The All-You-Need-to-Know Catheter Guide For Vacations And Trips

travel with a catheter

There are a lot of misconceptions floating around about what a male UI catheter user can and cannot do. One of these assumptions is that it’s extremely challenging – if not outright impossible – to travel with a catheter on. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Just because you are wearing a suprapubic or indwelling male UI catheter doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to long-distance travel. With proper knowledge and preparation, you can easily go on a vacation or even a road trip this summer.

4 Tips To Make Sure You Enjoy Your Vacation While Wearing A Male UI Catheter

  • Familiarize Yourself With the Catheter

Yes, you can go on a holiday abroad even if you are a long-term male UI catheter user. That being said, you must get used to it first. 

Some important questions to ask yourself before you go a trip include:

  • Do you know how to wear the urine collection bag? 
  • Do you know when exactly to drain your bladder? 
  • Are you confident in your ability to fit the catheter (if applicable)?

If you have become comfortable living with your male UI catheter, so much so that it now seems a normal part of your life and you’ve even traveled to local destinations, you might just be ready to go on a trip.

  • Practice Good Hygiene Habits

You can make cleanliness your new mantra now that you’re living with a male UI catheter. To reduce your chance of bladder infections, you need to replace and install the catheter in a clean setting with clean hands.

This is easy to achieve when you’re home and have access to a clean bathroom. But when on a vacation, it might be hard to find clean facilities so pack lots of antibacterial wipes, pocket-size hand sanitizers, and soaps. Clean your hands to the best of your ability when touching the male UI catheter, and don’t forget to wipe any surfaces that you come into contact with during this process.

  • Pack Extra Male UI Catheter Supplies

If you’re planning to travel abroad, pack extra catheters, extra drainage bags, lubricant, hand sanitizers, and wipes in your carry-on bag. You never know when you might need them. Keep them in your carry-on bag because you may need to use the catheter before you get your luggage back. This is also helpful in case the airline loses your luggage.  

If you are going on an extended stay somewhere, instead of checking the supplies in your luggage, consider shipping them there. This will free up space in your bags for clothes, personal items, souvenirs, and presents, and you won’t have to worry in case, again, your luggage gets lost.  

  • Prepare for Long-Haul Flights

Since hygiene levels of in-flight bathrooms are often questionable, your doctor may recommend you empty your drainage bag before boarding the flight. This is also recommended because planes can encounter issues that require them to stay on the ground or in the air for longer than expected. 

Choose a larger bag that can hold more urine during your travels. If it’s a long-haul flight, you will be sitting still for a long period – make sure there are no tangles in the catheter tube/line. 

Go Catheter-Free For Your Upcoming Vacation: Choose Men’s Liberty

Catheters are useful but they can put a damper on your travel plans for a lot of reasons. If you want to enjoy your trip to the fullest, choose Men’s Liberty external collection device and travel with a catheter safely. Order today online or give us a call at 800-484-4819.

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