Reflecting on the recent World Continence Week 2025 which spotlighted bladder, bowel, incontinence, mental health and other issues, MS Australia explores this important subject area which is common for many people including those living with MS.

What is incontinence? What are some of the typical bladder and bowel issues people with MS experience? How do MS nurses assist people with continence issues? Where to go to for help? Why can humour alleviate such a serious subject?

In this episode, Raw Nerve co-host Dr Julia Morahan, Head of Research at MS Australia speaks with MS nurse K-J Lazarus from Austin Health and Andrew Potter, Lived Experience Partner at MS Australia, about working with patients and living with continence issues, respectively.

Specialist MS nurse K-J Lazarus is passionate about continence and Andrew Potter, diagnosed with MS over 25 years ago, has experience with continence issues. Together they discuss the elephant in the room - continence - and its impact, noting there’s help close at hand and why it’s important to speak up. K-J explains continence dysfunction known as incontinence, which for people with MS can manifest as bladder frequency and urgency, bowel constipation or conversely bowel frequency and the importance of tailored management strategies.

Our host and guests share many laughs, and Andrew talks about the importance of planning ahead when travelling and visiting new spaces. With continence issues prevalent for many people living with MS, K-J and Andrew discuss options for assistance and handy resources including the MS Australia website, our state and territory MS Member Organisations, the National Public Toilet Map and App, the NDIS (for those eligible) and Continence Health Australia.

K-J Lazarus is MS Immunotherapy and Continence Support Nurse at N-CRESS, the Neuro-Immunology Clinical Research, Education and Support Service, at Austin Health, Victoria.

Andrew Potter from regional Tasmania, Lived Experience Partner at MS Australia lives with MS and has a long history of advocacy and lobbying and substantial experience in the disability and inspectorial sectors.

With the right information, support and resources, continence issues can be managed effectively to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.