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Helpful hints for travelling
The toilet at home can be set up for comfort and ease, but it can be a problem using a strange toilet or even finding a toilet quickly when you are out. Just because you have bladder or bowel control problems, it does not mean that you have to stay at home.
Here are some helpful hints to help you get out and about:
Plan ahead
Before you go out, ask yourself:
- Where are you going?
- How long will you be out?
- When will you most likely need to go to the toilet next?
If you wear a pad or use aids while going to the toilet, also think about:
- How often does the pad need changing? When was it last changed?
- What aids do you normally use? Can you take the aids with you?
- Are there other alternatives that you can use?
- When is the best time for you to go?
What do you need to take with you?
- How often do you need to go to the toilet?
- How long are you going to be out?
- Where are you going? (e.g. a shopping centre or a friend's house)
Some things that you might like to take
- A change of clothes
- A plastic bag or airtight container (if you are going somewhere where you cannot quickly get rid of or wash the pad or aid)
- Wipes, cloths, towels to wash and dry, and odour remover
- Spare pads or aids, and
- A container, in case you need to pass urine during the trip.
Know where the toilets are
Do you know where the toilets are located at your destination?
- The National Public Toilet Map can be found on the internet, or the National Continence Helpline can help you to get maps of specific areas. Freecall 1800 33 00 66.
- At the shopping centre or place you are visiting, ask the information person or check the service directory for where the toilets are.
- Are there toilets for people with a disability?
- Are there family friendly toilets?
- If visiting a friend's or relative's house, check to see if their toilet is easy to use
- If you are caring for someone with bladder and bowel problems who is of the opposite sex, they might not feel comfortable with you taking them to the toilet in public, and
- When throwing away pads, you may not be able to use the toilet sanitary bins. If not, put it in a plastic bag and put it in a rubbish bin.
Other things to consider
If you are on fluid tablets, timing is important. What time of the day do you take the medicine and when do you go to the toilet? Talk to your doctor to find out if it would be possible to delay the medicine until after the outing.
So you don't have to pass a bowel motion while you are out, your bowel medicine could be given later in the day or you could wait until the next day. It is best to check with your doctor, before you make this change.
Page last updated 29 Feb 2008