The Continence Challenge Podcast – A Service User’s Story

This episode hears the story of a young service user and their lived experience of incontinence difficulties. We learn about how the Continence Advisors assisted the service user during clinics and the strategies the service user used to re-train their bladder. Also how the service user’s bowel difficulties affected them and their bladder. It is supported by evidence based knowledge and guidance from the Northern Trust Continence Service staff.

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What is The Continence Challenge Podcast – Helping You Regain Control?

A podcast from the Continence Service in the Northern Trust, providing listeners with a greater understanding of bladder and bowel dysfunction and education of what may be contributing to the problem and supportive measures which could be implemented to improve bladder and bowel difficulties. The series will give an introduction to the Continence Service and discuss common types of bladder and bowel incontinence difficulties, such as overactive bladder, stress urinary incontinence and functional incontinence. It will also look at how good bowel management can help with incontinence overall. The series will also feature service user stories and learn about the lived experience of someone with a bladder and/or bowel dysfunction.

continence challenge podcast - service user
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Hello, and welcome back to the Continence Challenge podcast, Helping You Regain Control, brought to you by the Continence Advisory Service staff of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. My name is Deirdre O'Brien. I am the Continence Nurse Coordinator for Adult Services. Today, I will be joined with one of my Continence Advisors, Colleen McErlean, and we have a guest speaker with us today who's been a previous service user.

And today we're going to hear her story, her personal story, which I think will be very useful for a lot of people to hear. So, welcome, and Hi. How you doing? Hi. Nice to be here. Nice to meet you. So basically my story started, um, when, just before I turned 30, a couple weeks before I turned 30, um, I was having other health issues.

Um, and I was in the house. I usually, um, in the office and I had been in the house for, uh, several months. Um, I kind of started to notice that I needed to go to the toilet more urgently. It was more. Like, I need to go now. It wasn't like, oh, I need to pee, let me finish this dish and head up to the toilet.

It was like, I need to go now. Um, and it got to the point where, um, I was noticing that the time I got to the toilet, my pants were a bit wet, or I was like, clenching my legs shut and like, hopping up the stairs to try to make it to go to the toilet. And I knew it wasn't over. Right. But I just, from hearing previous experiences from other women in my family and friends who've had children, I haven't had any children, so that's probably a good point to have to make.

So I was like, okay, this isn't normal because most people that I know who have incontinence issue, which is a lot of women, um, and like all my friends and family. Family members who have had kids, I think, have a bit of incontinence issues. Always like to cross my legs when I sneeze or I can't bounce on the trampoline type thing.

Um, or I'll pee myself and it's like a laugh and it's a bit of a joke. And I just kind of, it's normal if that makes sense. I kind of knew it was kind of normal. I felt like it was normal at that point. So I didn't, and I felt embarrassed like talking to anybody about it. So that was fine. I was dealing with that privately, um, and it just seemed to get worse and worse to the point where.

I didn't really want to leave the house. Because I was scared if I needed to go to the toilet. It had an impact on your life. It really was. And I was like, you know, like, even Tesco's 10 minutes down the road, like, what if I can't, like, I literally would have to physically be hopping to go to the toilet if, you know.

And I was like, right, okay. But I still didn't want to go to the doctor about it. I don't know. It sounds silly saying it out loud. I know. But I didn't really want to go to the doctor about it. And I thought, like, this is just what people deal with. Like, this is just it. Like, maybe, maybe it's something that, maybe people are saying it's a pregnancy or birth related thing.

But maybe it's just a 30s thing, you know? And that was fine. But my, like, breaking point was, it was my friend's, uh, 30th birthday. And I had to drive an hour to get there. And everyone was fine. And we had, um, I, because I was driving that night, I wasn't drinking. Um, but I was drinking lemonade, and I was drinking more juice, if that makes sense, I wasn't drinking alcohol.

Um, but I was more drinking, you know, mocktails and things, and had more liquid in me, and went to the toilet before I left. Um, I left about midnight that night, and I had an hour's drive back, and I was like, 10 minutes away from home, and I got the urge to pee, and I was like, oh my goodness, like, what do I do?

And, I managed to forcefully hold, I drive an automatic car, thankfully, so I was able to hold it and not pee in my car, but as soon as I stepped out that door, I peed myself, that was it. There was no, there was just, It was a flood. Nothing I could help. It was in my boots. It was down my legs. I was wearing a dress.

It was awful. Thank goodness it was 1am, because I just don't know, I would have just died of embarrassment in the car. And I was like, like, this just can't happen. Like this is just not normal, like, um, 10 minutes, like, you should, I should be able to be able to hold. And I had went, I had previously, like, emptied Had you gone before you left?

Yeah. I had emptied my bladder. So, this is like 50 minutes max from when I hadn't, had went to the toilet previously, I was like, this is just not okay. Um, I am fortunate enough that my partner is actually an MSK physio and he, um, I just end up saying to him about it and he was like, like embarrassingly, but we are quite open thankfully about medical stuff.

And he just sort of was like, no, you just need to go to the doctor, like there's something not right. So, um, went to the GP and. It was the, you know, you're not, you're not, you know, you're not your usual typical signs. So I think we need to send you through, which I was so glad of because I kind of expected it to be.

You know, you're a woman, this is what happens, type thing, because that's what I had in my head, and that's not what happened at all. Like, the GP was very much like, like, this is affecting your life, this is not something that should be happening, there's a whole service to help. I'm going to send you till we see. Um, and then, it wasn't very long, actually, I can't remember off the top of my head, but I know I got the letter, and I thought, oh, wow. I'm Like, it was definitely within six months that I had gotten the letter and I got told, I went and, um, Bernadette, she was great. She, um, was, she was actually pregnant at the time when we were talking.

But, um, I, I kind of just thought it was maybe going to be the physio go in. I did a couple of Kegel exercises and sent it on my way. I didn't really know what to expect, but it wasn't like that at all. It was sort of like in, like an in detail talk, how is it affecting me, what was happening? Um, and then it was like, okay, like as a whole person, it wasn't just the incontinence.

It was like, okay, so you suffer. What else is going on? Yeah, what else is going on? You're, you're suffering from a bit, you're suffering from a constipation. From other, caused by other medical things, um, you're been in the house, which means you're just going to the toilet whenever you want to go to the toilet, rather than finishing up what you're doing and things like that.

Supposedly creating bad habits. Exactly. And that, I didn't know. Was a thing. You, like, I genuinely just thought, like, you don't really think about it. You just think, I need to pee. I'm going to the toilet. Yeah. But in reality, like, you're in the shop or, you know, you're in work and you can't just, like, stop the meeting or stop what you're doing, like, right there and then and go to the toilet.

But if you're in the house and it's as simple as, like, I the dish or you're sitting on the sofa. I need to pee. As soon as you get the urge, you're standing up and going to the toilet. So it turned out that I was kind of like Telling my bladder that I could just go as soon as I felt the urge. And normally what happens with a normal bladder is that whenever your bladder starts filling up, when it gets to about two thirds full, it tells, it gives you warning signals that it's getting fairly full, but it's not at its capacity at that stage.

So it's pre warning you, but you, you do have that. Extra time. And you, you maybe were just getting into that habit of going when you got that first signal rather than letting it reach its capacity. Exactly. So that was like one thing that was sort of pointed out and it was just really helpful. And it was like, right, try your best.

It's going to be difficult at the start, like, but try your best. Start with it. 30 seconds, start with a minute, start with two minutes, see what you can personally, like me, what I can personally do. So it was hard, I'm not going to lie. I was like, you know, sitting, just sitting on the sofa, especially with the experience I had.

That's what I was going to say. From that bad experience of coming home that night, to actually fully wetting yourself. Completely. It's hard to, it's hard to encourage people to persevere. It really was, and it kind of, like, in my head, the figure was that, like, I'm limiting myself more because I'm already not leaving the house as much as I want to, you know, so I'm going to have to limit myself more, you know, from, if I'm going to train my, my bladder, then I'm definitely not going to be able to leave my house or because it, but it wasn't as strict as that, you know, like it was as best as you could, like I could possibly be.

Whatever you were able to achieve. Exactly. And the other thing is that whilst that might limit you for a short period of time, the goal is that it will free you up. Yes. In the longer term. Yeah. It was something to build up up to. So that was one problem that, and it was something that I could control and that's what we worked on first.

And it was like, let's see what kind of like doing exercises, you know, it was just like, it was more like you just try your best and build it up to as long as you can. And the goal was like 10 minutes before my next appointment. Let's, let's see what we can do. And at the start, Um, I, I, I wasn't making it, you know, at the start.

No, it wasn't a full flood, I thankfully didn't have that experience again, but because I was being so careful and so precautious. But I still was, time I was getting to the bathroom, my pants were wet. So, um, not flooded, but just a little wet. Or like, I was like, literally just wet. Pulling my pants down, trying to slip onto the toilet as quick as I could.

So, um, there was, there was that kind of, but that was, that was happening prior to me holding. And anyway, so there was nothing negative happening, but it, after like two weeks, I was noticing that an improvement, you know, that when I was holding on that, you know, I was making it to a minute, to two minutes, to three minutes.

Um, I don't think I made it 10 minutes completely by my next appointment, but regardless, like that was a good thing. But it was still, there was still an issue where it was like, I still really needed to go. It's more like a pressure, like a, and after speaking more with Bernadette, like, she really listened.

Maybe having the constipation wasn't helping, that the pressure was being built by, kind of like, the way she explained it to me was like, when some, a woman's pregnant, the baby's pushing up against the bladder, kind of, it was like that, except for my bowels were so full, it was pushing up, and I was very badly constipated.

I was going to the toilet, maybe. 10 days without going to the toilet. Like, I was passing out on the bathroom floor because of the pain from going to the toilet, um, or needing to go to the toilet. And that's certainly not normal. But I was just something I had, I have problems with my legs. I'm on painkillers since I was 12 years old, so it was something that I was kind of used to.

I was never that bad, but I just kind of, as it got worse, I just thought that that was something that I had to. Contend with. Um, it's not also something that you have to contend with. It's not normal. And my partner, I was always like panicking. Like I had actually passed out several times in the bathroom floor doing food pain.

And my partner was like, that's just not normal. But like, what do you do? You don't go to A& E because you need to go to the toilet, you know, that type of thing. Especially at that point, it was because I was going to the bathroom when that, when all that was happening. So, um, she was like, no, not normal.

Need to get that under control. That's something we do here, too, that we can sort of help and advise you with and I was like, great, okay, didn't know that. And we talked about my fibre content, we talked about water and all that stuff, not just water, just liquid. Which is another thing, you know, that I learned through the continence service was that fluid is, it's not just drinking water.

Like, you don't, like, I've heard so many times, like, Drinking tea is not part of your water intake. That's fluid. It is. But it is. But it is, like, you know. And I learned, it's just another misconception that, you know, your tea in the morning is not. Which, and I was advised to switch from tea to a cup of coffee, and I do, that has helped so much.

Drinking just one cup of coffee to help me go to the bathroom. Um, and that's because coffee can have a bit of a laxative effect and stimulate your bowel. Yeah, and it definitely, definitely has made such a difference, um, as well as getting my fluid up now terrifying when she said, bring your fluid intake up when I was peeing.

Going to the bathroom so often. Yeah, because I was like, yeah. And that's something that so many people struggle with. Oh yeah. Yeah, but definitely, I'm like. But because I think what worked out really well was because we started off small with something that I could try and control which was like timing myself, trying to hold myself, give my bladder that little bit more time to hold on.

to me and get used to that needing to go to the toilet feeling. And the fact that it was only two thirds full, it wasn't, I need to go now. And try to retrain my bladder into knowing that. I think that helped me give, have the confidence to then. Increase my water intake. Yeah. And go to the two litres.

Mm-hmm . I think if that was said first , I would've really freaked out. You know, like, I mean, like, I just pee'd myself, like there's nothing I, like, I can't do that. But no, it was great. Um, and then I went, um, so then that was something else that I could work on, um, with the advice. And there was always, you know, if there's anything that you need, give us a call and things.

Mm-hmm . Mm-hmm . Problem is I don't have a very. Good diet, um, like I eat salads, and I eat veg, and I cook everything myself, but I just love cooking, and I was like, how did I get more fibre? It's quite hard. That is very difficult. You know, how did I get more fibre in my diet? So, um, I had, end up, it was like fibre bars, they really helped.

Cereal, they really helped. Like eating cereal in the morning, um, switching to whole grain, like, it's wee bits, but it all does add up. Doing potato wedges instead of chips, you know, leaving skins on. There was so much little things, it didn't like drastically change my diet by any means, but it was just so much.

Little switching. Mm-hmm . Yeah. Making small changes instead of reaching for the chocolate bar, I was reaching for one of those fibre one bars. Mm-hmm . And they're great. Like they, oh, they're lovely. Tasty, they, they're really lovely. Really tasty and I genuinely just thought they were going to be like eating cardboard, but they're not.

They, they're, and they're not, they're not expensive either. In comparison to the chocolate bar, they're actually cheaper. So, um, I was able to get my fibre. And literally changed my life. Or even healthy snacks like hummus and like raw vegetables. Yeah, I already ate that. You see, I already ate hummus and like carrots and um, celery.

So like, I was already, like I didn't mind. Like, what am I meant to do? I'm keeping my skin on my foot. Not pin an apple. Yeah. Like that was one. Mm-hmm . Not, um, instead of like, just for Handiness, I was using like peach pin peaches. Oh. We switched to nectars and mm-hmm . Um, like eating that skin, like there was things that mm-hmm

I just had to switch mm-hmm . So I was still eating the same thing. It wasn't this drastic Yeah. Healthy diet. Mm-hmm. You know, where big changes Yeah. Big changes. There were way silly things and I, it the best thing it kind of. The advice I got was just making it one at a time rather than this whole, drastic, like, completely overhaul it because it's just not possible.

Just gradually introduce stuff. Exactly. Unrealistic. That's, that's a good way to put it. Just gradually introduce. And I started with the fibre One bars. They were the best because it was this sweet. I know that's bad, it's not the best advice. But it was the sweeter and it was easy. And once I realized that having that extra fibre made a different, like, made a difference to my bowel, It was easier than to enter just whole grain instead of white bread, to introduce the fruit, leaving the skins on the fruit.

Like, it wasn't anything big, you know, it wasn't, like, I didn't even really notice I was doing it after a while. Um, but Between having my bowels clear regularly and properly, my bladder symptoms changed. I was, I'm just starting to realize I forgot to say that, um, my first appointment I was prescribed, uh, You might be able to help me, Solifenacin.

Solifenacin. Thank you. Um, and a small dose, just five milligrams, just to kind of help. With the urgency. With the urgency. And it did help as well. But I also, it wasn't just a small miracle tablet. I did have to work as well to hold. And I do think that gave me the confidence as well. Um, to sort of leave after a week or two, leave the house and realize that it wasn't something, like the urgency.

And then I wasn't just going to urgency and then pee, which was what was happening. That kind of gave me a bit more confidence as well. And it definitely helped holding in, um, for longer than in the minutes and the 10 minutes and things like that. Literally my last appointment with this, I did, this was over a period of time.

Mm-hmm . But by my last appointment, uh, with Bernadette, I was like, she was like, well, how's things? I was like, great . My life is like, I know this sounds so cliche, but my life was like completely different. Even just with the bowels being sorted. Mm-hmm . I had more energy. I felt human. I didn't realize I didn't feel human, if that makes sense, but I felt human.

I wasn't as lethargic. I had more energy and like I have a heart problem, so like to say that I thought everything I was feeling was because of my other medical problems, but it wasn't. It was just my body. Because I was constipated, which was then making my bladder symptoms worse, which I made worse because I was just going to the toilet.

I had trained my bladder that I could just go to the toilet whenever I wanted, you know, which is just. Did you use distraction methods when you were trying to, um, to achieve that? You know, what distraction methods did you use that maybe somebody else could maybe learn from you? So. Now, this is because I was in the house, but, um, I would have the TV on in the background or the music on in the background.

So I kind of just started, and I usually, I'm one of these people who like re-watch programs, Friends or How I Met Your Mother or whatever, so I kind of know what's going to happen. So it's like, you know, when Rachel throws that at Ross, I'm going to, that's when I can go. And it's only like 10 seconds, 30 seconds, a minute, but it's like that was kind of when, so I was like watching the TV.

To distract yourself. To distract myself. Yeah. But at the same time. Set yourself a wee goal. Set myself a wee goal. Um, because I did try setting the timer and it wasn't, it was, like, I was looking at the timer. Uh huh. Uh huh. You know, I was like, you know, and I don't, I was going up to the toilet before the timer was going because I was, like, convinced I was going to pee myself.

So it was very much like, oh, it was just, I needed something else. Yeah. You know, and I've already said, you know, Do that last dish or, you know, you do whatever you finish, whatever you're doing, like that's kind of as in it. And that personally just didn't work for me. It might work for others, but the TV thing or the song thing, you know, once I hit the chorus then I can go, or once this, and as, as I kind of, the confidence grew and whatever then I was, it was like right at the end of the song.

There wasn't as much urgency. I was able to relax more and actually watch while I was watching rather than waiting for that thing to happen in the TV show. And it did, it definitely did help. And it got, I think, it made me more relaxed listening to the music or watching the TV to the point where it was actually helping me.

Go longer maybe because it was like distracting me from it was like, you know, break up scene with Ross and Rachel Even though I knew what was gonna happen still, you know, I was watching it So like that kind of I would recommend something like that. It was something he likes I find even, you know, when I would have been doing my running or my couch to 5k, you know, you build up to it.

You build up to it. And you know, when you're feeling that you can't go any further, one thing I would always think is I'll try and go to the next lamp post. You know, when I get, when I get there, then I say, I set myself another goal. I'll try and make it to the next lamp post just to get, build that up so you can.

Go that way a bit further and it's a bit like that. Yeah, absolutely. And I think at the same time, because I had that such, like that, that horrible thing where I was just like, I literally had to throw my boots out, you know, um, I, where I had just completely wet myself and that was like my final straw where I was going to get help.

I was always, there was that scare it was going to happen again, but even though I was explained that, you know, that's not, What was probably going to happen and like every time I needed to go to the toilet like that was explained It's still that fear, you know, that irrational thing in your head. So, um, I think once I realized the worst thing that would happen was I just had to change my pants Which was going to happen anyway, whether at that point whether I was rushing to the toilet right then or whether I was waiting for a minute, two minutes, three minutes Then eventually I wasn't having to change, change my plans, you know, but as you said, it was like setting the goal, realizing, you know, I'm in the house, like, what is the worst thing that's going to happen here?

It really wasn't that big a deal, um, at all. And then once, after a while, once my bladder was getting more trained and I was being more confident and I was being distracted, then, You see, it's actually working, you know, not that I doubted, but you know, it's just like once you see it happening yourself, it's like, Oh, this is actually working and it gives you the confidence to kind of like do it again.

Um, and the fact that it wasn't just like a one size fits all approach when I came, I really didn't know what to do. to expect, you know, um, because I know women who experience incontinence and just accept it as part of their life. Some, some do. But I think, you know, whilst you said, you know, talking amongst your girlfriends about maybe I can't jump on the trampoline anymore.

Or, you know, it's just because you've had a baby or you expect it. I think we have come to, as women, to think that it is normal as we grow older, but it is more prevalent in women, don't get me wrong, it definitely is more prevalent in women. And it is more prevalent in the older population than it is in the younger, but it's not normal.

Yeah. And there, whilst, there will be those that, because of maybe other comorbidities and things that they go through in life, where it will become a problem and it will be a problem. You know, intractable where they cannot, um, overcome it. But for most people, good interventions, um, like you have put in your life can make, make it either go away or be a lot more manageable.

Actually gave me the confidence to talk to my friends and sort of family about it. And I'm not, not even joking for my friends have went to the GP and two of them have been seen by the incontinence service. One, they do have several comorbidities and they've had two children by a C section and she, not that that makes a difference, but she thought it did, like, that was her, you know, and she has, like, their, her children are grown up, they're in their twenties and it was something that has got worse because of her comorbidities now, but it's something she's always sort of experienced since she's had kids and she's doing great now, like, she's genuinely doing brilliant.

She's like, I can't believe this is, and another one's a young friend of mine. And she's. It's 33 now and she had two kids and she had a bit of damage when she was, had two natural births. And again, because her mother thought it was something that she heard her mom say, I like, I think we've all heard it, our parents or, you know, our women in our lives saying, Oh, I have to cross my legs when I'm laughing or when I'm sneezing and things, but it classed like a societial norm, you know, and it's just something we deal with.

And she went, and it is something that she can get help with, you know, she's now, she's Going to get help. So, you know, it's, I think it's just a societal thing that's accepted. Um, and I went like, it's not, it's just, it shouldn't be accepted. And it's, it's just like, this is why I agreed to do the podcast because it's sort of just breaking that societal moral where it's like, there is help there and it's not for people who are, shouldn't just accept it.

No. Yeah. And as you say, it's not just for elderly or people that's It doesn't matter. You know, if you're having an issue that's impacting your life, go to the doctor and they will direct you to the correct specialist who will, who will help. If you had a sore ear, you would go and see the doctor. If you had a toothache, you might go and see your dentist.

So why do we, when we have bladder or bowel problems, keep it to ourselves? And that's the thing as well, like the bowel thing, I didn't know that was anything like the continence service, actually helped with. Um, we're extremely grateful that it is because that was something that was tying in with my bladder problems, but I know it's cliche, but it generally the incontinence service really did change my life.

Like I just feel human. I just feel better. I have energy. Um, Bernadette, she actually, she said to me, she was just like, you're just so I think she was a bit taken back, you know, um, because it had been several months since I had seen her because I had been doing well prior, um, and just because, like, it was happening more long term now.

I feel great. It's so nice to hear that you're doing so well. Trying to like fill in the form and I was like, yep, tick, tick, tick, you know, like it was, you know, um, and I still like when I, with, because of my other, um, health issues, I can still have issues with my bowel, but it's, that's up to me to make sure that I'm taking my fibre and my, and my thing.

And sometimes I slip up and I'm having a couple of Chinese's a night and I, it does have an effect. Yeah. And I do feel that pressure. in my bladder where I have more of an urgency. Um, but at the same time, it's not that I have not like had my pants wet or any accidents, you know. But at least now you know how to manage it.

That's it. I have those tools. You know how you can recognize it and whilst we can let ourselves have a blowout some days and whatever, if it's starting to creep back into that, um, Pattern that you had before, you know now what to do. Exactly, that's it. Just being in tune with your body too and just recognising those early signs, you know, if you say, you know, Chinese, you know, then things will start to move slow down.

Yeah, and it's not, it's not like, oh, I have one Chinese and Everything's messed up, that's just not, it's like, you just get lazy sometimes, you know, and I think we all do, yeah, and it's easy to be lazy in it, but then you're like, oh no, my stomach is so bloated, I haven't went to the toilet in four days, five days, and then it's like, oh yeah, that's because I haven't been looking after myself, you know, I haven't, you know, been taking, Unless it's busy at times, and you're working, and things, yeah.

Yeah, and you get distracted, and then it's like, it's just like a reminder, my body's like a reminder, and you're like, oh yeah. If I don't fix this now, I am going to have problems, you know, so I take, you know, a laxative and make sure I'm having the fibre properly and that's another thing as well, like having the fibre in my diet, I didn't ever think I was going to come off the laxatives that the doctor had prescribed me because I was on laxatives when I, before I went to the continence service.

Because of your painkillers. Because of my painkillers, yeah. Um, so, and I like was taking that and I, because I had that prescribed, I was very much like. I've seen the doctor about my constipation. And this is what I take. And this is, so this is what I take and I think. And like, I was taking the laxatives and I was still going 10 days without going to the toilet.

And it was, like, exactly, you were like, what? You know, so I was taking the sachets three times a day for like 10 days and I was still not, but I wasn't drinking enough water and I wasn't doing other things. Completely correctly, and I was maybe having a bad flare up, and I was on more painkillers than standard, and it just was all a combination of things.

So, when I introduced the fibre, and, you know, it's not just a, a trope that doctors or nurses or, you know, the continence service will tell you, like, if you do increase your fibre, you will go to the toilet more, and, you know, and I have had, I'm able to not take those laxatives as much now, you know, and it, Like, that makes a whole difference because they're not comfortable.

No. Once they kick in and start to work, that's another thing of, you know, well, okay, so I've took these laxatives. If they kick in tomorrow, I can't leave the house. You know, so that's another thing that was kind of affecting my life. So now, it's just very much, if you get lazy, then it really affects your life.

But it's really not, uh, how controlled my life was by, you know, my bladder issues and my bowel issues prior to the incontinence service. You know, I'm changing a few things in my diet and not being lazy. Like, it's, there's no comparison, you know, like. Do you keep your fluids up now? Yes, I've got a big bottle and I fill it up twice a day and my partner, I say, tells me off.

You know, have you filled that up? No. And it's just like, it's just easy. And then I sort of say to him as well about his water and that kind of, it's kind of just to make everybody healthier as well at the same time. But yeah, the fluid intake, the one cup of coffee, I wasn't a big coffee drinker, but I had loads of like, um, fizzy drinks was my big thing.

And do you still drink those? No, no, because caffeine, that was not helping. It's an irritant. And not helping. And that was kind of a bit. It's confusing for me where she was like, take coffee, take coffee, you know, cause I would drink tea, a couple of cups of tea and you know, then a Coke and, and there's so much caffeine in that.

It's something I never, I knew it was sugar and it was bad for me, but I never really thought of the caffeine. Um, so it was like, try your best to cut that out, um, but when you're trying to like increase your water intake, I think it, like I naturally cut out those because I was like, um, I drink that, my

berry something, um, and I just enjoy the taste of that. It's sugar free, and that kind of helps, and I'm able to drink a lot more of that, and I've got water, or I drink that, and it's just something I enjoy, um, because I thought, I need something to replace my Coke, but I enjoy it. Um, and then it was like, in the same sentence, it was like, cut out all your coke.

Your coke and things if you can, um, and have a cup of coffee in the morning. It's like, is this not counterintuitive? But it wasn't. It didn't for me personally. It really helped. Um, and it really helped me go to the toilet every morning or most mornings. And then I was off. And would that be your normal now, once a day or in the morning?

Um, once a day or at least once every other day. And like, that's And that's good for you. Yeah, I'm talking years, like, and like, I would be in restaurants. I was in the Abbey Centre at one point. And like, I was in the bathroom. Like, I was passed out in the bathroom at the Abbey Centre and my partner had to say to a woman, like, Can you please check on my, you know, my, uh, fiance in there?

She was, like, knocking on the door and I was, like, no, I'm, like, that kind of came, brought me to and I'm, I'm okay, like, I'm stripped off because I'm so, I'm in so much pain, I'm so caught and I just took that as normal and, like, when I came here it was just, like, Because, because I had medication for it, you know, and I just thought that's just something I had to deal with, and it's not like, there's just, if it's, I think what I learned was, a big thing was, if it's affecting your daily life, it's not normal, go get help.

That's right. so much. You, you've been real inspiration. You know, I think, um, I think people will really benefit from hearing your story. You know, especially the fact that you are a young girl and that whilst you have other complaints, you know, and you still need to take your medication for that, but you can still now have a normal life and still take your medication and these modifications that you've made have made things So much better for you so much better and they're not even big notifications when you look at it It's really they're really not all adjustments.

Yeah with the correct advice personal to you Yeah, you know and like I was 29 when this all started. Um, it's been solved for a good while now I'm 33 I've just turned 33. I'm like Like, I just thought that this was something I was going to have to deal with and it, like, I could only imagine it would have just got worse.

Yeah. But it's not, like, just, if it's affecting your life, it's not a thing. Whether you've had a child or not, just come, get some, speak to your GP, they'll point you in the right direction. And as long as it's affecting your life, just come in. Well, you listen, you have already spoke to at least four of your own friends and help them.

And this will reach a lot more. So, thank you so much. It's been brilliant hearing your story. Great, thank you for having me. Yeah, it was lovely to meet you. So just to let you know, thank you so much for sharing your story. No problem. And, um, I'm delighted to hear that you have had success and you're now discharged for more service.

Yeah. Do be aware that if, if you ever need our service again, or if you know of any of your friends that need our service, um, you can self-refer. So you can refer back again if you want or you can tell your friends. They can self refer just by calling the call management referral service number, which is 0 2 8 2 5 6 3 5 5 2 1.

I found that really useful hearing the service user story, Colleen, and I think that that will be very inspiring to some of our service users that we will sign post to listen to this podcast and help enable them to put some of those strategies that our service user was chatting about into their life.

You know, change, make those modifications in their lifestyle if they can relate to what she was talking about to see if that maybe improves their situation as well. Thank you for listening and I hope that you find this information useful. There will be other Episodes within this podcast series, and I would encourage you to listen to them too because again, we find that patients very seldom fit into one particular box.

So I would think that you would find the other episodes useful too. So thank you very much for listening. Please provide feedback on our podcast, which can be found on the podcast summary or the Northern Trust website. Thank you.