When you suffer from a bladder or bowel condition or have any chronic health issues, the festive season can feel overwhelming. Christmas takes us out of our normal routine and often leads us to feeling a little anxious around leaving the house or meeting up with friends and family. With a little forward planning and making the right choices around food and drink, Christmas can be embraced and celebrated, even with a bladder or bowel condition.
Here are some tips that may help make the festive season a little easier.
Avoid drinking too much alcohol if it’s a trigger
We all like to enjoy a sparkling drink or two over the festive period, however too much alcohol can trigger symptoms of your bladder or bowel condition. Excessive alcohol can cause diarrhoea and leave you feeling dehydrated. It can also irritate the bladder, which on top of other effects can intensify urgency and frequency symptoms.
Caffeine also produces similar effects because it acts as a diuretic, meaning it stimulates the kidneys into removing salt and water from the body. This leaves you less hydrated than you’d be if you stuck to non-caffeinated drinks. It’s important to remain suitably hydrated by drinking the recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day to keep your bladder clear and avoid constipation.
The good news is there are some great low alcohol or alcohol-free options in the supermarkets, and decaffeinated tea and coffee is much better than it used to be! Why not give them a try this season and see if you can maintain the balance.
Consider your food choices
The act of eating a meal together triggers the brain’s endorphin system, which helps us bond with our friends and family. Christmas is usually a time that we associate with indulging in lots of rich food but certain foods can aggravate some bladder or bowel conditions, which of course can cause you a lot of problems at a time of year when you just want to have fun! It’s worth making considered food choices to help you make the best of the season.
If you have a stoma, some foods are known to cause excess wind or output or cause blockages within the bowel. Foods that are high in fibre such as green veggies (e.g. sprouts!) can produce excess wind, whilst nuts, dried fruits and foods with a tough skin (such as peppers, sweetcorn and jacket potatoes) are more likely to cause a blockage in the bowel. Foods like chocolate and artificial sweeteners can have a laxative effect.
There are certain foods that can irritate the bladder too, these include citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, sugar and artificial sweeteners. As always it’s about eating these foods in moderation as it’s just as important not to have a restrictive diet. If you know a certain food can trigger your condition then limit it as much as possible but don’t deny yourself the enjoyment.
For people who live with IBS it’s worth identifying your triggers so that you can make the most of the feasts, without the discomfort of the debilitating symptoms. Find out more with our comprehensive guide to Living with IBS.
Of course everyone is different and not everyone will experience issues with food. You can always try a small amount of food to see if you react.
Make sure you have enough supplies
Order any supplies such as ostomy bags, catheters and continence supplies that you may need in plenty of time before the Christmas shutdown period. Consider that you may need additional to your usual order to cover you in case of any upset bellies or bladders. Check with your delivery company what their final deadline is for delivery before the Christmas season.
If you are a customer with the Bladder and Bowel Home Delivery service, our advisors will be available over the phone every day of the festive period except Bank Holidays and weekends and are happy to help with any advice needed or urgent deliveries.
Please note our last dates for delivery in time for Christmas are fast approaching!
For all medication orders – please contact us by 12th DecemberFor all appliance/product orders – please contact us by 15th December
Be Prepared and Feel Confident Out and About
A little planning and preparation can help you enjoy and feel less daunted by being out and about during the festive season. Pack a small emergency change kit to keep on your at all times. This may include a spare ostomy bags, catheters, incontinence pads, spare pair of underwear and clothing, and make sure you carry your Just Can’t Wait Card – just in case! There are discreet continence pads options now available that can help you feel more confident in your best Christmas outfit and high waisted underwear can help to smooth out the outline of an ostomy bag under your favourite dress or shirt.
A small emergency kit could contain:
- Just Can’t Wait Card
- Spare underwear and clothes
- Continence Pads
- Spare ostomy bag, catheter, wipes, hand sanitiser
- Radar Key
Protect Yourself and Others from Viruses
At Christmas especially, we may come into contact with elderly relatives or other family members who are vulnerable with health issues, so it is important to rearrange visits or wear a face mask if you feel unwell. Protect yourself and others with a flu vaccination which is available on the NHS for eligible patients and the elderly.
If you’re out and about the simple act of wearing a face mask can better protect against contamination if you do feel unwell. Single use masks must not be used more than once to remain effective. A study found that they could protect against contamination for up to 40 hours of wear. We recommend a new mask every day or so to be sure though. Washable face masks can reduce your plastic waste, but also need regularly washing in hot soapy water to keep them effective.
With new Coronavirus variants still circulating and more data on long Covid, it is important to keep yourself and others as safe as possible over the festive season. If you can, get vaccinated and have your booster when you become eligible. To find out if you are eligible visit this page on the NHS website.
Most Importantly… Relax and Have Fun!
Whenever we’ve asked the Community what advice they’d give to someone living with a Bladder or Bowel Condition at Christmas, the answer has been, “Relax and Enjoy yourself! “.
You deserve to enjoy this time of year as much as anyone else so have those lovely, tasty foods that you like. Sample a tipple or two! Most of all, have lots of fun with your family and friends. This is a season for bringing people together during the cold months, but some of us will feel lonely. You can find solace with the Bladder & Bowel Community Support Group, where you can share issues and talk things through without judgement. You can also find groups to join in your area, or contact an organisation that can help like the Marmalade Trust – find out who they work with here.
Look after yourself and your neighbours, and enjoy the season in a way that works for you.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year!
– Bladder & Bowel Community Team
