As the holiday season is slowly approaching, you are probably preparing for a trip this summer! When traveling with bladder or bowel problems, you may hesitate because of the insecurities that incontinence entails. Planning ahead is key to make sure you are well prepared, which will allow you to focus on enjoying your experience more.
Here are some tips that can help you manage your continence while traveling to create a stress-free holiday experience.
1. Have a routine
It's important to go to the bathroom every two or three hours. Try to go everyday at the same time and this way your bladder will get used to going to the bathroom within a similar timeframe. It is important not to squeeze or strain your bladder.
2. Transport
When you’re on transport that requires a long trip (e.g. train or plane), try to choose the aisle seat as you will have more freedom of movement. If you’re in a car, try to make stops every two/three hours to go to the bathroom and take the opportunity to stretch your legs.
3. Have a carry-on
Having a carry-on bag is always a good idea to take with you. Ensure you have enough products for the journey such as extra underwear, wipes & creams.
4. Find out about the place of destination
Learning about your destination and the accessibility of incontinence products is important. Locating the nearest pharmacies in the area you will be staying at or purchasing your usual product beforehand may be a good idea so you will not be dealing with any unexpected surprises or stress.
5. Protect your skin
Dermatological irritations are one of the most frequent problems when suffering from incontinence. Warm weather and humidity can negatively influence the development of urinary infections and irritations. To prevent them, it is essential to pay extra attention to your hygiene habits. Make sure to use active skin protection as it will give you comfort and avoid any irritations during the trip.
6. Stay hydrated at all times
Don’t think that not drinking before or during the trip will help. Hydration is essential, especially when facing higher temperatures. However, you should still avoid certain types of diuretic drinks such as coffee, tea, infusions or soft drinks.
7. Wear the right clothes
Wearing comfortable and easy-to-remove clothing may be helpful in getting to the toilet in time.
8. Disposable pads and pants
Having disposables may be more convenient when traveling as they can be thrown away easily. At IncontinenceProducts.com.au you can find a wide range of styles, absorbances and sizes to suit you and your needs. To avoid accidents and to ensure extra protection, we recommend always trying the product first at home before any trip, to ensure that this is the best product for you.
Helpful tools that you can use
The Public Toilet Map: Where you can find more than 19,000 public and private public facilities across Australia, including toilets, change rooms and information about each toilet such as location, opening hours and accessibility for people with disabilities.
MLAK toilet access key: The Master Locksmiths Access Key is a master key that fits into specially designed locks that allows people with disability to have access 24 hours to public toilets with the displaying MLAL symbol. To purchase your key, you need a letter of authorization from a doctor. Click here for more information.
Don’t forget that incontinence affects each person differently, so don’t forget to ask for proper assistance and advice from your doctor or any continence health professional before you travel.
