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.
On The Go: Tips For Holiday Traveling With Incontinence was originally published on blackdoctor.org
