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What is overactive bladder?

The bladder is a muscle which contracts to empty the bladder when it is full and you are ready to empty. An overactive bladder means the bladder contracts before it is full. It can sometimes contract when you are not ready. You might go to the toilet often and find it hard to hold on until you get there. At times you may leak urine on the way to the toilet.

Eŋö ë waat alɛɛc?

Alɛɛc ë rïal wënë yë ïc cuöt ku bë lɛc la aɣer të cï yen thïäŋ ku yin abï ya kë nɛ̈k la laac. Waat alɛ̈ɛ̈c ë lɔn bï alɛ̈ɛ̈c yic cuöt tueŋ tënë cï yen thïäŋ. Yen alëu tëdääŋ bï rot cuöt kaam kec yïn rot guir ba la laac. Yin adhil ba guɔ̈ la tënë ɣön-laac ye mɛnë ku mɛnë ku yök ka rilic apɛidït ba lɛc gum agut tënë bï yï ɣet tänë. Të cïmene ka yïn alëu bï lɛc guɔ̈ waat (leak)dhölic kë yï la tënë ɣön-laa (toilet).

What causes overactive bladder?

Poor bladder control may be due to health problems, such as:

  • stroke.
  • having an enlarged prostate gland.
  • Parkinson’s disease.

An overactive bladder can be due to poor bladder habits over a long time.

For some people the cause is unknown.

Eŋö alɛ̈ɛ̈c looi bë lɛc wäät?

Rɛ̈c alɛ̈ɛ̈c bë lɛc cï gël alëu bï ya tuany, cïmene:

  • yup/thïäkic riäl (stroke).
  • naŋ dït abɛ̈ŋ/atheŋ (an enlarged prostate gland).
  • tuɛny rïälic (Parkinson’s disease).

Waat alɛ̈ɛ̈c alëu bï ya kuɔ̈c rɛɛr alɛɛc thää bääric apɛ̈idït.

Tënë kɔc kök kënë yë cak acïë akuc.

What are normal bladder habits?

It is normal to:

  • empty your bladder when you get out of bed in the morning.
  • empty your bladder about 4 to 6 times through the day.
  • empty your bladder before you go to bed at night.

A healthy bladder holds about 1.5 to 2 cups of urine. This is equal to 300 - 400mls. Your bladder holds this much during the day. It holds more during the night, before you feel the need to pass urine.

This pattern may change in older people. Older people may make more urine at night. This means they may have to pass more urine through the night than they do in the day.

Eŋö ë cɔl alɛ̈ɛ̈ny rɛ̈ɛ̈r apath?

Yen ë këwën rɛ̈ɛ̈r ka kë tuany tënë:

  • yin alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu jal wäälic wei të cï yï rot jɔ̈t thïn ë gen thïäkdur.
  • Alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu abaŋ cïmene arak 4 agut 6 thäärat aköktɔ̈kic.
  • Alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu ë wäälic wei tueŋ kaam këc yïn la agen nhom wäkɔ̈u.

Alɛ̈ɛ̈ny piath ë muk abaŋ cïmene 1.5 agu t 2 kubaai ë lɛɛc (cups of urine). Kënë ë kë cïmene tënë 300 – 400mls. Alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu ë muk lɛc cït kënë aköl. Yen muk lɛɛc juëc apɛi wakɔ̈u, tueŋ të cï yin ë yök kë yï wïc la laac.

Akuën cïtmɛn kënë alëu bï rot waar tënë kɔc dït cë dhïɔp. Kɔc cë dhiɔp alëu bïk lɛɛc juëc arëtic looi wäkɔ̈u. Kënë ë wɛ̈t dë yïc keek alëu bïk naŋ lɔn yë kë laac ɣe lɛɛc juëc apɛi wäkɔ̈u tënë lɔn ye keek laac looi thïn aköl.

What is bladder training?

The aim of bladder training is to improve symptoms of overactive bladder. Bladder training teaches you how to hold more urine in your bladder without feelings of urgency. Visit your doctor, a continence nurse advisor or continence physiotherapist if you have some problems with bladder control. They could start you on a bladder training program. If you do nothing about your problem, it may get worse.

Eŋö ë piööc alɛɛc?

Këwïc ë piööc alɛ̈ɛ̈c ye lɔn bï kïït ë waat alɛɛc ŋic cɔl aŋuën. Piööc alɛɛc ë yïn piöc tënë bï yï lɛc juëc guɔ̈m thin alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu yic ka cïn lɔc la laac. Neem akïmdu,akïm wɛ̈ɛ̈t/lëk ë wël (a continence nurse advisor) ulä akïm duëny (continence physiotherapist) ëë rïn naa yïn anɔŋ kɛ̈ kök wäc alɛ̈ɛ̈ny yic në gëlgël. Keek alëu bïk yïn cɔl agɔl piöc alɛ̈ɛ̈c luɔi. Na yin acïn kë looi alɔŋ alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu kënë,ka yen alëu bï rot juak ë waat apɛi.

What is in a bladder training program?

You may be asked to keep a bladder diary. You need to keep the diary for at least 3 days. It keeps track of how your bladder works through the day.

The bladder diary keeps track of:

  • the time you go to the toilet.
  • how much urine you pass each time.
  • how strong you felt the urge to empty each time.

The bladder diary may look something like this:

Time Amount passed How strong was the urge to go?
6.30am 250mls 4
8.00am 150mls 3
9.00am 100mls 3
10.20am 150mls 1
12.15pm 100mls 1
1.25pm 200mls 3
2.30pm 200mls 3

Eŋö kë luthïn piööc alɛ̈ɛ̈c ë looi?

Yin alëu bä thiëc tënë bïn athör-alɛɛc muök thïn. Yïn awïc ba athör kënë muk tënë abaŋ nïïn kadiäk. Yen abï tënë alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu lui thin aköl muk në gät-piny ye yic.

Adë athör ë käk laac gäät ye kääŋ cï gäätic muk cïtmɛn:

  • thää ë yïn la ɣön ɣe la laac/roor.
  • Ku yin ye lɛc yïndï këk ë laac aɣer në thää tɔ̈kic.
  • Yen rïɛlic dë yök këdi anïn ë yï guɔ̈ la ku lɔr tënë lac në thää tɔ̈kic.

Dë athör ë käk yë yï kë laac gäät thïn awïc bï tïŋ ka cït kënë cï nyuɔth pïny:

Thää Athëm lɛc ya laac Arakdï ëyï guɔ̈ la ku lɔr tënë lac ?
6.30nh 250mls 4
8.00nh 150mls 3
9.00nh 100mls 3
10.20nh 150mls 1
12.15th 100mls 1
1.25th 200mls 3
2.30th 200mls 3

How do I measure the amount of urine passed?

Put a container (like an ice cream container) in the toilet. Now sit on the toilet and relax with your feet on the floor. Pass urine into the container. Then tip the urine into a jug to measure it. Men may want to stand and pass urine directly into a measuring jug.

How do I measure urgency?

This chart shows how to use a number to describe the urge you felt.

0

No urgency.

I felt no need to empty.

I emptied for other reasons.

1

Mild urgency.

I could put it off as long as needed.

I had no fear of wetting myself.

2

Moderate urgency.

I could put it off for a short time.

I had no fear of wetting myself.

3

Severe urgency.

I could not put it off.

I had to rush to the toilet.

I had fear I would wet myself.

4

Urge incontinence.

I leaked before I got to the toilet.

Na ɣɛn ba lɛc ca kek laac wei them këdï emɛne?

Täu keny/aduŋ laac (cïtmɛn ë keny/aduŋ ice cream) alɔŋthïn ë ɣön-laac (toilet). Emɛn lɔr alɔŋthïn ë ɣön-laac ku nyuc në päkäna nhom ku pääl ye guöp pïny ke cɔ̈kku rɛ̈ɛ̈r pïny aläŋaläŋ ë tiɔ̈p nhom. Pääl lɛc bïk la keny/aduk yic. Ku jal ë lɛɛc kë wääl në jaakic bïn kek jal them thin yen. Mɔc alëu bë guɔ̈ köc nhial ku gɔ̈ lɛɛc ciëth pääl në jaaŋ wënë bï ke them thïnic.

Ye këdi bë ɣɛn lɛc cï guɔ̈ bɛ̈në të cïnic gääu them?

Kë cï guïr anyɔth nïmïrat cë looi wënë luel tëdun ye yök të yïn lac la laac thin.

0

Acïn guɔ̈ la laac.

Ɣɛn rot yök ke ye cïn lɛc la ke laac.

Ɣɛn ë la roor në kä kök looi arotden.

1

Guɔ̈ la laac akor.

Ɣɛn alëu ba laac kënë gël tëcit tëdiën yen wïc.

Ɣɛn acï naŋ riöc lɔn bi ɣɛn röt laac.

2

La laac aŋuën.

Ɣɛn alëu ba laac gum tënë thää ciekic amääth.

Ɣɛn acï naŋ riɔ̈c acïn ë lɔn bï ye rot luak arot.

3

La laac acï yic riɛl.

Ɣɛn alëu ba ciën të gum ye laac acïn.

Ɣɛn anaŋ lɔn kat yɛn ba la tënë ɣön‑laac.

Ɣɛn naŋ riɔ̈c apɛi lɔn ɣɛn abï rot laac në lɛc.

4

La laac acï yic riɛl apɛidït.

Ɣɛn ë lɛc guɔ̈ waat kepëc tueŋ ke ɣɛn akëc guɔ̈ la tënë ɣön‑laac.

How do I measure leaking using a Pad Weight Test?

This test helps to work out how much urine you leak over a few days. To do this test you will need some accurate scales for weighing. You do this test by:

  1. weighing a dry pad in a plastic bag before you wear the pad,
  2. then weighing the wet pad in a plastic bag after you wear it, and
  3. taking the weight of the dry pad away from the weight of the wet pad.

This will show how much you have leaked because each gram equals one ml.

Like this:

Wet pad

400g.

Dry pad

150g.

Weight Difference

250g.

Amount leaked =

250mls.

Na Ɣɛn ba kääŋ wɛɛt kë cɔl (Pad Weight Test) yïc them këdï?

Athëm kënë kuɔɔnyë luɔi ye ɣɛn laac juëc cï wɛ̈t-bei tënë yïn ë nïïn juëc yic nyɔth. Të wïc yïn ba athëm kënë looi,ka yïn awïc ba këdäŋ piɛth cï ŋiëc gït ya them looi kɔŋ gɔ̈r. Yïn athëm kënë looi ëë:

  1. them alanh cï riɛl (a dry pad) ka rɛ̈ɛ̈r thïn ë plastic bɛkic tueŋ kaam këc yïn alanh guɔ̈ ruɔ̈k,
  2. ku bɛn alanh la luak kënë them thin ë plastic bɛkic ye cök ciën kaam të cï yin alanh ruök, ku
  3. nyai athëm ë alanh cï riɛl ( dry pad) wei tënë athëm ë alanh la luak (wet pad).

Kënë abï nyuɔ̈th luakluak wënë ke yïn erïn ŋuim-tɔ̈k ë ya tök ml.

Acït kënë:

Alanh la luak (Wet pad)

400g.

Alanh cë riɛl (Dry pad)

150g.

Athëm tek ke yïc (Weight Difference)

250g.

Käk cï wɛ̈ɛ̈t bei =

250mls.

Who can help with your bladder training program?

A doctor, continence nurse advisor or continence physiotherapist can get the best results for you. They will work out a program to suit you.

Some of these continence health professionals may be in a private practice clinic. Others work in clinics in your local community health service. They also work in public hospital clinics. The National Continence Helpline 1800 33 00 66 can help you find your local continence clinic.

Eŋa këlëu bë yï kuɔɔny ë piööc alëënydu?

Akim, raan wɛ̈ɛ̈t (continence nurse advisor) ulä raan duëny (continence physiotherapist) alëu bë yï lëk kë pïɛth cïk yök tënë yin. Këk abï aguïɛr wënë bë piath bï këdun kɔr/wïc loi tënë yïn.

Kɔc ë akut pial guöp wënë piöc apɛi alëu bïk luthïn të private practice clinic. Kök alui thïn bëi akïïmthii baai alɔŋdun yen cieŋic. Keek eya alui thin bëi akïïm jääŋ yic. Ka akutnhom ë cɔl National Continence Helpline wënë nɔŋ talapun namba kënë 1800 33 00 66 alëu bë yïn kony ba pan akim ë cɔl continence clinic luthïn baai alɔŋdun yen cieŋ yök.

How long will it take?

Most bladder training programs take about 3 months. You may have regular meetings with your continence nurse advisor or continence physiotherapist. They will teach you ways to hold on for longer. This will mean you can hold more urine in your bladder.

Ye thää yïndë yen looi?

Piöc alɛɛc ebënë aye looi tëcit tënë pɛ̈ɛ̈i kadiäk. Yïn alëu ba naŋ amaat wek ë akim wɛ̈ɛ̈t/lëk ë wël (continence nurse advisor) ulä akim duëny (continence physiotherapist) akölaköl. Keek abï yïn piöc aluöt ba lɛɛc agum tënë bääric apɛidït. Kënë wët dë yïc tënë yin ye lɔn ba lɛɛc juëc muk thïn alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu yic.

Some helpful things you will learn from the program

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

The continence physiotherapist or continence nurse advisor will teach you how to use your pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside. Strong pelvic floor muscles help to hold back the strong urge to pass urine. This will help you hold on until you reach the toilet.

Good Bladder Habits

It is normal to consume between 1.5 - 2 litres of fluid per day unless your doctor says this is not okay. This way your bladder will slowly learn to stretch to hold more urine. You need to keep track of how much you drink each day. To do this you will need to know how much your cup or mug holds. Cups can hold from 120 to 180mls whereas mugs can hold 280 to 300mls or more.

Avoid drinking fizzy drinks or drinks with caffeine. These can upset the bladder and make it harder for you to hold on. There is some caffeine in chocolate, tea and coffee. There is more caffeine in cola and sports drinks. It is best to avoid drinking these.

You will learn which drinks to choose so your bladder will not be upset.

Good Bowel Habits

You will also learn how constipation and straining to pass a bowel motion can stretch your pelvic floor muscles. Avoid constipation as this also causes poor bladder control. Eat at least 2 pieces of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables daily. Eat high fibre bread as well.

Ka piath kök bë yïn kɔny ba ke kuën tënë aguïɛr

Pïöc Rïäl Ɣöi (Pelvic Floor Muscle Training)

Akim duëny(continence physiotherapist) ulä akim wɛ̈ɛ̈t/lëk ë wël (continence nurse advisor) abï yïn piöc tëwën bï rïɛ̈lkun ɣöi aluöi thïn. Rïɛ̈l käk alɛ̈ɛ̈ny (bladder) ku pïäu-yicdu (urethra) kuɔɔny. Ka pïäu-yic (urethra) ë të ɣör lɛɛc kuanyic në alɛ̈ɛ̈c yïc agut bïk bɛ̈n aɣer. Rïɛl ë riɛ̈l ɣöi yïc piny ye kɔny bï gël bɛ̈n bei tënë lɛɛc guɔ̈ laac la aɣer kaam cïŋuäc. Kënë abï yïn kɔny bë lɛɛc duut apɛidït agut bï yïn ɣön-laac (toilet) döt.

Ŋiëc Pïath Alɛɛc (Good Bladder Habits)

Yen acï rac ba kä la luakluak cïmënë kaam 1.5 – 2 litres ë pïïu ya thööl në dëkdëk aköltɔ̈kic tɛkdɛ̈t tɛ̈däŋ kacï raan akïmdu luel kënë acïë pïath. Kuer cït kënë alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu abï pïööc amääth të bï yïc miɛt-ciën bë lɛɛc juëc arëtic amuk. Yïn awïc/akɔr ba kuat käk ca ke dëk ë aköltɔ̈kic muknhiim anïn. Ba kënë looi yïn awïc/akɔr bë ŋiëc ɣë kuat pïïu/käkdïny ë kubaaidu (cup) ulä matuɔŋ (mug) muk. Kuat kubaai alëu bïk muk tënë 120 agut 180mls ku jaal ya kuat matuɔŋ (mugs) alëu bïk muk tënë 280 agut 300mls tëdɛ̈t juëc kë latueŋ.

Pääl dëkdëk käkdïny cïtmɛn kuat käkdïny ë dek (fizzy drinks) ulä kuat käkdïny kë nɔŋ akɛɛc (caffeine). Käk alëu bïk alɛ̈ɛ̈ny cɔl arïäk piɔ̈u ku looi yen bë yïc riɛl apɛidït tënë yïn ba laac cië gum. Yen ŋïc lɔn adï ka nɔŋ akɛɛc (caffeine) luthïn cokoletë (chocolate),cai (tea) ku Kɔppïï (coffee). Anɔŋ akɛɛcdït (caffeine) luthïn kë cɔl kola (cola) ku kuat käkdïny dek ë tuukic (sports drinks). Yen ë kë piath ba dëkdëk kë käk naak thok.

Yïn aba piöc ba käk dïny bëya dek kuëny bei në wɛ̈t bï alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu pïɔ̈u cië riäk.

Ŋiëc Pïath Cïïn/yäc (Good Bowel Habits)

Yïn abï piöc eya të kuïl (constipation) ku cɔ̈ɔ̈l (straining) ba ciëth cɔl la bec alëu bï rïɛ̈l ɣöidu yïc mïɛ̈tkɔ̈th. Naak kuil (constipation) cïmene yen ë kënë eya alɛ̈ɛ̈c looi bï lɛɛc cɔl cë duut. Cam tënë miith ë tïm karou ku tënë lïïm ka dhiëc ye looi akölriëc. Cam abïk nɔŋic apiɔ̈thpiɔ̈th (high fibre bread) eya.

Will there be setbacks?

Do not be worried by small day to day changes in your bladder control. These are normal. Anyone on a bladder training program can have setbacks, when your symptoms may seem worse. This may happen when:

  • you have a bladder infection (see your doctor right away).
  • you are tired or run down.
  • you are worried or stressed.
  • the weather is wet, windy or cold.
  • you are ill (such as a cold or the flu).
  • you are a menstruating woman.

If set-backs do happen, do not lose heart. Stay positive and keep trying.

Adë ka bë naŋ kuat gɔ̈ɔ̈k?

Duk kɔŋ diɛr ë këk aköl wënë röt guɔ̈ waar thïn alɛ̈ɛ̈nydu gël. Käk acïnic kërac. Ayï raan piɛ̈c alɛ̈ɛ̈cdë alëu bï naŋ kuat käk gɔ̈ɔ̈k, të cï kïït riäk alɛɛc ya kë juak röt apɛidït. Kënë alëu bï rot looi tëwën:

  • yin anɔŋ luaŋ/wuöny cë rot looi alɛɛc yïc (tïŋ akïmdu nyïnic të cin gäu).
  • yin acï daak/thïai apɛidït ulä tuany acï yï tääc.
  • yin adïɛr ulä ca guöp thïai.
  • aköl pïny la luakluak, anɔŋ yom ulä alïr apɛi.
  • yïn acï thɛth/juäi (cïmene liɛr guöp (cold) ulä juän‑wum (flu)).
  • yïn ë tïŋ thëëk/riɛm acï bɛ̈në (a menstruating woman).

Na looi gɔ̈ɔ̈k tuany röt, ka yï duk piɔ̈u määr. Rɛ̈ɛ̈r ke yï ŋɔ̈ɔ̈th ku lɔr tueŋ ka ŋɔt ye them.

Seek help

You are not alone. Poor bladder and bowel control can be cured or better managed with the right treatment. If you do nothing, it might get worse.

Phone expert advisors on the National Continence Helpline for free:

  • advice;
  • resources; and
  • information about local services

1800 33 00 66 *

(8am - 8pm Monday to Friday AEST)

To arrange for an interpreter through the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS), phone 13 14 50 Monday to Friday and ask for the National Continence Helpline. Information in other languages is also available from continence.org.au/other-languages

For more information:

  • continence.org.au
  • pelvicfloorfirst.org.au
  • bladderbowel.gov.au

* Calls from mobiles are charged at applicable rates.

Wïc akuny

Yin awïc ku ba ŋïc ka cië yï arot. Alɛɛny rac ku yääc alëu bë kek guïr bïk piath ulä ŋic ke looi apɛidït në kuer ŋïëc luɔ̈i yelaac. Na yïn acïn kë luɔ̈i thïn, yen adhil rot apɛidit bë rɛc.

Yuɔ̈p talapun ë kɔc wët luthïn të cɔl National Continence Helpline apɛth ka cïn wëu kɔr tënë yï:

  • wɛ̈ɛ̈t;
  • kääŋ luthïn; ku
  • wël ë lëk alɔŋ loiloi këk ë looi ye tënë

1800 33 00 66 *

(8nh – 8th Aköltɔ̈k agut Aköldhiëc AEST)

Të wïc yï raan kɔc waar thok/agamlöŋ bë guir ë talapun yë gamlöŋ/wääric looi (Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS)), ka yuɔ̈p talapun namba kënic 13 14 50 Aköltɔ̈k agut Aköldhic ku thiëëc kë cɔl National Continence Helpline. Wël ë lëk thïn thok ë thääi kök aluthïn tënë cɔl continence.org.au/other-languages

Të wïc wël ë lëk juëc kök ka lɔr thiɔ̈lnyïn/wɛpthïat kë yïc kadiäk:

  • continence.org.au
  • pelvicfloorfirst.org.au
  • bladderbowel.gov.au

* yup ë mabaal awïc/kɔr wëu nyiɛi të cïmene akuën cë cïäk (applicable rates).

0

Last Updated: Fri 30, Jul 2021
Last Reviewed: Tue 17, Mar 2020