Products and Issues for Long-Haul Air Travel (Multiple Health Conditions)

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and looking for advice on air travel.

I have a degenerative spinal condition which can cause severe muscle spasms in my lower back, and I have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Both of conditions can lead to intense pain in my lumbar back. I also have vasovagal syncope.

Due to the combination of my conditions, I was advised by an occupational therapist to use a support harness whenever I travel on aircraft (https://cms.pm/uploads/files/crelling.com_--_737965619.pdf). In the past, I have contacted the airline to inform them of the situation and I can generally manage fine.

However, due to recent changes in my conditions my pain has intensified and my movement has become much more limited. While the usual medical advice is to move around as much as is practical during a long-haul flight, I have specifically been told by my doctors to stay seated as much as possible. Due to the new limitations, I fear I will have trouble reaching and using the toilet during my upcoming flight. Having not seen my family in almost two years due to COVID, I am determined to make the flight home.

While I do not suffer from incontinence, it has been suggested that I might consider some sort of incontinence product to make the flight simpler to improve my pain management. However, having looked at various specialist websites I have no idea what sort of product would work, what's comfortable, and how I should approach the situation.

Forgive me if I've got this wrong, but I figured lots of people here would have experience with incontinence products for air travel and might be able to help.

• What sort of product should be looking for?
• I'm sort of assuming people find a way to change during the flight if they use whatever product they have, but that might not be possible for me. Obviously I would take every possible step to avoid using it, but I'm concerned if I do if it will smell bad or be unsanitary to wear for the whole flight. Is there a product which can last for an eight-hour flight?
• What happens with going through security?
• Do the medical clearance unit of the airline (and/or flight crew) need to know you're using such a product?
• What other concerns/issues should I be considering?

I hope the above is clear and isn't asking too much! Thanks very much in advance for any help.

 

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Hi I would recommend the north shore mega max diaper it really works good you will get about 12 hours before it’s full and don’t leak. Thy do swell when wet but don’t make a lot of noise when walking hopefully the helps you

 

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Hi elsfjord,

Just want to provide a few tips from my experience travelling in the past when Covid wasn’t here yet.

First off always ensure your diaper is dry when going through security just to avoid any additional problems.

You don’t need to notify the flight crew or airline of anything in regards to incontinence and wearing protection.

I have only changed once on an aircraft on a flight across the Atlantic. I was worried i was about to leak and it was after already 8hrs and my diaper was full. Lol. Fortunately almost everyone was sleeping on the flight so it was fairly easy for me to bring my backpack to the washroom and fumbled about in it getting changed but it did all work in the end.

Another positive from my perspective is in most airports if not all they have larger handicapped bathrooms in the airports where I have changed many many times. Honestly once you are comfortable in wearing diapers you realize 98% of the times previously it was only yourself making one go crazy as everyone around you is so busy worrying about themselves they are not paying attention to you and hell anyways it’s not like you are going to see these people again. Lol. I just f9und in the beginning I was my own nightmare and once I just accepted I had to wear diapers to manage my own issues the mental relief I got was huge I didn’t realize how much stress I was placing on myself.

Hope this provides some help, and I fully agree with jayindiapers above that you are go8ng to want to consider north shore mega max or confidry 24/7 or another high capacity diaper like rearz or an overnight abdl diaper just due to their large capacity ratings as you want to avoid changing on the flight itself if at all possible.

Feel free to message me if you have any additional questions and or stressors.

Cheers

Jason

 

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So, I came to this site seeking advice, and in a short amount of time I can provide some.

My job is flying. And for reference, 8 hours is a short trip.

My scenario is slightly different because I have more space and liberties on the jet plus it’s not filled with passengers.

I end up using the diapers I wear to bed at home on flights because pull-ups just won’t cut it especially in a situation like yours where you will be seated as long as possible.

I’ve been using the brand Beyond, and with this brand you should definitely go up a size from what you think you are because they run smaller. On long flights I’ll try to go the whole time without changing because I really don’t know what to do with the used diaper because I don’t want my coworkers finding out.

I’ll take additional pads and guards for men and split them on the plastic side just slightly so that it will soak through into the diaper but provide more padding.

On a 22 hr flight I got away with pulling out the soaked pads and inserting new ones without changing the actual diaper.

Beyond has been the best ones I’ve found so far.

 

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Hello
Not sure if you are a man or woman but from a womans point of view with only nocturnal incontinence but a hip joint ta makes mbility clumsy: bring spare pants that are similar to the ones you are wearing and preferably stretchy ones so you feel comfortable in your clothes.
Use the toilet on normal underwear BEFORE passing through security and wait until maybe twenty minutes before you get on the plane to change to a diaper. Why wear a diaper through security if no need to?
North shore has the most excellent counseling on types of diaper but you aren't normsly incontinent so an eight hour actual flight is not so long for you to not pee. For these reasons you might be fine with a pull up like Depends (not a cheapo brand) Mae for for night use. Maybe a women's absorbent pad on each outer side of thigh of diaper to fit it snuggly I suggest you buy a package experiment how it fits. Then just go pee in restroom at end of flight and change bac to under wear after exoting the plsne.
The extra trousers are for IF you leak when at any point traveling. BUT DON'T use that tiny airplane tolet
And have a all trash bag or gallon zip lock to put your wet Pants in and a grocery sack if you wet te diaper to tie up and dispose in trash. Wet wipes to clean your self are good too.
If you have a wheelchair porter they usually ask if you want the toilet exiting e flight. I often use a wheelchair porter s the long walks an not know ingbte terminal is tiring. They whisk you to destination and get trough security efficienty. Tip them!
I find I'm very stiff from flying and not myself but not incontinent either just very stiff and disoriented by the airpane People push to get off. That's the worst of it. Drink Plenty of WATER while flying NOT soda juice or coffee Oyo will feel as well as possible.

 

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@ThatFlGuy I know you’ve said you have a hard time supporting yourself when you drive. Maybe you would benefit from one of these mentioned here?

https://cms.pm/uploads/files/crelling.com_--_737965619.pdf

 

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Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the replies and advice.

From what I'm understanding, there is nothing unsanitary about wearing an incontinence product for 9 or so hours provided it's dry at the beginning and removed immediately at the end (with wiping of course) and is not used for bowel movements. Is that correct?

I've looked at some reviews, and some products seem go dry again after use but others get clumpy in certain places. I know it's going to feel very odd for me even to wear one, and I don't really want to have to deal with sitting on a clump as that could increase my discomfort. Is it a case that all these things become less comfortable the wetter they become or some better than others in this way?

Also, I've started to try and understand how they work so I pick the right one. I know this sounds sort of crude but I don't mean it like that, but what happens if you use it in just one place very suddenly? I know some people have a slow over-the-course-of-a-few-hours problem, but for me it will likely be a case where I will need to use it once all in one go and then not again (just like going to the bathroom). I know I read some have ways of distributing the wetness, but I'm worried if I go as I would normally when in the bathroom, it wouldn't spread out properly and quickly enough and it would leak. Is this the case, or am I worrying unnecessarily?

Lastly, are some better than others at stopping odors (not bowel movement odors), or are there other products that can help with this? I would hate to have it smell having used it as that would be horrid for me but arguably worse for others.

Thanks very much again for any help.

 

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Contact North shore medical supply. He have the best customer service on the planet.
As I said I personally find Depends he store brand but night time strength is very absorbent and no oder. They are pull ups. Because of the shape of a body I you put an incontinence pad in inside of each thigh it will catch a gap
But why not experiment with his at home when sit for 8 hours.

 

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@elsfjord I would practice wearing some before you go to the airport over several days to see how your mileage varies. If possible, do several smaller leaks as you go, rather than full voids.

The used material becomes a soft gel the consistency of mashed potatoes; nothing painful with it.

 

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How are you recovering from your bfoot and knee surgery Snow?

 

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Definitely try the northshore megamax.