Having a bladder and bowel assessment
Information for adults This page gives you information about attending an outpatient clinic for assessment of your bladder and bowel dysfunction. Losing control of your bladder and/or bowel can be a very distressing and embarrassing problem that you may find difficult to talk about. It can happen to almost anyone, young to old, men, women and children. A detailed assessment is the first step to regaining control of your bladder and/or bowel. There are many different types of bladder and bowel problems and for most people these are curable once the cause has been found. A continence assessment carried out by a specialist nurse, who has expert knowledge in this field, is the first step to making things better. The specialist nurse is trained to understand the problems you are having and will help to identify the cause to allow you to receive the appropriate treatment or management.
What will happen during the assessment?
During your assessment the specialist nurse will ask you about your problem in order to build up a picture of what may be causing it and what can be done to help.
Information to bring to your appointment
Observation charts
You will also be asked for some additional information about your bladder or bowel problem. This can be very personal and will involve keeping a record of your bladder and bowel habits. Charts are provided to help you record this information and will be sent with your appointment letter.
You will be asked about:
- How much urine you pass each time and measuring the volume in millilitres.
- The number of times you have any leakages and when they occur.
- What type of fluids you drink.
- How much fluids you drink in a day, measuring the volume in millilitres.
- How often your bowels are opened and the time of movements.
- What type of stool/poo you pass
- What foods you eat, to be recorded in a food diary The charts you will be provided with:
Frequency Volume Chart – Three Day Bladder Diary
This chart needs to be completed over three days. However, the three days do not necessarily need to be three days together if it is easier for you to complete.
Diet and Bowel Diary
This chart should be completed over two weeks to be able to see patterns of your everyday routine.
This information is very important, please try not to be embarrassed by these questions, the more detail you can provide the more accurate the assessment will be. If you do not complete the charts before your appointment, you may be asked to complete them for another clinic appointment. The completed charts help form a treatment plan individual to you.
Will I be examined?
In some situations, it may be necessary for you to be examined and/or have specialist tests carried out. The specialist nurse will always advise you if this is the case. They will also give you all the information you need and answer any questions that you may have before you consent to any of these procedures.
Some people like to have a chaperone accompany them for this type of personal care. Please feel free to ask for this before any procedure is carried out. If you prefer, a person close to you may accompany you.
Urine Sample
You may be asked to provide a urine specimen for testing.
A bladder scan may be required to see if you are emptying your bladder. An ultrasound bladder scan measures the amount of urine stored in the bladder. It can be carried out immediately before passing urine and/or after passing urine, to check how well the bladder has emptied.
You may be required to pass urine in the clinic toilets before this scan is performed to get an accurate result.
How long will this appointment take?
This appointment will take about 30 minutes.
What happens next?
Following the assessment, the specialist nurse will talk to you about what they have identified and will discuss with you some treatment and/or symptom management options.
There are many treatment options for bladder and bowel problems which may include exercises such as pelvic floor or bladder retraining programmes, fluid advice, medication or even surgery.
Management options might include the use of special aids, products or equipment. This may include appliances or products that are fitted to your body to contain urine or devises that can aid in helping your bladder or bowels to empty. The specialist nurse will help you to understand these options and for you to receive treatment or management, tailored to your specific needs.
Follow up appointments
Following your initial assessment, you may need followup appointments with the specialist nurse to make sure that your treatment is working. This will be discussed and arranged with you. Follow up appointments will take 15 minutes.
Contact information
The specialist nurses who make up Gloucestershire Bladder and Bowel Health are committed to providing excellent care. If you have any questions or need advice, please contact Gloucestershire Bladder and Bowel Service using the contact information listed below and ask to speak to a Continence Nurse.
Gloucestershire Bladder and Bowel Health
Cheltenham General Hospital, Oakley Suite, 2nd floor Centre Block, Sandford Road, Cheltenham GL53 7AN
Tel: 0300 422 5305
Further information
Gloucestershire Hospitals Continence Service public website.
Website: https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ourservices/services-we-offer/continence-service/
Bladder and Bowel UK
Website: www.bbuk.org.uk
Disabled Living
Website: www.disabledliving.co.uk