PCa and TRAVEL issues

  PCa and modes of transport   How are we all managing to get around? What are our journeys like?   I ask, as this week I went to the hospital in Amsterdam for a blood test and I went by train. I had to plan it a bit more carefully than I would have done before treatment, but it was okay (I made sure I had a seat in the part of the train near the WC for instance). My biggest question was pads. I haven’t worn a pad for several weeks now, but I decided I was confident enough not to wear one “just in case” and I had no leaks or dribbles. (I do still always have a pad with me though,)   I peed before I left home at 13.20 and I caught a tram (streetcar) to the train station (takes about 12 minutes). The train journey was about 40 minutes. At about 14.20 I had a pee on the train before it arrived then took a bus (5 minutes) to the hospital.   At 15.00 I peed at the hospital before I left (because I could, not because I needed to). I had a drink of juice at the station at 15.15. I peed on the train on the way back at about 15.55 (that was indeed just in case). Another tram took me home. I was back at 16.35 and didn’t need to pee when I got in.   Thus I was out of the house for 3¼ hours and had three visits to the bathroom. And to be honest I expect I might have gone to the bathroom just the same way on a trip to the hospital before my operation.       Anyway, before our treatments we may have used and travelled about in or on some of the following:   Automobiles/Cars (as driver and/or passenger.) Trucks, RVs Jeeps, 4x4s etc off road Tractors, combine-harvesters etc Taxis/Cabs Trains/Underground/Streetcars/Metro/Subway Buses/Coaches (For me the most problematic due to the suspension bouncing me so much) Motorbikes, Scooters, Bicycles Wheelchairs Elevators Skis, Roller-skates, Ice-skates Horses, carriages. Sailing boats, Powerboats, Ferries, surfboards Aircraft, (as passenger or crew/pilot) Plus miscellaneous things such as racing cars, tanks, warships, road-rollers, submarines, cable cars, bulldozers, hovercraft etc   Since my Da Vinci fifteen weeks ago I have managed: a car as a passenger, my bicycle, trams, buses and trains   but what’s it like now for other people, what helps, what should be avoided etc?     Alfred

Six months out and any travle I take must be arranged around fluid intake and knowing where the restrooms are located. Last week my wife drove me to Atlanta and on the way home got lost in downtown Atlanta and couldnt find the interstate. First time I have used the bathroom in a moving vehicle since high school. Glad we had an empty container in the car. LOL, but it is still a different ball game for me at this point.

Michael

Started driving the week the catheter was out. One unfortunate pad overflow that week, put plastic garbage bag on seat, cut short shopping trip, headed home.

Commuter train and bus at end of second week. Careful to pee before the up to 1 hour trip.

1 ½ hour car trip at three weeks. Bathroom breaks carefully planned before, middle, and end. No problems

Inter-city bus, 2 hours at two months. Picked a bus line with onboard WC but could have managed without. Did curtail liquids.

Swimming at two months. Asked my doctor about leakage – he laughed, reminded me that urine is sterile and told me to wash my butt.

Bicycle at four months – no extra leakage although my son did have to wait for me at the tops of hills.

Now at 6 months I figure that anything under 4 hours doesn’t need any special thought.

Only one worry, I’ll be in Northern Wisconsin at Thanksgiving and go snowmobiling if the weather cooperates. If I leak, can I pull into a tavern parking lot and drink hot rum drinks, or will they have to get me off the machine with an ice pick?

I have a tip. It requires just a little shamelessness. I can hold everything fine while sitting and driving the car. As soon as I get up, whoosh. So, I look for the most private deserted parking place in the lot,far away as possible from the store, etc., open both the drivers and passanger left side doors, take a quick check around, stand up, and let 'er rip into my travel container. Saves pads, prevents overfilling, and is a good training exercise. Haven't been arrested yet.

Steve

I, too, can hold it while sitting. The problem is trying to get the flood into a container when I get up. While sitting, my delivery pipe retracts into my abdomen so when it gushes I get that warm glow flowing down onto my scro**m and landing BEHIND me - into my pants and the floor - even if I am leaning over the toilet. The fluidic nozzle effect works, unfortunately.
I've seen those catch-cup funnels they have for women so they can use urinals. I might be in the market for one.

Interesting stories. I travel alot and am an active cyclist. What I do is when I pass a men's room or rest stop at an interval of time when I know there should be contents in my bladder, I use the facilities. Pre-PCa I would wait until I had an urge (which I do at work or home now) but now it is so easy to evacuate my bladder, so to speak, I don't miss the opportunity. Why risk a problem.
Ted

I'm an active person and take vacations that are adventurous and stressful, and I've taken 12-hour and less airplane rides - and I've had few issues to contend with. One learns how to plan for the travel and activities and "pad thought" has become easier and routine. Actually, I leak less when I'm the most active.