Continence Nurse Advisor & Prostate Cancer Nurse
You Are Not Alone...
It affects all age groups - young children and adolescents through to older Australians.
Incontinence is a common experience for women from all walks of life. Men are also affected, particularly as they grow older. It can be related to pregnancy and childbirth, surgery, neurological and many other disorders, menopause, prostate related, a side effect of medications - even diet.
Every bladder or bowel control problem - no matter how small - deserves expert attention.
You are not alone. Incontinence is a very common condition. There are many health professionals qualified to assist you with bladder and bowel control problems. With a proper assessment, incontinence can be treated, more effectively managed and frequently cured.
Incontinence is not a simple condition. There are many different causes and many different treatments. Further, it is not only concerned with poor control - urgency and frequency are also problems.
Practice theses five simple habits to keep you in control of bladder and bowel
- Keep your pelvic floor toned - practice pelvic floor exercises for better bladder and bowel control
- Eat well - to avoid constipation and keep your weight within health range
- Drink well - make water your first choice and cut down on bladder irritants such as coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and alcohol
- Exercise regularly - helps in toning the pelvic floor, weight control and preventing constipation
- Practice good toilet habits - don’t go to the toilet ‘just in case’
Seek help if you have symptoms.
The Common Symptoms
Do you have any of these symptoms?
- - Passing urine frequently
- - Rushing to the toilet to pass urine
- - Leaking urine on the way to the toilet
- - Leaking urine with coughing, sneezing or exercise
- - Getting up twice or more overnight to pass urine
- - Frequent urinary tract infections
- - Rushing to the toilet to open bowels
- - Unable to control wind
- - Constipation
If you answer ‘Yes’ you may have a bladder or bowel control problem.
Don’t ignore your problem, they rarely go away and usually get worse.