Will Bladder Training Work For You?

Living with incontinence is not the only option.

Living with incontinence is not the only option. Too many people are embarrassed by the condition, and because of that embarrassment are reluctant to tell other family members and even their doctor. However, it is crucial to understand urinary incontinence is a treatable problem with many different treatment options. The first thing anyone should do when they are having symptoms is to see their health care professional to gain an accurate diagnosis and form a treatment plan. 

Treatment options for these kinds of symptoms can include: diet and lifestyle changes, learning Kegel therapy and other forms or physical therapy, medications, and even biofeedback. For severe cases of urinary incontinence your doctor may even recommend surgery. However, this is usually only done after other treatment options have been tried and are not working.

One of the most common types of therapy for symptoms for loss of control of the bladder is bladder training. Bladder training has proven very effective for those with urge incontinence. However, it should be stressed this is not a one size fits all problem or solution. You and your doctor will need to determine what treatment options are right for your specific needs and type.

If you are experiencing symptoms of loss of control of your bladder, you may be wondering if bladder training will work for you.The goal of this technique is to literally train the bladder to hold in urine for longer and longer periods of time to prevent accidents and leaks.

The first step in bladder training is to keep a voiding diary. Your doctor will need to see how often you have the urge to go as well as any times, you may have a leak or accident. Do not assume this is a useless step. You will need to have a record in order to see when the bladder training will be the most effective. Once you have the information in your voiding diary (from a specified period of time), you will then move on to the steps of bladder training. These steps include:

• Scheduling your bathroom visits-Because you know how often you are going to the bathroom from your voiding diary, you will be able to start scheduling your bathroom visits. For example, if you find you are going to the bathroom every 45 minutes then start adding 10 minutes to the time. Go into the bathroom at every scheduled time regardless of whether you feel the urge to go. Then once you have done this start increasing the time between visits. 

• Start delaying urination-The next step in bladder training is to start delaying urination. Whenever you feel the urge to urinate work on holding it for another 5 minutes. Gradually add in time until you can go 3-4 hours between bathroom visits. If you feel overwhelmed by the urge, try methods that will distract you as well as relaxation methods which can help. When you can’t wait any longer use the bathroom but try to stay on with your scheduled bathroom visits. 

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353. 

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