Re: New to the site

Posted by Mark L on 24/11/2010, 12:27 am, in reply to "New to the site"

Hi Mark, Welcome to the message board. A popular tip for flying is this: When boarding the plane, go into the toilets straight away to familiarise yourself with them, so you know what to expect for when the time comes. However, as you said it never used to be a problem for you Im not sure this will be of any help. Other things are to go before boarding the plane and to avoid caffine as they contain stimulants that give false urges on the bladder (or something similar!). An option worth considering is self catherisation, which I have used in the past with no problems atall. You can carry several in your pocket and use them quickly and its basically a gaurenteed way of being able to go. Having a catheter in your pocket takes a load off your mind and puts you at ease, meaning you may never need to use one. If you want to know more about this, I will find my post where I documented this from seeing my GP to using them. Im sure Andrew will be along soon to give some better advice in time for your trip back. Sorry I cant be of any more help, speak soon, Mark

Flying

Posted by Colin on 24/11/2010, 12:57 pm, in reply to "New to the site"

Hi Mark Here are some thoughts which might just help you: Pubs, clubs etc - It is perfectly OK to use cubicles for urination. Lots of blokes do it. Those with a "disabled" sign on the door are for use by everyone, and are usually more spacious and have full-length doors for extra privacy, so use them. Flying - peeing on a plane is difficult for most people. something to do with the pressurisation. The motion of the plane also makes it difficult to do standing up (same on trains) so squat and try to relax. All cubicles, including planes - NO-one knows what you are doing in there. You could be dumping, peeing, being sick, changing your pants. Whatever. It is your space and you can take as long as you like to use it. Even if there is a queue when you go in, if you are in there for 5, 10 or 20 minutes, there will not be the same people outside waiting when you come out. So take your time to relax and keep telling yourself that no-one knows what you are doing in there, and it is no-one elses business! You have taken two first good steps on your road to recovery 1. You have found this site. Do read all the good information on the UKPT site and keep in touch via the discussion board. We are all sufferers here, so you are among friends. 2. You told someone about it and they didn't freak out! We all think people will think less of us if we tell them about our condition and the way it affects our lives. But they don't! Well done for telling your wife, and well done to her for being so supportive. (tell that from me) With a bit of work, hopefully you will soon be able to socialise and fly at will. Remember the UKPT is here to help you Colin

Re: New to the site

Posted by Andrew on 24/11/2010, 1:32 pm, in reply to "New to the site"

Hi Mark Welcome to this board :-).. About your long flights; let's put together some strategies. When you check in, ask for an aisle seat. That way you can get up without disturbing anyone. If there is a difficulty, say you have a medical condition that means you use the loo frequently, and you don’t want to keep on disturbing other people. There is always a rush after the seatbelt light goes off, and again shortly before landing, so avoid the rush. When people settle down for a film, and during the sleeping period, things go quiet: a good time to go. Long flights mean large planes; means 2 to 4 toilets in a block. Your negative thought about “they know I’m in here and are wondering why I’m taking so long” is not true. Contradict the thought by saying “even with a queue, no-one remembers who went in which and when”. When you walk along the aisle and people look up at you, your negative thought is “they know I’m going to the toilet (and they are setting a stop-watch!)”. This is not true; people get so bored staring at the same thing for hours on end, that any movement of any sort causes them to look up. They may even assess the clothes you are wearing, but once you have passed by, you are out of their thoughts altogether. When you walk along the aisle, defocus, and do not look at people’s faces. Similarly when you come out of the toilet. When you are in the toilet, it is yours for as long as you need it; and if someone is constipated, that can be for a very long time. No-one knows or cares what you are doing in there, so say that to yourself. If you misfire, you can go again a bit later, with no need to explain or justify. On a plane I seem to go about every two hours – its no problem. Go on our website and read the page Cognitive Therapy and Practical Advice. Check out the toilet early on when you don’t need a pee. That way you get over the novelty before you need to use it in earnest. Deliberately stay in there two minutes. Before leaving, compose yourself and set your face into a slight smile. That way you when you come out, you will experience any reaction; which will be zilch. Again do not look at people’s faces: instead defocus. And drink plenty, but not coffee or alcohol; its easy to dehydrate on a long-distance flight, and peeing is easier when you have a good urge. But if it is causing you anxiety every day even now, it may be worth getting used to a catheter now, because after all you want to enjoy the holiday. Just having the catheter in your pocket could reduce your anxiety enough to let you pee without using it. You can go to your GP and say you get “urinary retention” uncontrollably; as you are going on a flight, you wish to be able to use a catheter in extremis. The surgery staff will show you how to use it. So think through these options and get back to us, either on this forum, or by email. Cheers Andrew

Re: New to the site

Posted by Eddie O' on 25/11/2010, 9:46 pm, in reply to "New to the site"

Hi Mark, I too have problems with planes, but after attending 2 workshops and practising a lot I am having some success on planes. Like you I enjoyed flying, still do, more or less. Try this, When going to the toilet take something in with you like a crossword puzzle,(cut out from a newspaper & have it in your pocket) anything to distract you,after all most people are not thinking about peeing it just happens.........Good luck Eddie O'