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Have Incontinence, Will Travel
Take the Worry out of Traveling
By Amy Carey-Bowman
Have a trip planned this summer? Are you visiting family members or spending time with friends at the lake? Traveling can be an exciting opportunity or it can be a stressful undertaking. With a little preparation and some helpful tips, you can get out and enjoy your summer rather than spend it at home worrying about incontinence.
According to Nancy Muller, executive director of the National Association for Continence, people with incontinence often have two major concerns when taking a trip away from home. First, they worry about having a sudden urge and not being able to find a toilet in time to avoid having an accident. Second, they might fear being "found out" because of urine odor.
"The anxiety of planning a day outing or a long trip [stems from] the uncertainty of going to a new place with the fear of public embarrassment," Muller says.
Those who rely on absorbent products may be anxious about how to transport their supplies from place to place without being obvious or finding places to change their undergarments while maintaining some privacy. But these things can be accomplished with a little preparation.
As many as 25 million Americans suffer from incontinence, according to the National Association for Continence, so you're certainly not the first person facing these worries when getting ready for a trip. What do experienced travelers and day-trippers have to say about managing incontinence on the go?