U.K. PARURESIS TRUST: Re: Planes and Trains

Marcus,

I just attended a beginner's workshop and it was brilliant. It hasn't cured me but it has changed my negative attitude towards it and put me in the right frame of mind to deal with it succesfully. I am a 36y old male and have had this problem for 25 years although it used to be much worse in my 20s. Now the only thing I cannot deal with at all are planes although I have traveled around the world in my younger years. Like Andrew mentionned, some people don't pee for 20 hours, I was one of them on a trip back from Australia. Actually probably 22 hours as I couldn't even pee at the Airport in Europe. It didn't killed me but I was in big distress and thought that I would have to go to hospital (the biggest humilitaion I could imagine then). Eventually I could pee in the confort of my own home. That was 10 years ago and after that I somewhat restricted my long haul flights. Although I had heard of catheters before I thought the whole idea was weird/scary/humiliating/embarassing/painful/dangerous. Two years ago I had orthopedic surgery to my lower back and as a result had a catheter in place for two days. And I didn't care at all. Funny sensation when it was inserted/removed but for me it was a very positive experience as it was inserted when I was bursting with pain. After the surgery I had been semi-inconscious on a drip for two hours which meant I woke up with a bladder probably full with more than two pints of urine and was completely unable to start peeing. Much much worse than the Australian plane... So the relief that came with the catheter was a million time better that the small discomfort. After that it took me some time to think of doing myself on a plane and six months ago a urologist gave me one to try. I was a bit anxious about infections but apparently it is quite rare to get them (especially for men) if you take just some basic steps before. I was pretty nervous on the first flight I tried but it went well and the relief to finally be no longer at the mercy of your damn sphincter was worth the anxiety/discomfort. Since then I always carry two with me and haven't used them so far as the anxiety being gone, I tend to not even think about peeing and as result I can wait for the airport without even thinking of it and I can keep myself normally hydrated. I haven't done long hauls with them yet but I know I won't have any problem using them. I haven't reached the point where the absence of anxiety will allow me to pee normally in a plane cubicle but I am still hoping (I will probably always struggle with the vibrations and claustrophobic size of the cubicle). At least nothing puts me off the idea of traveling anymore and I am now longer a pile of nerve at the airport before boarding. Honestly try them once in the comfort of your own home. It was a revelation for me. And of course attend a workshop. They are damn worth it! Good luck.

Steph