Advice and information

5097496

Advice and information

Bladder and Bowel Health Australia is staffed by qualified continence advisors with over 20 years of experience providing confidential and professional advice on a range of toilet training and bladder and bowel health issues. 

For some people it takes great courage to finally pick up the phone and call, especially if they have never told anyone else about their bladder or bowel problem. Our advisors provide reassurance and give callers options and strategies on how they can manage bladder and bowel issues for someone they are caring for or for themselves. 

Our advisors can provide advice and information on the type and cause/s of bladder and bowel health issues and provide suggestions as to how these issues can be prevented or better managed. Changes in bladder and bowel health can sometimes be due to serious illness. To rule this out we recommend that any health concerns are discussed with your health care provider. 

Our continence advisors provide the following:

  • strategies and tips for toilet training children 
  • advice and information to help with bedwetting problems
  • advice and information on soiling and constipation in children
  • assessment of bladder and bowel health issues
  • advice on management of bladder and bowel health issues, including urgency, frequency, nocturia and pelvic organ prolapse
  • preventative strategies to ensure good bladder and bowel health 
  • advice on healthy bladder and bowel habits, including exercises, diet and fluid intake 
  • advice on managing the impact and effect of other diseases and conditions on incontinence
  • information regarding selection, use or purchasing incontinence aids and products
  • information on specific problems that may exacerbate bladder and bowel control issues such as dementia, diabetes and other forms of neurological and physical disabilities
  • a product display showroom with a wide range of continence aids and appliances to view (NB: products are not for sale) 
  • health promotion activities
  • newsletter articles and other information for companies and organisations 
  • referral information for local continence services including the contact details of a Nurse Continence Advisor, Continence Physiotherapist or bed wetting clinic in your area

Contact us to discuss your concerns over the telephone or make an appointment to visit us at our centre. 

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Kylie – parent of a child that wets the bed 

Kylie rang our service as she was concerned about her five-year-old daughter, Mia, who was wetting the bed. Kylie had tried limiting Mia’s drinks in the late afternoon and evening and was also getting up at night to wake Mia and take her to the toilet.

Our advisor explained that it may take children until they around 5 ½ years old before they gain bladder control during sleep. Kylie was advised to encourage Mia to drink well throughout the day and was cautioned against cutting out drinks in the afternoon and early evening. Kylie was discouraged from waking Mia at night to take her to the toilet. Kylie was provided with information on obtaining a referral from Mia’s doctor to a bedwetting clinic if Mia continues to wet the bed past 5 ½ years of age.

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Anastasiya’s story

“As a mum of two young children, I have experienced the joys of two pregnancies and postpartum recoveries. I was shocked after the birth of my first child to discover that my pelvic floor muscles had become weak. I sought advice from Bladder and Bowel Health Australia and learnt the importance of exercising these muscles. This knowledge helped, and because I was better informed second time around, I have now fully restored the dignity of my body and truly enjoyed the changes - and my motherhood. Thank you, Bladder and Bowel Health Australia, for informing young families about bladder and bowel health issues.” 

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Doreen – carer of her husband who has dementia 

Doreen was becoming exhausted caring for her husband Tom, who has dementia. Tom was not always making it to the toilet on time and needed his trousers to be changed several times a day. Every day Doreen was also washing bedlinen and the four towels that Tom was laying on at night as he was soaking through his pull-up pants. 

Tom was receiving a high-level Home Care Package, and Doreen was able to arrange with their provider for some of Tom’s package to be allocated to funding continence assessment and management.  

Our advisor went to Tom’s home and conducted a thorough continence assessment. A continence management plan was developed with input from Doreen, and appropriate incontinence aids and linen protection were organised. Doreen is relieved that Tom’s incontinence has reduced, and her washing load has lessened. Doreen is now confident that she can continue caring for Tom in their home. 

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Gary – experiencing leakage after his recent prostate surgery 

Gary met with one of our Bladder and Bowel Health advisors, as he was concerned about his urine leakage that was persisting after his radical prostatectomy five weeks earlier.   

Gary discussed his concerns with the advisor and was reassured that he was making good progress towards regaining bladder control. This reinforced the information he had received from his urologist. Gary was encouraged to switch to a smaller incontinence pad rather than continuing to wear the pull- up incontinence pants he had worn since his surgery. The advisor arranged some smaller pads for him to trial and provided details on where he could buy them close to his home. 

Gary was encouraged to drink plenty of fluid (particularly water) and to increase his fruit and vegetable intake to avoid constipation. Gary was uncertain if his pelvic floor muscles were working properly and he was referred to a pelvic floor physiotherapist. Gary left the clinic in a brighter frame of mind, confident that he was improving and had clear strategies to further support his recovery.