About this topic
Incontinence or leaking of urine is a very common problem. Many people are embarrassed if they have to talk about this problem. You may leak urine when you laugh, sneeze, or cough. You may not be able to drain the bladder fully when you urinate. ‚
Your doctor may suggest you keep a bladder diary. Each day you write down: ‚
- What time you have something to drink and how much fluid you take in
- What time you pass urine and how much urine you put out each time
- When or if you leak urine
- When or if you feel a strong urge to go to the bathroom
- What kind of protection you need to use for leaks, like a pantiliner or other type of pad
A bladder diary can give your doctor or therapist important information. It is also used for bladder retraining. Talk to your doctor about how keeping a bladder diary may help you. ‚
General
You will need to track how much you drink and how much you urinate for a few days in a row to be able to see a pattern. Talk with your doctor or therapist to see how many days you need to write this information down. Be honest so you and your doctor can look at the information in your diary and come up with a plan for you. ‚
Helpful tips
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids per day. Not drinking enough fluids will not help leaking. It can make your urine more concentrated and irritate your bladder. This can make leaking worse.
- Do not go to the bathroom before you leave the house just in case you have to go later. This can train your bladder to think it is full when it really isnt.
Where can I learn more?
American Urological Association ‚
http://www.urologyhealth.org/SUI/_documents/_pdf/AUAF_SUI_Bladder_Diary.pdf ‚
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearing House ‚
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/diary/diary_508.pdf ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/urinary-incontinence-leaflet ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-01-09 ‚
List_set bdysylist
- Adult
- Genitourinary
- Therapy (Occupational, Physical, Speech, etc)
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚