Traveling With Incontinence

I realize that the first “official” day of summer is June 21st, but I’ve always considered Memorial Day Weekend the true start. After all, many students are getting out of school, it’s socially acceptable to again wear white shoes and summer travels commence. However, for a person with incontinence, traveling via plane, train or automobile can pose many obstacles.

Traveling with incontinence is possible, but you need to plan realistically. First of all, consider how you are most comfortable traveling. Some people prefer driving because you have the control of stopping to use restrooms when necessary. But think about who you are traveling with; if they’re behind the wheel, will they understand the urgency of your situation enough to pull over quickly? And what is your route? Will you be traveling through towns and cities with public toilets, or are you traveling through vast open lands where bathroom opportunities may be several hours apart?

Planes can be a quicker way to get you where you are going, but being unable to access a toilet during take-off, landing and periods of turbulence can cause problems for some. If you do travel by plane, be sure to request an aisle seat where you can reach the restrooms more easily. You may also want to ask for a seat near the rear of the plane so that you’ll be first in line after the seatbelt light has been illuminated for a while. Empty your bladder immediately prior to boarding the plane, and again when the pilot announces you’ll be landing soon, as you usually can’t get out of your seat during takeoff and landing.

One mode of travel that often isn’t even considered these days is train. Although trains can take a while, you’ll have the benefit of a toilet right down the hall at all times. Plus, trains can be a beautiful way to see parts of the country you would otherwise miss when traveling by air. Be aware, however, that trains often don’t travel quite on time, and despite the best planning, it’s possible that you could arrive in the middle of the night when train stations are closed (and access to bathrooms as well).

However you get there, once you arrive you’ll need to follow the Boy Scout motto and “be prepared.” You’re probably already used to carrying an array of products due to your incontinence, but plan to bring even more along when visiting unfamiliar places. Depending on the kind of trip you’re taking, pack a briefcase, backpack or shoulder bag with extra products, plastic zipper bags for storing soiled garments and always carry a change of clothing. You may want to ship a box of products to your destination prior to leaving. Another tip: stay at a hotel with a laundry machine in case you should need it.

Plan ahead by calling restaurants, shops, theaters or landmarks that you’d like to visit and ask if they have restrooms. A little-known secret for finding phone numbers on the go is a free 411 service… simply call 1-800-FREE-411 from your hotel room or cell phone. A highly-effective automated system will ask what city and state you’d like a listing for, and then what the name of the business is. The system will give you the phone number, and often it will even connect you for free. Before your trip visit www.wheretostopwheretogo.com where you can order a free booklet that lists public bathroom locations in cities and tourist locations in the U.S. This Web site also has some additional travel tips you might find helpful.