Voiding Diary: Instructions

Voiding Diary: Instructions


How to record using your diary 

A voiding diary, also called a bladder diary or record, helps check your symptoms at the start of treatment and track your progress over time.

  • Record how much fluid you take in and how much urine you have in a 24-hour period of time. Be sure to record all fluids, including soups and milk with cereal.
  • Pick 3 days to track, but these days do not need to be 3 days in a row.
  • Record at the top of the page what time you got out of bed to start the day. Later, record the time you go to bed at night.
  • Fill out a row each time you drink something or urinate (or drain urine with a catheter). In the row, write:
    • Time when you drink fluids or when you urinate.
    • What did you drink? Examples: water, coffee, tea, or chicken soup.
    • How much did you drink in ounces (oz)? You can find this on the drink container or you can measure it with a measuring cup. 
    • How much did you urinate in milliliters (ml)? Read the instructions below for how to collect and measure your urine.
    • Did you have an urge to go?  Rate: 0 = no urge; 1 = slight urge; 2 = moderate urge; 3 = severe urge; 4 = extreme urge (had to drop what you were doing to go).
    • Did you leak?  Rate: 0 = no; 1 = slight (wet pad); 2 = moderate (had to change pad); 3 = severe (had to change clothes).
    • What were you doing when you leaked?  Examples: coughing, sneezing, exercising, bending over or straining to reach something.
    • If you catheterize, how much urine did you drain?

For things that do not apply to you or at the time, you can write n/a or leave it blank.

 

How to measure the urine

Toilet Hat

A toilet “hat” is a measuring tool that fits in the toilet, under the seat. It catches the urine and has markings to measure how much. Here is an example and what it looks like under the toilet seat.

Your doctor may give you one to take home, or they can be found at medical supply stores or many pharmacies.

 

Urine collection hat to measure urine output
Shows uring collection hat inside toilet

Other Container

If you do not have a toilet “hat,” you can use any sort of measuring container. You may urinate directly into the container, or urinate into a larger container, then transfer the urine into the measuring container. 

Your doctor may give you a container to take home, or you can buy one at many pharmacies.

Urine collection container
 

Voiding diary chart 

For a copy of the chart to use, click on the go.osu.edu address below or copy it into your device’s web browser (Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc.) to view or print this resource.

go.osu.edu/pted4589


© 2020 - February 14, 2024, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or healthcare team if you have any questions about your care. For more health information call the Library for Health Information at 614-293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.