STEP 2: ASSESS YOUR CONDITION
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Receive custom tools to help you manage your condition and get the latest in bladder and bowel health from NAFC!
STEP 2: ASSESS YOUR CONDITION
Incontinence can happen for many reasons, and may take on different forms. You may have bladder incontinence, or fecal incontinence. It may stem from an injury or trauma, or a medical condition. It may be severe, or mild. Regardless of why you have incontinence, knowing where you stand is the first step to making improvements in your condition. Take some time (1 week) to really pay attention to the type of incontinence you have, and learn the things that trigger it.
If you have bladder incontinence: Download the NAFC Bladder Diary.
If you have fecal incontinence: Download the NAFC Bowel Diary.
WEEK 1: TRACK YOUR HABITS WITH A BLADDER OR BOWEL DIARY
Be sure to use the bladder/bowel diary faithfully for 1 week. The diary helps you keep track of the types of foods and fluids you are consuming, the amount, the number of times you visited the restroom, if you had any leakage, etc. It also tracks your activities to see what types of things might be triggering your incontinence (ie., running after you have just consumed a bottle of water.) Consistency is key here and it’s important to fill out the diary every day for 1 week so you can start to see an accurate picture of your condition.
WEEK 2: WATCH FOR YOUR BLADDER OR BOWEL TRIGGERS
Once you learn the types of things that trigger your incontinence, you’ll be able to make modifications to your diet/activities, which may help tremendously. Continue to keep track of your bladder/bowel health for another week as you make modifications so you can see what changes are having an effect.
RELATED ARTICLES
Why Incontinence Is A Condition We Need To Worry About
Incontinence is a condition largely overlooked and under treated in the United States. Although nearly 37 million people every year are affected by incontinence (which
Male Incontinence: A Full Guide To Wearable Solutions
The many available products to treat bladder leaks can be overwhelming, especially for men. Check out this complete guide to help you navigate your options.
Have bladder leaks? Give physical therapy a try first
WHY PHYSICAL THERAPY SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU TRY WHEN TREATING INCONTINENCE October is National Physical Therapy Month, and in honor of that, we
What Is Neurogenic Bladder?
Having a neurological condition presents many challenges, but one that few people likely think about until they are dealing with it is how the condition
