Be prepared! For those who do intermittent catheterization, products like Coloplast’s Speedi Cath Compact and Hollister’s Vap Pro Pocket have reservoirs that allow you to cath in areas that don’t have toilets. You can make any catheter with a funnel work if you get extension tubing. But you will need to find a discrete location to go and carry a bag full of pee until you can dump it.
It’s tough because not all flights have bathrooms that can be accessed. That’s where extension tubing can come in handy. Having a jacket or blanket can provide some privacy and it’s important to select clothing that’s easy to pull off and on. Really difficult to maneuver skinny jeans in a tight space! I make sure I have hand sanitizer or wet wipes, since washing facilities likely aren’t accessible if the toilet isn’t. Also, anytime you change your usual bladder management system you can have problems like infections. People often don’t drink enough when travelling since they worry about toileting issues. When I travel internationally, I use a foley catheter and get prescription antibiotics in advance.
Adaptive clothing with a zipper in the inseam is another option. Some hiking pants, like the Gnara Go There Pants, let you unzip and pee. If you’re worried about leaks, wearing an absorbent pad can provide peace of mind. One product I’ve heard about recently is the TravelJohn, or disposable urine bag. The bag contains a substance that instantly turns urine (or any liquid) into a gel, which prevents leaks until you can dispose of it. I might order some and try it out myself.
That’s a cool idea. But it would be hard for us with lack of hand function to hold a bag like that. I actually use an 800 mL blender bottle. It’s got a handle that makes it easy to loop your finger through. Make sure you screw the lid on properly, so it doesn’t leak.
Pre- and post-injury I always trusted the wide mouth 20 oz Gatorade bottle for road trips and camping. When I do the travel presentation here at GF Strong, I tell peers to take an empty one on the plane if they need to tap their leg bag.
Like Ryan said, Gatorade bottles are great. They are wide enough to stay between my knees without hanging onto it, don’t crumple near the opening, and they don’t leak. The bathroom is the reason I haul around a backpack full time. Screw the lid on the bottle and throw it in the backpack to be dumped later. Another hack is to use the catheter covering to add some length to reach the toilet if you don’t have extension tubing. Carefully remove the cath from the packaging and place the end of the catheter into the opposite end of the packaging. It could even work in the car—you can park and sit side saddle with the door open.
BOTOX: FOR YOUR BLADDER TOO!
One treatment option for neurogenic bladder is Botox injections to relax the bladder. And (like we discussed in “Autonomic Dysreflexia: Botox to the Rescue” in the Summer 2016 issue of The Spin) for people with injuries at or above T6, bladder Botox may also reduce the frequency and severity of autonomic dysreflexia.
Typically, the Botox itself is covered by extended health insurance, but not the cost of the needle. But some clinics will now cover the cost of the needle. At the Brenda & David McLean Integrated Spine Clinic (located in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre) and the UBC Hospital Bladder Care Centre, the cost of the needle will be covered if the urologist determines that bladder Botox is an appropriate option for you.
For more travel tips, check out: sci-bc.ca/know-how-youll-go
This article was originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of The Spin. Read more stories from this issue, including:
- Caregiving
- Accessible Camping
- Amicapsil
And more!
