Over Active Bladder

Frequency, urgency and Urge incontinence
Frequency means having to go to the toilet 8 or more times in 24 hours
Urgency means having to hurry to pass urine
Urge incontinence means leakage urine before reaching the toilet
They are caused because your bladder is over-sensitive, the bladder muscle starting to contract before your bladder is full.
What Can Help?
Adequate fluid intake
- Do not reduce your fluid intake. This will concentrate your urine and irritate your bladder. Far from helping, this may make your problem worse and can also cause constipation
- Try to avoid drinks that containing Caffeine (tea, coffee, chocolate and cola) as these are diuretics, making you produce more urine. They also irritate your bladder
- Alcohol and fizzy drinks may also worsen your symptoms, so try to limit these
Bladder Retraining
- Avoid passing urine “just in case”- wait until your bladder is actually full.
- Try to increase the amount of time between visits to the toilet
- Do not try to hold on at night – it will only keep you awake. Practising holding on in the daytime will gradually help night time problems.
- If you have been prescribed water tablet (diuretics) you must take them no matter how often they make you want to go to toilet. Discuss this problem with your nurse or doctor.
Please find leaflets to help with over active bladder symptoms tab Advice Leaflets on the right, or click. Here (Hyperlink).
Last updated27 Jul 2018