Your Bladder Dampening Holiday Spirits?

Navigating Travel with Bladder Issues:   

Celebrating the holidays with friends and family can be the best of times. But when being together requires travel, a holiday can become a real turkey for those dealing with urinary incontinence (UI). Those unplanned snags—weather and mechanical delays, overbooked flights, etc.—can do more than dampen holiday spirits. For the roughly 30 percent* of the U.S. population, the majority of which are over 50, who deal with UI, travel can be a real nightmare, even without the usual roadblocks.

These people are experiencing various forms of UI, or the other “i” word as Baby Boomers refer tongue-in-cheek to the condition. And for them, travel can be even more daunting because of the preparation and planning ahead required to avoid an embarrassing situation. Whether you or your traveling companion are dealing with occasional, accidental leaks or complete incontinence, it’s all about the “extras”—extra caution and extra supplies.

These tips could save you and your loved ones time and embarrassment during the hectic holiday season:

1. When traveling by car, map your route on paper or a GPS. Identify freeway exit guides that list rest areas, and plan regular stops for bathroom breaks. Google Maps can highlight each rest stop on your trip so you know when and where you can go. Leave enough time in your journey to allow you to reach your destination on schedule.
2. When traveling by air, make the flight attendant your confidante by alerting him or her about your UI before the plane door closes. This can be helpful should the plane get stuck on the tarmac or have to be de-iced a second time.
3. Manage your liquid intake by avoiding beverages 2 hours before boarding. Changes in cabin pressure and tight seat belts can put extra pressure on your bladder, especially if it’s full.
4. While complimentary beverages may be appealing, especially those cocktails in first or business class, it’s prudent to eye the beverage cart with caution. Avoid diuretics like soda and coffee, and stick to plain old water to wet your whistle.
5. Always reserve an aisle seat if possible. If you book with an airline that doesn’t assign seats, like Southwest, consider investing in Early Bird Check In, which guarantees you a spot at the front of the line to ensure you get that aisle seat. If you’re flying with an airline that offers a limited number of aisle seats at no charge, be sure to make reservations far in advance to avoid extra fees.
6. No matter what mode of travel you choose, an easily accessible “Plan B” bag can be a lifesaver should the airline lose your checked baggage or the restroom line causes an accident. Include extra supplies, a change of clothing, and a plastic bag for soiled clothing.
7. Well in advance of your trip, talk to your doctor about medication in the case of an overactive bladder; this type of medication needs two weeks to take effect.
8. When traveling to a foreign country, learn how to ask, “Where is the restroom?” in the native language. In a situation when every second counts, you don’t want to rely on charades to be understood. Here are a few to get you started:
   • French: Où est la WC? pronounced: oooo- ay-la-dooublevaysay?
   • Spanish: ¿Dónde está el baño? (Formal) (Per-DON-eh, DOHN-deh es-TAH el BAHN-yo?)
   • German: Wo ist die Toilette, bitte? (Vo ist dee toy-LETT-uh, BIT-uh?)
   • Arabic (Saudi Arabia; UAE):  Ayna Al Hammam? (أين الحمام؟)

And finally, manage your bladder issues with products that are safe, healthy, and don’t require multiple changes throughout the day. Bon Voyage! 

*Resnick, NM, Improving treatment of urinary incontinence (commentary letter). JAMA. 1998;280 (23):2034-2035.

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Sarah Woodward is responsible for executing key research studies at BioDerm Inc., providing valuable industry insights that improve patient outcomes and the overall landscape of incontinence care. BioDerm, with 15 patents and patents pending, manufactures urology, skin interface and catheter securement products made from its own proprietary hydrocolloid that is hypoallergenic, latex free, and moves like a second skin. With more than 2.5 million devices used, there have been zero attributable adverse events. For more information call 800-814-3174, email CustomerCare@MensLiberty.com, or visitwww.bioderminc.com.

Category: Blog