Amongst other things, April marks IBS Awareness Month. So we thought it would be a good idea to put something together on what this oft-misunderstood condition is really like, and what’s involved in the day-to-day management of it. It’s…

Constipation in children can usually be relieved by making changes to your child’s diet and drinking habits. It can also be helpful to chart your child’s bowel movements by using a bowel diary. This may help your GP or Healthcare…

Your treatment for bladder cancer will depend on whether you have non-invasive bladder cancer or invasive bladder cancer. You may be treated with surgery only or alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Many of the treatments for bladder…

Treatment for bowel cancer is determined by a number of factors including the stage of your cancer, the location of the tumour (whether it’s located in the colon or rectum) and your health in general. Your MDT (multidisciplinary team),…

Colitis and Crohn’s are chronic illnesses for which there is currently no cure. Both conditions can be controlled with medication and in more complex, severe cases surgery may also be necessary to relieve inflammation. There are several…

As the name suggests, HRT works by replacing oestrogen, which naturally begins to fall in the approach to menopause, causing menopausal symptoms. The menopause normally happens between the ages of 45 and 55, although it can occur earlier or…

What is an Ileostomy? An Ileostomy is created when your bowel is redirected out of your abdomen. An Ileostomy normally involves removing the colon and in some cases the rectum. The Ileium (last part of the small intestine) is brought to…

The bowel is part of our digestive system and it works to digest the food we eat, absorb the goodness and nutrients into our blood stream, then process and expel the waste that the body cannot use. The digestive system works by…

What is a Colostomy? A colostomy is created when your colon is cut and brought to the outside through the abdominal wall to create an artificial opening. Your faeces is then collected in a bag called a colostomy bag that is attached to…

Having a problem with the digestive system can cause a great deal of discomfort and can make you feel bloated and sluggish. There are many causes of an upset digestive system, such as an unhealthy diet, stress, antibiotics and travel, to…

What Is Constipation? Constipation is a very common condition that affects people of all ages. It means you are not passing stools (faeces) as often as you normally do, you have to strain more than usual or you are unable to completely…

Most cases of diarrhoea will clear up after a few days once what has caused it such as bacteria or a virus has passed through. The most important thing to do is make sure you stay hydrated whilst you are unwell. If your symptoms last longer…

What is Urinary Diversion? If your bladder is removed during a radical cystectomy, an alternative way of passing urine out of your kidneys will need to be found. There are a number of different treatment options, which are described below.…

Share your story Everyone with a bladder or bowel control problem will have a different story to tell and by sharing your own individual experience you can offer hope and inspiration to others in a similar situation.  Being able to…

If you have Overactive Bladder or the symptoms of urge and urgency, you may wish to consider surgery if other more conservative treatments have not proved successful. Every person is different, and a surgeon will be able to discuss with you…

Betmiga contains active substance mirabegron. As a bladder muscle relaxant it reduces the activity of an overactive bladder and treats the symptoms.

Darifenacin hydrobromide is a medicine which is used to treat people who have urinary problems such as incontinence, urgency or frequency which are caused by an overactive bladder. It works by preventing spasms of the bladder muscle, which…

Desmopressin acetate is a hormone which has many effects on the body. It reduces urine production and is used to treat nocturnal enuresis. Whilst taking Desmopressin acetate you may be advised to restrict your fluid intake, drink only…

A loop diuretic is a medicine taken to treat nocturia and is usually taken in the morning. They work by making the kidneys pass out more urine, thus reducing your visits to the toilet during the night. Diuretic medicine increases the…

What is Duloxetine? The medication for the treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is called duloxetine. This medication is thought to increases the activity of the nerve that stimulates the urethral sphincter, improving its…

There are several medications available which can help you to control your bladder and reduce wetting, these are called antimuscarinic or anticholinergic drugs. These medicines can help improve the symptoms of overactive bladder by relaxing…

Solifenacin succinate is a medicine used to help treat symptoms of an overactive bladder such as incontinence, urgency or frequency.  It works by preventing spasms of the bladder muscle, which can help to reduce the episodes of urinary…

Tolterodine is a medicine used to treat people who have urinary problems such as urinary incontinence or frequency which are caused by an overactive bladder. It works by preventing spasms of the bladder muscle which can help to reduce the…

Trospium chloride is a medicine used to help to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder such as urinary incontinence, urgency or frequency. It works by preventing spasms of the bladder muscle which can help to reduce the episodes of urinary…

An upset digestive system can make you feel bloated and sluggish, so maintaining a healthy bowel is really important for your quality of life. The digestive system can be upset easily; an unhealthy diet, antibiotics, stress and travel are…

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as Diclofenac sodium, can help to reduce inflammation and to reduce pain.  Diclofenac sodium works by blocking the production of some of the body chemicals that cause inflammation, pain, stiffness,…

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, this can be caused by either a blockage in the brain or a bleed in or around the brain. Many strokes happen because the arteries become hardened over time, your lifestyle,…

Spina Bifida occurs when the spinal cord and vertebrae fail to develop properly in the womb. This ‘fault’ leaves a gap or a split in the spine. Spina Bifida affects the central nervous system.

Spinal cord injury nearly always affects control over the bladder and bowel. This is because the nerves controlling these internal organ are attached to the base of the spinal cord and then pass down through the cauda equina, the 'horse's…

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition, so affects the nerves. A coating around the nerve fibres called myelin becomes damaged and can produce a wide range of symptoms, which vary greatly from person to person. MS is a complex…

Cancer occurs when body cells alter, multiply and interfere with 'normal' cells. Bladder cancer is unfortunately not uncommon. One of the common symptoms of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. The bleeding is not usually painful and…

The key to treating bowel incontinence - also known as faecal incontinence - is to find the condition that is causing this. Chronic constipation and a weak pelvic floor are two of the most common causes of faecal incontinence and in many…