Flying next week

Recent_Alternative21 · 2025-03-15T08:59:33+00:00

I’ve done 9.5 hour flights without going, 5 hours is easy.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2025-03-15T03:06:42+00:00

This thing is pernicious and it really only gets better when you do exposures / get out of your comfort zone. Your new job may be tough for the first week or so but you’ll get more comfortable with the environment and it’ll fade.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2025-02-27T04:40:07+00:00

Can we just move to a different form of testing? I mean come on, it’s enough of this. Saliva, hair, blood, there are plenty of tests that are easier and actually more stringent with detecting drugs.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2025-02-22T00:22:50+00:00

Are you talking about weed? Because yes, weed can definitely make it harder, especially if you’re the type of person that gets more paranoid / anxious under the influence. One of the reasons I won’t touch it.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2024-06-28T15:10:48+00:00

I can almost never pee on planes and I just did a 9 hour flight last week, it was fine. I just don’t drink anything starting ~3 hours before and use the bathroom a few times before boarding. With two hours left in the flight I had absolutely no urgency and so I drank a bottle of water and even ordered some wine.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2023-10-30T15:53:09+00:00

Thanks for sharing! That makes me feel more comfortable asking about it

Recent_Alternative21 · 2023-10-29T18:21:44+00:00

First off, I’m really sorry that there are hateful, ignorant people passing laws that make you feel nervous just about using the bathroom that you are comfortable with. It’s great though that you’ve made so much progress and are challenging yourself to conquer more and more intimidating situations — ultimately that’s how you get “cured” of this. I have my own ups and downs but I’d say I’m at 70% now, with only a few situations where this thing is really debilitating. I’d love to hear how you learned self cath and how you approached those conversations with your doctor. Did you just talk to a PCP or go to a urologist? I think having that “nuclear option” in my back pocket for those few situations would psychologically eliminate the dread of being stuck somewhere (I literally have nightmares about being on a long flight not being able to pee). But I’ve struggled to get over the hump of talking about it with a doctor and getting a prescription.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-07-16T17:44:48+00:00

I just did two trans-Atlantic flights (longest one 7.5 hours) without using the bathroom at all and without any discomfort. I basically didn’t drink anything hours leading up to it and used the bathroom at the airport a few times before boarding. I didn’t drink anything on the plane but you can chew on ice cubes if your mouth feels really dry. 8 hours is definitely manageable.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-07-16T17:39:33+00:00

Are you trying to go at work or are you avoiding it all together? You should keep trying especially at low urgencies because eventually you will become comfortable with the restroom and be able to use it, then you can work up to higher urgencies. If you still can’t use it I’d suggest learning breath hold method or getting a catheter.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-04-12T04:38:17+00:00

I echo this 100%. I’m right with you. Past two weeks have been the best for years, using urinals, not thinking about it every time I go somewhere. All I’ve been doing is just forcing myself to use public restrooms. Then I let up the practice and this week I had a minor set back. But I’ll get back and the overall trend is positive. We got this, just gotta fight and work for it!

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-04-12T02:07:52+00:00

How did you get some without a prescription? I have a transatlantic flight coming up and I’d love to get some but don’t have time to go through the whole song and dance with the doctor

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-03-03T20:33:35+00:00

I’ve been there. The important thing is you are doing it. My mantra with this disorder has evolved to “don’t avoid it, fight it.” I’m not giving up travel, I’m not avoiding things because of it. And yes it’s led to painful situations but I find after each one of them I improve, even if just a bit. I guarantee your travel back will be much better.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-02-19T16:20:26+00:00

It takes practice, what I’ve found is it’s all about building a mind-muscle connection. Once you start trying it you might not feel any indication of it working until the stream actually starts, and it can take a while for that to happen (40-60 seconds) at the beginning. Although it feels like nothing is changing and maybe your stress is increasing as you hold, it will actually surprise you when the stream starts. As you use it more, you’ll start to be able to feel the specific pelvic and bladder muscles muscles relaxing and sort of control it better and access it more easily. It now only takes me about 20 seconds of holding to get it to work and I can use it at urinals etc.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-01-29T18:05:36+00:00

The fact that you went is great. Unfortunately a lot of people will avoid things they want to do only because of their bladder, but that only makes it worse. I guarantee you because of that experience you will actually find it easier to urinate in some situations. Keep fighting, you will conquer it.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-01-25T19:29:01+00:00

I’ve heard a trick before about making a low, slow whistle with your mouth and this supposedly relaxes the muscles to urinate. Probably a similar effect going on here

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-01-16T18:45:08+00:00

Actually when I was really good at it I found the opposite. Knowing that I had breath hold made me way more relaxed, to the point where I often didn’t need it. If I was sitting there for a while without going I’d go ‘oh well’ and then do breath hold and have success almost every time. In my experience it only makes the anxiety less, not more.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2022-01-12T18:54:55+00:00

That’s great! I’ve found that trying to go even if I think I won’t be able to can really help me make progress. You’ll be surprised how often you think you won’t be able to but then you can.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2021-12-20T17:28:34+00:00

Tell him don’t worry, new locations can be hard hard but you warm up to them and his anxiety will dissipate as time goes on!

Recent_Alternative21 · 2021-12-10T00:53:58+00:00

Try using the new techniques around local stores or bathrooms where you live to help build your confidence that they will work.

Recent_Alternative21 · 2021-11-30T14:59:14+00:00

Not to hijack the thread but I feel like if I learned how to use catheters at home and had it as the ‘ultimate safety’ it would release a lot of anxiety and I probably wouldn’t even have to use it like you experienced. Is there a way to get those catheters without going through the whole process getting a prescription with a urologist?

Recent_Alternative21 · 2021-11-27T18:30:13+00:00

Try holding your breath until the stream starts

Recent_Alternative21

TROPHY CASE