Stroke and Bladder and Bowel Control

This fact sheet has information about bladder and bowel control after a stroke, including the causes, types of control problems and where to get more help. It is for people who have had a stroke and those caring for them at home.

Difficulty with bladder control is common after a stroke. It can be frustrating, embarrassing and distressing.

Depression is also common because difficulties with bladder control can affect your work, social activities, relationships and sexual activities. Poor control (incontinence) can be caused by a number of changes after a stroke. All these changes affect continence in some way. These include:

Muscle weakness

Changed sensation or feeling

Difficulty putting off going to the toilet when the urge to go is felt

Difficulty dressing and undressing

Difficulty getting to the toilet

Changes in eating and drinking habits that affect your digestion

Changes to communication and thinking skills

Changes to vision

The type of changes you may experience with bladder or bowel control after a stroke will depend on where and what type of stroke you had, your age, and whether you are male or female.

If you had difficulties with control before your stroke, the stroke may make these worse.

While many bladder and bowel control problems can occur, the most common are:

Frequency – needing to go to the toilet very often

Functional incontinence – having trouble getting to the toilet on time, as with physical or communication problems, toilet access difficulties, or clothing that is hard to get undone in time.

Urge incontinence – having a sudden and uncontrollable need to pass urine. This may result in wetting yourself.

Urinary retention – not being able to fully empty the bladder or storing too much urine in the bladder.

Nocturnal incontinence – needing to go to the toilet several times during the night.

Bowel control problems are also common after a stroke. These include constipation (difficulty or pain passing hard dry faeces); faecal incontinence (soiling) and diarrhoea (very loose bowel movements). Some bowel control problems can also cause or worsen urinary incontinence.

Some medications can also cause problems with bowel or bladder control.

Assessment of bladder control

Difficulty with bladder (or bowel) control can be prevented, treated, better managed or cured. If left untreated, problems may become worse or cause other problems.

The first step to helping regain bladder control is a full continence assessment by the health professionals working with you.

For some people, incontinence can be a difficult problem to talk about, but it is important that you get the best help you can. Your stroke team will ask you about your past bladder and bowel control and your present level of control (any leakage or other issues)

They will look at your diet and fluid intake, exercise levels and mobility, the medications you are currently taking, and other factors that could affect control.

Some tests may need to be done to understand how your bladder is working:

Bladder scan – a quick and easy ultrasound (picture) of your bladder to see how well your bladder is emptying.

Urine tests – you may need to pass urine into a small jar which will be sent off for tests to check if there is an infection.

Bladder diary – keeping a diary of how much you drink, how much fluid you pass and how often. (A bladder diary sheet and how to use this is available from the New Zealand Continence Association’s website www.continence.org.nz)

If your problems with bladder or bowel control do not get better, your doctor may organise more tests or refer you to one or more continence specialists.

Helpful products

Some products can be used to make going to the toilet safer and easier. They include raised toilet seats, rails on the wall next to the toilet, commode chairs and portable urinal bottles. Your Occupational Therapist or Nurse can help you with these.

There are a number of products available to help you stay dry, secure and comfortable. These include disposable or reusable pads, pants, liners, absorbent underclothing, mattress protectors, duvet covers and bedsheets. You can buy some of these products at your local supermarket, chemist or specialist retailer.

What you can do
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Let your family know you are having problems, as they may be able to help you when needed. It can be difficult talking about bladder problems as it is a personal and sensitive issue. However, it is important that you share the problem and get all the help you can.

Have a good diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. A dietitian can help you get the right balance of fibre and fluid in your diet. If you increase the fibre in your diet, make sure you increase your fluid intake too.

‍Drink plenty of water – At least 8-10 cups of fluid a day (water is best). This can help stop bladder irritation. It can also improve bowel function, which can also affect your bladder control. Be aware that recommended fluid intake varies with hotter weather, more exercise and other health conditions. Check with your doctor.

‍Avoid “bladder irritants” – these are drinks that make you need to go to the toilet more often. They include coffee, tea, chocolate drinks, cola drinks, alcohol and high sugar/high caffeine ‘sports’ drinks. For some people, tomato or citrus foods and drinks, or dairy products, can be a problem. It is a very individual situation, so try to be aware of your own food and drink sensitivities. (A bladder diary may help you identify these.)

‍Exercise as much as you can. A physiotherapist can help you with an exercise program that suits your needs. Use good toileting habits, like going as soon as you need to go and emptying your bladder fully.

‍Don’t put off going to the toilet. Try going to the toilet at regular times (e.g. every 3 to 4 hours). However, going too often (“just in case”) can gradually reduce your bladder capacity. Do not put off going to the toilet if you feel the need to empty your bowel – go as soon as you need to.

‍Continence products – Disposable and washable pads and pants will help you feel comfortable and secure. There is a wide range of these available. Advice from your continence advisor will help you choose a product (or mix of products) most suitable for you.

‍Equipment that can help - you may want to keep a commode or portable urinal next to your bed at night. Ask your Doctor, Nurse or Occupational Therapist about these.

‍Clothing - wear clothes that are easy to get undone quickly. Replace buttons with Velcro™ fasteners or wear pants with elastic waistbands.

‍Set up your toilet and or bathroom so you can get to it quickly and easily – including finding it easily in the dark. Use non-slip mats.

Things to look out for‍

Urinary tract infections can be common after stroke. They can be painful and can affect your ability to do your daily activities. Some of the things you may notice are:

Going to the toilet more often

Finding you have wet yourself

Burning or pain when going to the toilet

Cloudy strong-smelling urine

Changes in behaviour (stroke survivors who have communication problems may show signs of pain or discomfort)

Increased need to go to the toilet

Sudden and uncontrollable need to pass urine

Not being able to fully empty the bladder or holding an increasing amount of urine in the bladder

Needing to go to the toilet several times during the night

If any of these symptoms occur, speak to your doctor or nurse.

Who can help?

There’s a range of health professionals who can help you improve your bladder or bowel control:

Your GP or specialist – may change any medications that could be making your difficulties worse. A temporary catheter to help empty your bladder may be recommended.

Nurse – helps with toileting while you are still in the hospital.

Continence Advisor – recommends toileting aids and equipment, help you get into good bladder habits and provide exercises and strategies to help.

Urologist – specialises in problems of the urinary system

Occupational Therapist – helps you get the right toileting aids and equipment and checks that your clothing is easy to get undone.

Physiotherapist – helps with your walking and ability to get to the toilet or get on and off the commode. Provides exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles used when holding on.

Dietitian – recommends foods and the correct amount of fluids to help with bladder and bowel function.

Speech Therapist – helps with ways to communicate when you need to go to the toilet.

For more information

National Stroke Foundation website: www.stroke.org.nz
‍StrokeLine: 0800 787 653

‍For all enquiries
‍Continence NZ: Continence Helpline: Call 0800 650 659
Email: info@continence.org.nz
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‍This document has been developed by, and remains the property of, the Continence Foundation of Australia
© Continence Foundation of Australia 2015

Stroke and Bladder and Bowel Control

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