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Advice on Living with Incontinence

Travelling with Incontinence

Heading away? With a little planning, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your break
Published by Jane Granger
Travelling with Incontinence

Planning


  • Before you leave, google ‘Toilet app (destination)’, which will show public toilets close to you. Download the ones you like to your device
  • Depending on where you’re headed, you may be able to purchase a top-up of your preferred product there. Check local supermarket or pharmacy websites
  • Most people feel more comfortable taking a supply of products they’re familiar with. Calculate how many incontinence products you’ll need to take with you (say 3 pieces a day for 14 days) and then add a few more - just in case

 

 

Packing

  • Dark colours are better at concealing accidents
  • Keep an ‘incontinence kit’ in your hand luggage or day pack, containing
    • Spare underwear and incontinence products
    • Spare clothing
      • Try to keep items consistent – a change from green to pink shorts will be noticed!
      • A light shirt or cardigan that can be tied around your waist to conceal an accident
    • A travel pack of wet wipes and hand sanitiser
    • A roll of toilet paper or packet of tissues if you’re hiking or heading somewhere where toilet paper may not always be provided
    • A travel pack of ‘nappy sacks’ – plastic, scented bags to discreetly dispose of used items if there’s no sanitary bin
    • A hotel shower cap is handy to keep everything together as well as for storing rinsed, wet underwear

 

Products

  • Consider the climate of your destination and the types of activities you’ll be doing. Would you feel more confident with a lighter product than you usually use that you can change more regularly or a more absorbent product that allows longer intervals between changes?
  • TENA provide long lasting protection and are very discreet, however if you’re wearing shorts or trousers, you will need to remove all clothing from the waist down to change into new ones. If you think this could be a challenge, for example, in a confined space on a train, wear a dress or skirt, or choose TENA Pads
  • Take advantage of TENA’s FREE Product Samples to find the product that’s going to make managing a weak bladder on your holiday a breeze

 

Other considerations

  • Avoid food and drinks that can irritate the bladder, such as caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks and spicy food
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid being dehydrated. This can concentrate urine which in turn, can irritate the bladder
  • If you’re concerned about overnight leakage, consider TENA Pads Maxi Night or easier still, wear TENA Night Pants

 

Swimming

  • The sea is fine to swim in without any concern
  • You can also swim in pools if there is only a little urine leakage. Pool chemicals account for all people having traces of urine on their skin –so the rumour that some pool water can change colour with urine is actually a myth!
  • If significant urine leakage is a concern, Independence Australia has a range of adult products for purchase, including these shorts

 

 

  • If you’re in New Zealand, have a look at the range from Swimspiration
  • A two-piece ‘tankini’ makes getting to the toilet an easier exercise than a one-piece swimsuit
  • If you’re sitting by the pool or on the beach, consider wearing shorts over regular underwear or TENA Pants – and then change into swimwear bottoms for swimming