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Bladder Diary

Bladder Training Instructions

You can keep a bladder diary yourself and set your own goals, but remember bladder retraining takes time and determination. A cure does not happen overnight but it can be very successful. Alternatively you can discuss using a bladder diary with your continence nurse or health professional and between you agree a training programme suited to your needs. Bladder training works by helping you to return to a normal pattern of passing urine. You will need to gradually increase the time between passing urine until you achieve a normal pattern.

It is very important for you to follow the instructions given to you as part of your individual training programme. Below is an example of a training schedule.

Instructions

1 Begin the bladder training programme tomorrow morning.

2 When you wake, go to the toilet to empty your bladder.

3 Go to the toilet to pass urine every ______minutes. This means going to the toilet to try to empty your bladder every _______ during waking hours.

4 Follow the schedule during waking hours. Pass urine as you feel necessary during the night.

5 If you feel the need to pass urine before the scheduled time TRY TO HOLD ON until your assigned time. Sometimes concentrating on another task may help you to push off the desire to pass urine.

6 Follow the schedule as closely as you can. Even if you do not feel the desire to pass urine, go to the toilet at the assigned time to try and empty your bladder.

7 Record each time you pass urine on the chart. Times are indicated in the left column of your chart. If you do not use the toilet at the allotted time, write down why in the comments column.

8 If you miss a scheduled time to pass urine, return to the schedule as soon as you remember.

9 If you have been able to control your bladder on this schedule increase the interval by 15 minutes.

10 Initially fill in the chart every day. Once you have got into a routine fill one in twice a week.
If you have had difficulties controlling your bladder according to the schedule, the time between visits to the toilet should be shortened by 10 minutes.

You will find a copy of a blank bladder diary to use and an example of a completed diary by using the link boxes below.