HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Traveling with incontinence

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/11/2022 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
It's been many years and it's time to reach out again to those in the know. Early on this site was a life saver and I'm forever grateful for all the wisdom and compassion that I received 16 years ago.

My problem is stress incontinence and the absolute worst thing I can do is walk on a hard surface for any length of time. I'll have a full pad after 3 or 4 miles. We're planning a trip to Italy in Oct. and there's no avoiding walking for miles a day. From what I'm gathering public restrooms are a rarity. I plan on carrying a couple of spare pads with me but still is there anything else I can do to prevent me from constantly looking for bathrooms? Does anybody have experience with clamps?
Posted 4/11/2022 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ken, I have no experience with clamps. The astronauts all wear diapers, but that could be messy. I would do two things. One, wear depends with some added pads. And two, most importantly, get the google translator on your phone and don’t be afraid to ask anyone and everyone where is the nearest public bathroom. Enjoy your trip, but most of all let it flow when it comes while you are taking in the sites. My best to you.
Jack

P.S… Can you take me and my wife with you? We have always wanted to see Italy. 😊

Post Edited (Jack64) : 4/11/2022 8:18:08 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/11/2022 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
What parts of Italy are you visiting? I’ll be in Venice and Florence next month and can report on the bathroom situation.
Posted 4/11/2022 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
For a while I wore "belted" diapers from Prevail. The advantage is that you can unbutton the belt, pull the wet one out from between your legs and pass a dry one thru and secure it, all without having to remove your trousers. They run small and don't hold much, so I suspect they may be intended primarily for women, though they are marketed as unisex. But you can stick a heavy pad inside the diaper and still have something more leak proof than your shorts. I daisy chained two of the elastic belts on each side to accommodate my girth. They are available on Amazon and thru most online medical suppliers.
Posted 4/11/2022 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have used a clamp, gave up bc it kept catching the pubic hairs.

What I'd suggest is wear an adult diaper but put a pad inside it.
This worked great for me.
I drove to Houston from Topeka, KS with this setup.
Posted 4/11/2022 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Depends has some super absorbent diapers, there are many types of condom catheters, fighter pilots wear diapers ago...and they work well. There is an app that points out nearest public restrooms, but don't know if it covers Italy.

Don't ask how most Italians handle this challenge ;-)

Best advice...don't obsess about it, don't drink too much, and have a great time!
Posted 4/12/2022 3:46 PM (GMT 0)

garyi said...
... there are many types of condom catheters...

I used them for the year between RP and my final AUS activation, because pads/diapers just didn't hold enough. It took a while to find the right size and style. But I must mention that using a leg bag will get you pulled over by TSA every time. Even the AUS apparently shows up on their scanner as a potential underwear bomber.

On the plus side, the condom cath with the leg bag worn on the calf makes using public restrooms super easy. Don't even need to unzip anything. Just lift your shoe onto the edge of a urinal or toilet and flip the lever. It empties in seconds, and there's no drip afterwards. I would just be sure there are no children watching.
Posted 4/12/2022 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
My wife has family in Luca, Italy, and she last took our oldest Granddaughter to Italy for her high school graduation gift. She reminded me that the restrooms over there are notoriously bad and not well maintained. On her last trip they were in a small town in northern Italy and she needed to use the restroom, but could not find one. She eventually went into a grocery store and asked them if she could use their restroom, and they took her to what she later described as a "hole in the wall."

Rome wasn't the cleanest city, but that is a problem for most large city's. The smaller mountain towns were more impressive.

I admire you for traveling, and hopefully you will have a wonderful time. Just beware of the restroom issues over there and maybe have a plan B.
Michael
Posted 4/13/2022 1:39 AM (GMT 0)

RobLee said...
… by TSA every time. Even the AUS apparently shows up on their scanner as a potential underwear bomber.

I have flown many times since having my AUS and they always ask if I have metal in my body and I say no and sail right through the metal detector. I have TSA-Pre so have never gone through the whole body scanner.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply