2021

The Just Can't Wait Card petition has reached 5k signatures. We caught up with Tara since it launched, to get an update and find out why it's so important to her and how the campaign is gaining attention with those in power.

Coeliac Disease is a little known condition where the body’s immune system attacks the tissues when gluten is consumed. For Stella, diagnosis was positively life-changing - it meant she no longer had to live each day with stomach problems.

If you suffer from a bladder or bowel issue or have any chronic health issues, Christmas time can feel overwhelming. It takes us out of our normal routine and often leads us feeling  unsure of what we can eat and drink or anxious around…

This campaign encourages us to check for any unusual changes in our ‘Bathroom Health' and open up about them so we can get prompt treatment.

We asked our community what they will be doing differently this year, and here’s some of your wonderful stories and, well, it's love actually! Read some heart warming stories and updates from just a few of our wonderful members.

Community member Tara Dolman has raised a petition to get the Just Can’t Wait toilet card recognised under the Equality Act 2010. Show your support and sign and share the petition today.

Need support or troubleshooting around the digital Just Can't Wait Card? This article covers our most frequently asked questions, along with solutions and advice to help you make the most of the smartphone version of the card.

The gut has long been called ‘the second brain’ so it stands to reason that there is a relationship between what you eat and your mental health. We explore how nutritional psychiatry is growing and whether certain diets can help improve our…

Dionne, 23 from Scotland talks to Bladder and Bowel Community about how the perception of endometriosis needs to change and more awareness is needed around just how damaging this gynaecological condition can be.

When Deborah decided to help boost a friend’s confidence after undergoing stoma surgery, she didn’t realise that it would become a successful business selling stoma bag covers. She tells us her story.

We're highlighting the importance of early detection by knowing the symptoms of bladder cancer. David tells us how his urostomy stoma saved his life - and how noticing blood in his urine was the key.

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) defined as a sudden unintentional loss of urine during normal day-to-day activities, also commonly referred to as weak bladder or bladder weakness.

Anal Repair Surgery has an 80% long term success rate, and involved repairing the muscle around the anus. Learn more about the operation here.

Trying to maintain a good toilet position may be useful for people that find it difficult to pass a stool, who strain when defecating or who suffer from constipation. There is no right or wrong way to sit on the toilet; however the…

From time to time stoma patients may experience stoma problems. The majority of these issues are not serious and can be resolved relatively quickly by adjusting part of your routine, swapping to a new product or altering your diet slightly.…

A stoma is an opening on the abdomen that can be connected to either your digestive or urinary system to allow waste (urine or faeces) to be diverted out of your body. It looks like a small, pinkish, circular piece of flesh that is sewn to…

Ever wondered what powers our Home Delivery Service? We put members first, which is why we have Stoma Nurses on hand at every turn. Meet the team here.

If you have been given a continent urinary diversion you will need to learn how to use a catheter to empty the urinary reservoir completely in a clean safe manner. You will initially be shown how to do this by your specialist nurse after…

What is a Urostomy? A urostomy or ileal conduit is the most common type of non-continent urinary diversion operation. During the operation, the surgeon will make a hole in your abdominal wall. This hole is known as a urinary stoma.…

This Social Media Policy describes how Bladder & Bowel Community uses online communication tools such as social media, in order to encourage fair and safe use.

It is essential that the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at all times. Handwashing is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself from infection and stop germs from transferring to other people or surfaces (such as…

Join our mailing list and receive our quarterly newsletter with updates on what's going on in the community, and seasonal offers according to your preferences.

Saffronne Epaminondas has lived with IBS for over 32 years and was diagnosed at the age of 18. There is currently no cure, but Saffron kindly shares her experiences of living with this chronic illness.

For mental health awareness week, Community Manager Gemma Savory describes ways to help you overcome lockdown anxiety.

Pyelonephritis is a type of urinary tract infection in the form of a painful kidney infection. It is an unpleasant illness that usually happens when bacteria travels up from your bladder into one or both of your kidneys. The kidneys and…

What is Urethritis? Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra which may be caused by an infection, known as a lower UTI. The urethra is the tube from the bladder through which urine flows out of the body. Infections are generally caused…

Fashion designer, Victoria Jenkins tells us about how her own health issues and how a chance meeting with another patient in hospital led to her developing her own brand of adaptive clothing designed to be comfortable, timeless and…

Having a child with a bladder or bowel issue can be scary and frustrating for both the child and parents/guardians, especially when it can take multiple trips to a GP and/or a lengthy amount of time to get a formal diagnosis. It can be…

Looking after a confused relative or friend can be a great strain and responsibility. It can become even more difficult, and indeed unpleasant, if the person loses control of the bladder or bowel and is incontinent. This is, unfortunately,…

There’s still so much awareness needed around Interstitial Cystitis. Three years ago, Niki Wells shared her story with the Bladder and Bowel Community on how she copes living with the debilitating bladder condition interstitial cystitis…

The Just Can’t Wait card has provided a ‘lifeline’ to over 130K people to date. Around 14 million people in the UK live with a bladder condition and over 6.4 million live with a bowel condition. We’ve issued over 130,000 Just Can’t Wait…

Difficulty passing urine or urinary retention, as it is known, is a common problem in the first day or two following childbirth, but with careful management this should resolve without long term consequences.  This page expands on bladder…

We have some free samples of the new LoFric Elle catheter, suitable for females who self catheterise. Discreet and easy to use with its unique L-shaped handle, offer available to UK residents. Request yours here!

Rectal prolapse is when part of your rectum or the lining of your rectum, protrudes through your anus. Find out common causes, symptoms, and details of test and diagnosis.

What is Diverticulitis? Diverticulitis is an inflammation of one or more diverticulum, which are pockets that form in the smooth wall of the intestine. The reason that diverticulitis develops has not been entirely confirmed, but it is…

The original toilet card from the Bladder and Bowel Community is now available on IOS and android and can be seamlessly integrated with your smartphone using mobile wallet technology.

The Just Can’t Wait Card is now available as a Digital Pass on Apple and Android Devices

What is Apple Wallet? Apple wallet is a space on your iPhone for storing content or information in the form of a wallet ‘item’, ‘card’ or ‘pass’ in an easy, organised way. It’s a way of digitally storing information securely that you…

What is Google Wallet? Google Wallet is a digital wallet for your Android Phone (Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Motorola).  Powered by Google, and compatible across Android smartphones for storing content or information in the form of a…

For such a common condition as incontinence, it’s important to understand exactly what help and support is available. But also what common myths and misconceptions to avoid as these may prevent you from properly managing incontinence.

Thank you for confirming that you still want to hear from Bladder & Bowel Community, we're glad you're here. We'll only send you news and articles in line with you preferences - if you need to update the kinds of messages you…

Provided in its present form since 2017, we are proud to now have over 130,000 cards in circulation. Our digital toilet card will now enable us to embrace technology, reduce our impact on the environment and reach more people in need than…

Here at Bladder and Bowel Community, we’ve been looking to the future to see how we can help do our bit to protect our community and planet. We realise that whilst we are all desperate to get back to safely being in close contact with our…