Are you one of the 430 million people? And are you planning to travel soon? Then here is a checklist for travelling when living with incontinence.
Incontinence and social activities
Incontinence can put a stop to a lot of things in your life. You might feel that since it is not socially acceptable to have problems with involuntary urination that you have to stop social activities such as gymnastics, social events, and travelling. In short you start to isolate yourself and stop doing the things you love. This is sadly very common for people living with incontinence. But it does not have to be this way, because there are a few simple things you can do that allow you to live the life you want despite your incontinence.
Remember the good hygiene
A simple rule to remember is to always have good hygiene, so always have some wet wipes or other cleansing products on you. Same goes for your incontinence product – always have a couple of clean ones on you so you can change when you need to. Now we will give you 5 simple tips for what to do about your incontinence when you go travelling.
5 Tips for Travelling with Incontinence
- Make sure you are hydrated - don’t avoid drinking for fear of leakages! Cutting down on fluids with the aim of reducing urine leakage can make things worse.
- Pack disposable incontinence products – Convenience is key when traveling. Also remember some disinfection and a small plastic bag that is not see through.
- Make sure to have incontinence pads on you at all times. Split your supplies between several suitcases and have some in your hand luggage in case a bag is lost or delayed.
- If possible, map out toilets in the area you visit and learn basic language skills, so you can ask for a toilet in the local language.
- Ask the airline staff to be discreet when checking your luggage – consider printing a small card to hand security or attach a luggage tag to the zipper of your suitcase.
Would you like to get other tips on how to live with incontinence? Visit our knowledge center for more information.
