Bladder training, which is a form of behavioural therapy, is considered an important part of any Overactive Bladder (OAB) treatment programme. 3 This simple technique can help the bladder learn to hold more fluid and aims to gradually increase the time between visits to the toilet. This can help you regain control over your bladder, so that it can fill properly and then release urine at a time of your choosing. Over the next few weeks and months, you should gradually change your daily schedule of trips to the toilet so that you are slowly building up the time between each trip until you are going to the toilet approximately four to seven times per day.
Part of bladder training involves keeping a ‘bladder diary’ in which you can record when you visit the toilet during the day, as well as what and how much you drink and any times that you have had a leakage.
The diary can help you and your doctor see how often you go to the toilet each day and the longest time between visits. With this information you can gradually increase the time between your trips to the toilet.
For example, if you find you are visiting the bathroom every hour to urinate, try holding on for an additional 15 minutes before you go the next time. You can distract yourself while waiting by doing tasks that are mentally, not physically, challenging such as counting backwards from 100 to one, reading, practising relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, or thinking positive thoughts such as ‘I can control my bladder’.
Fill in the bladder diary as accurately as possible for three days in the week. The diary is sectioned into 24-hour periods. Write down when and what you drink and how much you consumed. Log your toilet trips in the hour, along with whether your urge to urinate was ‘strong’ or ‘mild’. If you had a wetting accident, make note of it also. You should take your bladder diary with you to your next doctor’s appointment where you can review it together.
It will help give your doctor an accurate record of your OAB symptoms, which can be extremely helpful in monitoring your progress and informing any treatment decisions.
It may be useful to complete the diary again if you start medication or another treatment, to monitor the progress and results.
If you think you may be experiencing a bladder control problem, try the questionnaire.