Kirklees Primary Care Trust
If you have any queries about the service we offer please contact: Continence Service, The Eddercliffe Centre, Bradford Road, Liversedge, WF15 6LP Telephone: 01924 351568
With acknowledgements to Incontact and the Continence Foundation for use of previously published materials. Reference: mh1315 Date of publication: Oct 2006 Š Kirklees Primary Care Trust www.kirklees-pct.nhs.uk
This information can be made available in other formats including large print and other languages.
You are not alone! Coping with bowel and bladder problems
Do you need our help?
What can I do to help myself?
• Do you go to the toilet more than eight times a day or more than once a night?
• Try to drink normally. Cutting down on drinks will make things worse not better. Try to drink around 6-8 mugs/glasses per day, cut down on drinks that contain caffeine (tea, coffee, cola).
• Do you ever have difficulty passing urine?
• Don’t go to the toilet out of habit or ‘just in case’. Only go when you really need to.
• Do you ever suffer with constipation or chronic diarrhoea? • Do you leak when you laugh, cough or move?
• Do not hover over the toilet seat. Sit down properly.
• Do you suffer with frequent urine infections?
• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to help avoid constipation.
If you have answered yes to any of these questions the Continence Advisory Service could help you. Remember – a lot of bladder or bowel problems are easily treated and are not necessarily anything serious.
Next Steps You can talk to your GP, District Nurse or Health Visitor or contact the Continence Nurse Specialist for more advice, information or a clinic appointment on:
01924 351568 There are clinics held at: Cleckheaton Health Centre on Wednesday mornings
8.30 – 12.30
Batley Health Centre on Thursday mornings
8.30 – 12.30
Dewsbury Health Centre on Friday mornings
8.30 – 12.30
What will the nurse need to know? • How often you use the toilet • Can you feel when you need to use the toilet? • What and how much you drink a day It would be useful to bring a record of how many times you use the toilet in 24 hours. A urine specimen may be needed to test for infection. The nurse may need to examine you.
• Try and keep as active and as mobile as you can. • Wear clothing that is easy to manage.
You can also get information from: The Continence Foundation is a charity that provides information and education for professionals and the public. An incontinence help line is staffed by Continence Advisors Monday to Friday 9am-1pm. The Continence Foundation 307 Hatton Square 16 Baldwins Gardens LONDON ECIN 7RJ
Tel 0845 340165
www.continence-foundation.org.uk Email: continence-help@dial.pipex.com Incontact Incontact provides support and information for people with bladder and bowel problems Incontact United House North Road London N7 9DP
Tel 0870 770 3246
www.incontact.org
Email: info@incontact.org