There’s so many things to look forward to during the holiday season, like good food and fun times with family and friends, but for people traveling with incontinence, the simple pleasures of the season can be overshadowed by fear and shame. “Are we there yet?!” takes on a whole new, panic-filled meaning.
Long airport lines, delayed flights and long road trips can spell trouble for the nearly 33 million Americans with an overactive bladder that may be traveling. But, your bladder doesn’t have to dictate just how happy your holidays will be. Use the four tips below to help you travel accident-free:
1. Plan ahead: Planning your bathroom breaks ahead of your trip will help relieve anxiety and potential accidents. Try keeping a voiding diary a few days before your trip that tracks what you eat, drink and how often you go to the bathroom. This will help you see which foods trigger urges and can help with scheduling breaks.
2. Drink plenty of fluids: Your plan of action may be to drink less fluids before a trip, but that can actually cause you to go more. When you’re dehydrated, your urine becomes concentrated and can irritate the lining of your bladder.
3. Don’t drink caffeine: Yes, stay hydrated, but avoid caffeinated drinks! Caffeine is a known diuretic, increasing your urge to ‘go’ and the carbonation in soda can irritate your bladder. The best thing to drink? Water.
4. Pack and wear incontinence undergarments: You may not feel totally comfortable wearing incontinence undergarments, but they can offer you peace of mind while traveling, especially during long trips. Look for brands that offer sleeker styles that are less noticeable under clothing.
The holidays can be stressful enough on their own without the additional emotional and mental stress of managing incontinence, but there are ways to travel with confidence.
