Re: Long flight

Posted by Roy on 12/11/2013, 10:42 am, in reply to "Long flight"

Hi Jan,sorry about the lack of response but I guess that's how it is on this website ,plenty of people looking but not many partaking and that's a real shame as we all need support with this condition. Anyway I know it's been said before but the surefiire way of enjoying your journey is to self catheterise yourself.Go to the docs and explain to him or her and ask for a referral to be instructed in the use of them.The good thing about this practice is that when the door of the aircraft closes you know you will be ok and remember when you catheterise it will empty your bladder 100% and you can drink and enjoy the flight. Yes I know it's off putting at first but believe me it's not at all bad and compared to missing out on a journey of a lifetime there is no comparison and remember you will regain your life back. Enjoy your holiday Roy

Re: Long flight

Posted by Arron on 13/3/2014, 1:59 pm, in reply to "Long flight"

Hello, I cannot speak from great experience when it comes to flying as I have only flown twice during my time with AP, once long haul to Florida and once to Ibiza. But there are a few noteworthy things when I comes to flying, or at least in my own mind. First off there is some really good information on the website which is definitely worth reading.(http://www.ukpt.org.uk/first_visit/first_visit_Coping_with_Flying.htm) My big thing when it comes to using the toilet on a flight is normally the fact that you'll have a limited number of toilets, and sometimes people will see you go in and out, especially if there is a queue. My most recent experience which was on an 18-30 flight to Ibiza was pretty close to a living hell if it had of been a longer flight. 2-3 hours on a cramped plane (Boeing 757) with 2 toilets and quite a lot of people had been drinking before they got on the flight. I had a mild urgency during this flight, but I decided to at least go into the toilet a few times just as an experiment. If that was any more than 4 hours then there might have been a real issue. Now on a flight to the USA there is always good news in comparison, you'll be flying on a much larger aircraft. Boeing 747, 767, 777, 787, all wide bodied planes which means normally the toilet to passenger situation is much more forgiving. You'll probably end up with something similar to 3 or 4 cubicles in a block which will normally make people entering and leaving cubicles utterly forgettable. Which I always find somewhat reassuring, not to mention the fact the people outside can hear nothing other than the whine from the engines. You could also take into account that it being a long distance flight, there will probably be a 'sleep-cycle' in there somewhere where the lights are dimed and some people try to sleep, which can sometimes be the perfect time to go. You might also end up with a short stop at an airport in the USA as a connecting flight, Chicago is sometimes the place. Obviously that would never fix the issue but it would shorten constant time in the air. I hope that this is in some way helpful.

Re: Long flight

Posted by Leon on 12/4/2014, 7:24 am, in reply to "Long flight"

I had the same problem when I had two nine hour flights one after the other. I had quite a bit of fluid before and during the flight. I did need to use the toilet but instead I waited until I arrived at my destination. The pain I put myself through I felt ill and then I realised I had major problem. My GP is very dismissive about what I am going through, I do not know if its toilet cleanliness or people being next to me, Yes this is something I need to address as its starting to control my life.