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Inability to Urinate
Hello, I have a problem that actually sounds crazy. I can not urinate on planes. Until recently I would not tell anyone but I have now admitted it to family and friends. It is not a shy bladder as I can urinate in public places; it is the movement... airplanes, trains, boats. I really do not travel via trains and boats so that is no issue - but about twice a year we travel overseas and it has gotten terrible. I refuse to drink about 6 hours before the flight and on the whole 9 hour flight itself and I still suffer and then I get urinary infections / sick. I have read that I can use a temporary catheter as it would only be 4 times a year (2 round trips). Is that true? It would completely change everything. For example my husband wants to go to Paris next May and I am already dreading the flight.
Hello. A family member just recently had the same problem on a long distance flight and like you it's not shy bladder. Did you ever find out what was happening? Best of luck.
Hi,
Male here so not quite the same situation. It is very important that one empties the bladder on a regular basis. If a large volume of urine is contained in the bladder, it can cause pressure on the urethers, which if long enough can cause kidney infections.
In my case I was diagnosed with a neurogenic bladder, which caused poor control over the sphyncters.From 1994 to 2003 I used to come down with UTI, kidney infections, epididymitis, or orchitis at about every three to four months, requiring hospitalizations to clear things up. In 2003, I was directed to self cath at least 4 times a day. Doing so I was ensured that the bladder was empty. It is helpfull in the fact that it allows urine to discharge through the catheter, whether I am able to urinate normal or not. At times where I would feel that my bladder was full but could not empty it, a catheter enabled me to go past the shyncters in the prostate allowing me to empty my bladder.
I realize that it is a different situation with women, but self catheterization should enable you to empty your bladder.Self cathing is not difficult and can be done discretely. A catheter can be hidden in a pocket and rolled up so no one can see it. Being on a plane, I would have several catheters on hand, however a catheter can be cleaned an reused.
Talk about this subject with your doctor and see if self catheterization is an option for you. It would be better than having to sit in a plane with a full bladder not being able to void and therefore not being able to drink anything for the duration of the flight.
PS, I also used to travel through Northern Europe, Scandinavia. Ex Dutchman.
All the best,
Ron
Male here so not quite the same situation. It is very important that one empties the bladder on a regular basis. If a large volume of urine is contained in the bladder, it can cause pressure on the urethers, which if long enough can cause kidney infections.
In my case I was diagnosed with a neurogenic bladder, which caused poor control over the sphyncters.From 1994 to 2003 I used to come down with UTI, kidney infections, epididymitis, or orchitis at about every three to four months, requiring hospitalizations to clear things up. In 2003, I was directed to self cath at least 4 times a day. Doing so I was ensured that the bladder was empty. It is helpfull in the fact that it allows urine to discharge through the catheter, whether I am able to urinate normal or not. At times where I would feel that my bladder was full but could not empty it, a catheter enabled me to go past the shyncters in the prostate allowing me to empty my bladder.
I realize that it is a different situation with women, but self catheterization should enable you to empty your bladder.Self cathing is not difficult and can be done discretely. A catheter can be hidden in a pocket and rolled up so no one can see it. Being on a plane, I would have several catheters on hand, however a catheter can be cleaned an reused.
Talk about this subject with your doctor and see if self catheterization is an option for you. It would be better than having to sit in a plane with a full bladder not being able to void and therefore not being able to drink anything for the duration of the flight.
PS, I also used to travel through Northern Europe, Scandinavia. Ex Dutchman.
All the best,
Ron
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