Bladder diary

Fluid Intake and Output Chart

Time	Date: [Insert Date Here]
	Intake (ml)	Urine (ml)	Leakage	Comments
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 PM (Noon)
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
11:00 PM
12:00 AM (Midnight)
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
3:00 AM
4:00 AM
5:00 AM
TOTAL

Physio signature:

Print:

 

How to complete your bladder record chart

Intake

When you have a drink, record in this column opposite the appropriate time (hour of the day, don’t worry about the minutes). Document what you are drinking and how much, e.g. 330mls cola, 250mls tea, 500mls water, 125ml wine.

Urine

Pass urine into a measuring jug, and record the amount in millilitres in this column opposite the appropriate time. Do not add up your volumes every hour, document every single visit to the toilet.

Leakage

Note when you leak in this column. For example “D” for damp, “W” for wet,”R” for running down legs.

Comment 

Document any other relevant information here. For instance, why you leaked e.g. coughed, sneeze, urge or ? for no reason – just noticed you were damp.

How to help improve your bladder

Bladder training works by gently stretching the bladder muscle so that it learns to relax more as the bladder fills. Bladder training has been shown to work well but you will need to persevere with it.

Look at your bladder record.

• Add up the total fluid intake (eg 1 litre).

• Count the number of times you go to the toilet in 24 hours (eg. 8 times).
• Note the largest and smallest amounts of urine you have passed (eg. 400mls and 50mls).

What do I do next?

If you are drinking considerably less or more than the recommended amount (approx 1.5 - 2 litres per day), you are passing urine more than 7 times in 24 hours or you are passing small amounts of urine (less than 200mls) follow this advice.

• Drink 1.5 – 2 litres fluid per day – slowly and spaced out evenly through the day.
• When you feel the urge to go to the toilet, try to hold on for a few minutes to start with. Repeat this time every urge until it becomes easy. Then increase this time by a couple of minutes per week as your bladder improves.
• You can help do this by
• Sitting on a firm surface, like a hard chair, or step.
• Try squeezing your pelvic floor muscles
• Cross your legs
• Stand on your tiptoes
• Distract yourself by thinking of something else. 
• BREATHE! Slow, relaxed lower belly breathing and relaxation is the most helpful thing to practice.

Over the next few weeks you should gradually increase the time between your visits to the toilet. Eventually you should aim to pass urine 5- 7 times per day without any leaks. Be patient! It is the repeated effect of a small stretch that makes a lasting difference.

This leaflet from the British Association of Urological Surgeons may help too

BAUS Bladder Training Leaflet.