Can I Manage My OAB While Traveling? Yes. Here’s How.

By: John Lynam, DO, FACOS

Summer vacation can remind you there’s a big, beautiful world out there. If you have overactive bladder, however, the world can become much smaller.

Traveling can be limited when you feel you always need to be near a bathroom. Long hikes, bus tours, and even a trip to a crowded city square require planning. On top of it all, the fear of not reaching a bathroom in time can be intimidating.

But it’s common. Nearly four in 10 women and three in 10 men experience the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). And more than 117 million, nearly 45%, are expected to take an overnight summer vacation this year.

If you are among them, you can plan big. This blog provides precautions on how to travel with, and treat, your OAB.

Traversing the Facts of Overacting Bladder

Your bladder is a storage tank. If it’s healthy and everything runs to schedule, it can hold up to two cups of urine for two to five hours. Then, sometime within this window, the nerves in your bladder tell you it’s time to go.

An overactive bladder squeezes involuntarily, however, giving you scarce notice to find a bathroom. Causes include bladder stones, nerve damage, or miscommunication between your spinal nerves (sacral) and the brain. Women who are menopausal might develop OAB due to hormonal changes, while men who have an enlarged prostate could experience the signs.

The symptoms of OAB include:

• An abrupt, hard-to-control need to urinate that causes you to rush to the bathroom.
• Leaking urine by accident (urge incontinence).
• Having to urinate in less than every two hours.
• Waking to go to the bathroom more than twice a night (nocturia).

Preparing to See the World When You Have OAB

These above OAB symptoms can be limiting, but they do not have to disrupt your travel plans. Take the following precautions before you hit the road for a more confident voyage.

1. Figure out your OAB triggers. Some foods and drinks are known to stimulate or irritate the bladder. These include most anything that is spicy, processed, acidic, alcoholic, caffeinated (including chocolate), carbonated, and artificially sweetened. Worldly advice: Prior to your trip, keep an OAB journal to track everything you eat and drink, how much, and the timing of your OAB episodes. This record can reveal your triggers.
2. Dine like you’re in the Mediterranean. Turns out a diet that’s high in fish, plant-based foods, and healthy fats such as olive oil might be as good for your bladder as the rest of your body. According to a report in Healthline,those who adhere to a Mediterranean diet tend to have fewer OAB symptoms. Worldly advice: Replace your trigger foods with items from this diet, including lean proteins, leafy greens, nuts, fresh fruits, and legumes. Record the results.
3. Build your bladder endurance. Start bladder training – now. Hold off on bathroom trips for short periods and gradually lengthen those wait times, with the goal of creating a bathroom schedule you can follow. A word of caution, waiting more than 3 or 4 hours to urinate is not recommended, as it can lead to UTIs. Worldly advice: Relax and try to distract your thoughts while holding it in. Perform muscle-squeezing Kegel exercises, which should help control your bladder while strengthening its muscles.
4. Pack for seamless take-off. Fill your suitcase with clothing that is easy to lift or undo in a public bathroom. Zippers are better than buttons, and elastic waistlines are faster than belts. Do make room for extra underwear and absorbent liners. Worldly advice: Keep one pair of underpants, an absorbent pad, a tissue pack, and a small hand sanitizer in a separate day bag.
5. Fly bladder-friendly skies. Should your trip involve an airplane flight, try to reserve an aisle seat closest to the bathroom, WebMD suggests. If it’s a lengthy flight, consider wearing an overnight pad. Should you choose to drink, do so slowly and limit cocktails. Worldly advice: Keep your day bag with the OAB backup items at arm’s length, beneath the seat in front of you.
6. Ask your doctor about OAB-affecting drugs. Some OAB medications (including a skin patch) reduce symptoms by relaxing your bladder muscles. But note: You might be taking meds that worsen OAB, including some alpha blockers and antidepressants. Worldly advice: Talk to your doctor about changing OAB-aggravating prescriptions, as well as the side effects of mixing drugs.
7. Also, ask your doctor about other treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) involves exercises and manual therapy to strengthen and improve the function of pelvic floor muscles. Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) uses an implanted device to deliver mild electrical impulses that stimulate the nerves controlling the bladder. Worldly advice: Both PFPT and SNS can reduce how often you need to pee and may keep you from leaking. Your doctor can guide you to what is most effective for you.
8. Keep away from the butts. Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals that are known to irritate the bladder and trigger spasms. And coughing from smoking can cause incontinence by weakening the pelvic muscles. Worldly advice: Ask your pharmacist about proven nicotine substitutes such as nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, and nose sprays.
9. Explore apps that guide you where to go. Several apps have been created with the No.1 goal of finding the nearest bathroom. The National Association of Continence has a list, which includes Bathroom Scout and Flush.Worldly advice: Test different bathroom apps to ensure they cover the areas you’ll be exploring, and make a habit of locating restrooms before your daily outings.

The Big World Is Waiting. Your Bladder Can Wait a Bit, Too.

The above precautions should enable you to embark on your summer vacation with more confidence about managing your OAB symptoms. You can also talk to your urologist about longer-lasting, surgical interventions, including non-invasive nerve-stimulation and implants.

The world is only as big as your courage to overcome worries such as OAB. One step at a time, you can expand it.

If you suspect you’re developing OAB, request an appointment with one of our specialists who can diagnose you and suggest care pathways. Learn more about OAB symptoms, causes, and treatments.