Who we can help

• People who have any bladder and/or bowel problems and their carers
• Healthcare professionals
• People who want to improve continence services

There are many kinds of bladder and bowel problems and we are not only here for people who call themselves incontinent. We are also here to help people who use continence aids and appliances e.g. sheaths, catheters or leg bags. Leakage from the bladder is very common and can happen to men, women and children of any age. Bowel leakage is less common, but other problems may include:-

• stress incontinence - where you experience leakage when you cough, sneeze or exercise (see pelvic floor exercises  men and pelvic floor exercises - women)
• urgency - where you have to rush to the toilet and don't always make it in time or you pass urine more often than you used to. You can't empty your bladder completely or does your urine stream stop and start. The urine flow is slower than it used to be. For men click on prostate
• frequency - where you go to the loo more than eight times a day.
• wetting the bed in your sleep or have to get up more than twice at nighttime to go to the toilet
• stress incontinence and urgency at the same time, which is known as mixed symptoms
• overflow incontinence - where you can�t stop your bladder from constantly dribbling, or continuing to dribble for some time after you have passed urine.
• trouble controlling your bowels - diarrhoea, constipation or diverticular disease
• a learning disability or related condition like MS, spinal injury or arthritis that may affect your ability to use the toilet

All of these conditions can be managed to improve your quality of life, some can be completely cured. As many as 1 in 3 of us will have such problems at some time in our adult lives. These conditions can seriously affect both your relationships and your emotions. It is NOT just a problem for the elderly and it is not an inevitable part of ageing. We can give you the number to your nearest continence advisor or a specialist nurse who will be able to give you advice about your bladder and bowels and the products and medication that might help. There are all kinds of products and treatments available to help you please do contact us for more information.