Continence management routines

Laura | Living with MS

How to maintain your intermittent catheterisation and transanal irrigation routines when living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Building good bladder and bowel routines to manage continence issues potentially linked with MS may come with some challenges. This article provides support and practical suggestions to help you in your catheterisation and irrigation routines.

Whether you are dealing with bladder or bowel issues, we understand that it can take time to get into the right toilet routines to help manage your symptoms. And, when living with MS, other symptoms may further complicate the ease with which you adapt to this lifestyle change.

Therefore, when considering routines, it is always about discovering what is optimal and easiest for you, and what works for someone else may not be your solution. It is therefore OK if it takes a little getting used to your new routine and some level of experimentation may be necessary to find what is best for you.

This article explores some simple techniques you may employ as you develop new bladder and bowel habits and integrate intermittent catheterisation and/or transanal irrigation (TAI) into your everyday life.

Remembering when to catheterise or irrigate

Here are some key actions you can take to help solidify your new routine.

1. Use notes

It may help to add a note to the back of your bathroom door or on your mirror – essentially, write a message to yourself and stick it somewhere it cannot be missed. Then every morning your reminder is right there in plain view.

2. Link your treatments with other daily routines

You may also link your catheterisations or irrigations to other daily activities, such as brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Attaching your daily bladder and/or bowel management to other habits can help to reduce the burden of remembering.

3. Set alarms or reminders

When using intermittent catheters, it is easy to be distracted, and forget about your catheterisation schedule. You may therefore want to set alarms or reminders on your phone so you can keep track of when you should catheterise.

Some catheter users find it beneficial to catheterise at fixed points during the day to create a routine.

4. Keep catheters with you

If using intermittent catheters, make sure to pack them for your day before heading out – if you don’t have them with you and you put your catheterisation off, saying you will do it later, it is more likely you will forget. Make sure you have them to hand and catheterise when you expect to do so.

When you get home, remember to replace any catheters you have used whilst you were out so your bag is always packed and ready for next time.

Low-volume TAI is designed for use both at home and on the go, so remember to take your TAI solution with you so you can use it when needed.

The impact fatigue can have on your routines

Sometimes, MS may also cause high levels of fatigue, and this may also be an issue when trying to be consistent in your new bladder or bowel routine. High-volume transanal irrigation may take a little time to complete. Therefore, try to reflect on when you usually have the most energy during the day and schedule your irrigations for this time.

This will make it more likely that you will complete your irrigations and get the most benefit from your treatment.

Keeping motivated

When integrating a new catheterisation routine and/or transanal irrigation into your daily life, this may feel a little mentally taxing.

Reward yourself with a small treat once you have completed your routine – you deserve it.

Where possible, you may wish try and shift your perspective away from the action of catheterising or using TAI and instead focus on how these treatments enable you to do something about your bladder and/or bowel symptoms and enable greater freedom in your daily life.

Some people may choose to journal their progress and keep notes of when they see success. This can help to inform you of what to do in the future. Looking back on your journey, you may then also start to see how far you have come.

Some catheter users experience needing to go to the bathroom a lot more often, it may be beneficial to build irrigation into your daily routine so you are less restricted with where you can go and what you can do.

Laura | Living with MS

Reach out for support

If you are concerned about the impact daily catheterisations or irrigations have on your emotional wellbeing, know that you are not alone. You may choose to reach out to:

Your healthcare professional
Your dedicated Coloplast Care Advisor
Local MS support groups

Before using bowel irrigation some people may question what other people may think. After a while and once you have a routine you can start to feel more positive.

Laura stands in her garden with her family playing badminton in the background.

Laura | Living with MS

Key takeaways:

To support you in ensuring you stay on track with your prescribed bladder and/or bowel treatments, you may choose to:

Write notes to yourself as reminders
Set alarms or reminders on your phone
Complete your treatment at a time which is easy for you and when you have the most energy
Link your catheterisations and/or irrigations with other daily activities such as showering or brushing your teeth
If using intermittent catheters, ensure you have them with you when you go out and replace any you use so you are never caught off guard

Always remember that performing catheterisations or irrigations can help to ensure you can better manage your symptoms and live your life the way that you choose.