist can test for both these issues, so make an appointment for her today.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Wow, cant believe none of the females here have mentioned GSM... Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause...it highly highly highly effects the urinary system, the urethra to the bladder and can cause the constant sensation of needing to urinate along with the typical uti symptom of pain, urgency, full bladder, etc but no positive urine test for uti...

What happens is the lining in the bladder, urethra and the vagina also, shrink and the skin becomes very thin and susceptible to uti, thrush, burning on urination,urge incontinence and feeling full even after peeing...sometimes even the length of the urethra shrinks.
It causes all sorts of pain and urinary issues.

50+% of women will get this in perimenopause or in actual menopause. It happens because of the cessation of estrogen production. It is progressive and the only way to truly treat the condition at its roots is with vaginal estradiol (no, it doesnt cause cancer based on the latest 20 year long study released in May (?) 2023).

You have to look it up. Its too much to type.

Just something to consider.
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Reply to PureExistence1
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Could be constipation.

When my mother hasn't had a bowel movement in 3-4 days, she will want to go to the bathroom constantly because she feels the need to go but doesn't register that it's not to urinate.

When this happens I give her Milk of Magnesia to help her have a bowel movement and that takes care of the constant urge.
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Reply to southiebella
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My mother with dementia was fixated with the toilet. There was nothing wrong with her like a UTI, she just felt the need to be on the toilet constantly. For her, it was part of the OCD behaviors that go along with dementia.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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LindaKC Aug 1, 2024
Finally an answer that resonates with me. My mom went through the same thing and it was awful. 24hr caregivers were counting 70 trips a night to the bathroom for a period of time. Absolutely awful :(
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Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition. It never goes away but can be controlled. Certain foods and beverages cause symptoms to flare. Consult a urologist.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Isabelsdaughter Jul 30, 2024
I have the same thing, and it is chronic. I have had it most my life. Also countless utis when I was younger. I also have pressure in my lower ab/bladder . And I am up countless times at night to go, really horrible.
(1)
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When my mom started losing the ability to realize when she needed to go, she would go every 5 minutes. I think she knew there was a problem and she was afraid she would go on herself. It wasn't but a couple of months later that she had to move to depends.
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Reply to Tresha
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Has she been checked for diabetes? Urinary frequency is a symptom of type 1 diabetes.
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Reply to LindaW313
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DrBenshir Jul 30, 2024
Not just type 1, also type 2:
Polyuria (increased frequency of urination),
Polydipsia (increased thirst),
Polyplagia (increased appetite).
(1)
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Interstitial Cystitis.

Painful Bladder Syndrome

High Oxalate level showing in urine.

Some medications affect the feeling of bladder urgency.

Could be many different reasons.

Yes. Chat with her doc.
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Reply to cxmoody
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As we age, our muscles down there become weaker. I know when I stand up from sitting an hour, it's a mad dash to the bathroom. Or if I am running water at the kitchen sink, that's another trigger that gets my bladder to respond.... (sigh).
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Reply to freqflyer
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Possibly prolapsed organ.

unfortunately due to gravity “everything” falls down and gets jumbled up.
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Reply to Betsysue2002
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