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Date issued: Jan 2017

For review: Jan 2019

Ref: B-259/Physio/AM/Bladder training at home

PDF:  bladder training at home final January 2017.pdf [pdf] 151KB

Bladder Training

Do you feel that you need to empty your bladder very frequently (known as frequency) and in a great hurry (known as urgency)?  This feeling may be due to your bladder being ‘overactive’, ‘unstable’ or ‘irritable’.

 

If your bladder is behaving normally, you should be able to wait a short time before you empty your bladder to allow you to reach the toilet without hurrying.

With an overactive bladder or if your pelvic floor muscles are weak, this may be difficult.  By making your pelvic floor muscles stronger, you may find the urgency and number of visits to the toilet are reduced.

The aim of bladder training is to gain more control, so that you can hold on for longer and increase the amount your bladder can hold before visiting the toilet.  You will find that the intervals of time between emptying your bladder will increase.

 

How can you do this?

1.  When you feel the need to empty your bladder

• KEEP CALM and try to distract yourself by breathing gently or count slowly or try to occupy yourself. You may not have the urgency to visit the toilet often, if you are busy.
• Pull up your pelvic floor muscles to keep them firm. Try to hold on a little longer. By continuing to tighten these muscles, you may be able to stop the feeling of urgency to empty the bladder.
• By putting pressure on your bladder outlet, you may be able to switch off the intense urge to rush to the toilet.

1. 1) If you have difficulty in reaching the toilet in time, you may try to empty the bladder at regular intervals. This could be every two hours at first but if you are not coping, try a shorter interval.

Your aim is to increase the time between each visit to the toilet gradually, so you are able to hold on longer.

Choose the type of training that suits you.  Control may take time while you are improving your pelvic floor strength.

Remember to

• Continue to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles

(See separate leaflet ‘Keep High, Stay Dry’- Pelvic Floor Exercises)

• Keep your intake of drinks to 1.5 -2 litres (3-4 pints) or

6-8 drinks daily

• Avoid drinks, which may cause bladder irritation such as coffee, tea, fizzy drinks containing caffeine, and alcohol.

Decaffeinated tea and coffee and cola are available.

You need to gradually reduce your caffeinated drink intake over 3 weeks to avoid headaches.

• Try to include water for at least 3 of your drinks each day.

• Always try to sit on the toilet correctly. Do not hover over the toilet to empty your bladder, as this may prevent you emptying fully.
• Always respond to the message to empty your bowel.