A Symptom guide to bladder and bowel control problems
Common symptoms of bladder and bowel problems include:
- having to rush to use the toilet
- leaking before you get there
- leaking when you laugh, cough or sneeze
- leaking when you play sport or lift heavy objects
- leaking when you get up to stand from sitting or lying down
- waking up twice or more during the night to go to the toilet
- feeling of not completley emptying your bladder
- nervousness becasue you think you may lose control of your bladder or bowel
- need to plan your daily routine around where the nearest toilet is
- chronic constipation or diarrhoea which may cause leakage
Problems that can cause or worsen incontinence
- Urinary tract infections
- Not drinking enough fluids which can concentrate the urine and cause bladder irritation and constipation
- Going to the toilet just in case rather than when your bladder feels full. Which trains your bladder to store less urine
- Constipation can put pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and obstruct the bladder from emptying properly
- Caffeine containing drinks eg tea, and coffee can irritate the bladder
- Alcohol acts as a diuretic causing the loss of more fluid from the body through the production of more urine resulting in a more frequent need to urinate
- Some medicines can affect the bladder and bowel
- Prostate problems
- Radiotherapy in the pelvic area can cause cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
