The holidays are finally here! This means traveling to see family members you haven’t seen since last Christmas or having a relaxing vacation at a resort far away from home. The last thing you need to worry about during the holidays is an embarrassing wet accident. That’s why we’ve put together a list of tips on how to travel with incontinence:
- Pack more and pack right. Wherever you go, whether it is to a beach or to a city, always bring an emergency bag filled with your incontinence necessities. This includes:
- adult briefs (at a higher absorbency than you’d usually need) for protection
- wet wipes for sanitation
- perineal cleansers and creams for skin health
- extra clothing for wet accidents
- plastic bags for disposal
- underpads for mattress protection
- Be mindful of where you sit. When traveling by plane, it’s always best to choose an aisle seat, or one closer to the lavatory. Similarly if you’re on a museum tour or public outing, sit closer to the exit, so you can easily excuse yourself when you have to go. If you’re going on a road trip, don’t forget your TravelJohn, and a GPS to scout for restrooms.
- Keep kegeling. It’s easy to forget to do your pelvic floor exercises when you’re vacationing. However, kegels should be done regularly to keep your pelvic floor muscles strong and help you gain better control of your bladder. Do a set when you wake up in the morning, while you’re eating lunch, and right before you head into bed at night.
- Maintain a proper diet. Keep your bladder triggers in mind when you’re traveling. Try not to overload on spicy foods when you know your bladder won’t tolerate it. Be sure to stay hydrated to prevent constipation and dehydration, which can irritate the bladder.
Vacationing with incontinence is possible. You just have to plan ahead, so you’ll always be prepared whenever your bladder starts to act up.
