Tips for talking to a health professional

Changes in bladder and bowel control can cause incontinence, affecting comfort, confidence and daily life. Talking to a health professional is an important first step toward feeling more in control.

When you book your appointment

Ask for a long consultation so you have time to talk without feeling rushed. Check with the doctor’s clinic to see if a longer consultation will cost more.

You can also ask for an interpreter (at no cost) or bring a trusted friend or family member for support.

If you’d prefer to speak to someone first, you can call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 to talk to a nurse continence specialist. They offer free, confidential advice and can help you take the next step. Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm (Vic time).

Preparing for your appointment

To help your doctor understand what’s happening, write down:

• your symptoms and how often they happen eg ‘I notice leaking as soon as I stand up in the morning’
• what makes symptoms better or worse eg ‘it’s worse after I drink coffee’
• how much fluid you drink (including cups of tea, coffee, water, coke, wine, beer)
• how often you go to the toilet eg ‘I go 8 times during the day and 3 times at night’
• any medicines, vitamins or supplements you take. It can be helpful to take your medicines with you to your appointment.

Questions you may have

You might also want to make a list of questions to ask your doctor eg:

• What could be causing this?
• What can I do to make it better?
• Do I need to see a specialist?
• What treatment options are available?
• Do I need any tests?
• What signs might show that symptoms are improving?

Your rights and choices

You have the right to feel safe, respected and in control of your health care. You can:

• choose whether to have a check-up
• say no at any time
• bring someone you trust for support
• see another health professional for a second opinion.

When you make the appointment, you can:

• request an interpreter for your appointment
• ask for a longer appointment
• ask to see a health professional of a particular gender eg a woman or man.

What to expect during the appointment

Your doctor may ask about:

• your toilet habits such as how often you go to the toilet to pass urine (wee) or faeces (poo)
• if you experience constipation (passing hard poo) or leaking urine (wee) or faeces (poo)
• symptoms related to your bladder and bowel such as pain or bleeding with passing urine (wee) or faeces (poo)
• your fluid intake, including alcohol and caffeine
• how symptoms affect your daily life
• your past medical history (previous health problems).

For women, they may also ask about:

• pregnancy and childbirth
• menopause or hormone changes.

Depending on your needs, they may suggest:

• a physical check
• urine or blood tests
• an ultrasound or x-ray
• you see a specialist doctor or other health professional to:
  • do a continence assessment
  • do other tests
  • make a treatment or management plan that suits your needs.

This content has been reviewed by sub­ject mat­ter experts in line with Continence Health Australia’s established process. Read about our clinical content review protocol.