Holding in Urine | Autism PDD

Over the past couple of weeks we have moved, ds has started ESY and is very stressed at his school. Recently he has been holding in his urine and then saying he is in pain, I have had to give him motrin in order for him to go. I'm not sure if he has an UTI or he is just stressed. He's not running a fever or anything else, I just don't know how to relieve his stress, I kept him home today, but I know that isn't an option for the rest of the month. Any advice or suggestions would be welcome

Is he forceably pushing his urine out?  If so then it can burn for boys if they do that.  It can make a child fear using the potty again. 

If he is in pain from withholding then I wouldn't think UTI...I would think his bladder is too full.  It' more rare for boys to get UTI's but it IS possible. 

Withholding urine because they are in a strange place etc is common for our children that are on the spectrum.  Adam very seldom goes #2 at school.  He even holds it for days and then lets it all out at once about once a week.  I can only get him to urinate like 3 times a day.  Morning and mid day and then before bed and that's it. 

Karrie

Strange, but I also used to avoid going to the bathroom as a child.  At 3 I made a deal with my grandma:  quit smoking and I'll start poopin'. 

My ds will sometimes get mad if we tell him it's time to go potty (if he hasn't gone for several hours). Usually, he goes by himself but he holds it for much longer than I would like. At his ECSE class, he ALWAYS held it and would not go there EVER. I think it was a sensory thing and he had decided that the rule was: he did not go pee or poop at ECSE. Finally, after a LONG period of desensitization (we got him to go if I was there, then I stood right outside the door, then out in the lobby, then out in the parking lot, then not coming to school at all) he was able to go on his own there. This took about 6 months - seriously. And he didn't go potty at all the previous year  at school (previous year's teacher didn't think it was an issue!

Anyway, it can be serious and he can stretch his bladder and cause some permanent damage (in extreme cases). I read about this at the OASIS message board and then did some research. Some kids and adults have a phobia of going to the bathroom in public (I can't remember what it's called - sorry!). But, is this at home as well? Is it possibly a control thing? He's had a lot of changes in his young life recently and this is ONE thing that he CAN control! And it is probably driving you nuts (I know it did me!) so it gets him more attention as well. Just one theory...

I would definitely take him in to rule out a urinary tract infection. This may require a catheter though - since he is not peeing. If he can pee into a cup (good luck with this one!) then they can test that - otherwise you will likely need a cath. But you want to make sure that you rule that out because that is something that should be treated right away.

Good luck to you!

[quote]It' more rare for boys to get UTI's but it IS possible. [/quote]

Grrr. Don't remind me. I had that once, when I was in college, and let's just say that I really hope that first one will be the LAST one!

I wish your guy the best of luck, whichever the case. Being scared of the toilet is no fun either.
NorwayMom,

It has been very hot here, I live in Las Vegas NV and we've been 116 or more for the past couple of days. I've been trying to get my kids to drink lots of water, were all just trying to get used to the heat. Maybe that is what is causing his problem, I didn't even think about that.

A couple months ago, I tried to google "withholding urine + child" but didn't find much.  Someone did mention that kids will withhold urine if they're also withholding bowel movements -- they're afraid that if they relax in that region to pee, then the poop will come out too.

Stress seems like a likely culprit, but I wouldn't rule out pain either -- either current pain or recent pain that he's remembering.  Besides an UTI, kids get a burning sensation from concentrated urine due to dehydration / not drinking enough.  Has it been extra hot there lately?  A painful bowel movement could even be the culprit, even though the behavior you see involves peeing.

Good luck figuring this out.

Sarah has to be forced most times to go potty..she can hold it from night till at least 5 pm the next day if I let her!
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