Traveling with incontinence

[canadianbaby1]

I recently flew across the country... I use diapers for incontinence and was visiting for  a month at a friend's guest house. I inquired with my supplier about shipping them, and they were more than happy to do so (FREE OF CHARGE). I had them shipped to the courier's depot and picked them up. It was extremely easy and solved a lot of problems. Luckily I had a vehicle and could put them in the trunk until able to move them into the house.
 

Posted in case anyone here was traveling and was wondering about real-world solutions to this specific concern. Also all airlines in the States and Canada will allow  you to check 'medical baggage' for free when you fly. I had a suitcase with plenty of diapers and boosters etc for my journey and there was no charge to do this!

[Kingdark]

I have no idea if the same is true in Europe. Does anyone know?

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[mick_dl]

Yes - it is as far as I know this an international standard. I also flew in Europe some times with extra luggage (diapers) without extra charge. You have to inform the airline in advance and sometimes say like to see a medical certification. More over sometimes you have to checkin the luggage earlier. Normally you can find this out easily on the web page of the airline.

I can't say anything about the delivery to an other location inside of the county, because I'd never tried that while traveling inside of Germany. At last for Germany I would expect problems because the contractor for the supplier is the insurance and not yourself. So this may generate a lot of paperwork. I guess it's similar in the Netherlands. 

[WetDad]

I bought a luggage tag from Amazon that is marked "Medical Equipment Inside, please handle with care". Now I get no more questions from the gate agents. 

Edited to add a link

[Alex Bridges]

I’ve always wondered how incontinent people manage on vacations like the ones I take. Ten days in Europe, 3 cities. So mobile and not in one place long. I suppose a large, second suitcase is needed, or shipping ahead.

[WetDad]

Just buy more along the way. I spent a week in Italy recently and that is how I got by. There are pharmacy shops everywhere, just look for the green "+". You will have to ask, as they are kept in the back. 

[mick_dl]

It's exactly as WetDad say - you don't need a extra suitcase - just a creditcard ;-)... But be aware that especialy in the south (e.g. Greece, Turkey) it might be difficult to find somthing special. Normaly the standard Tena sortiment is easy to find as well as there store brands which have not that high absorbancy. For Germany I can say that you can order nearly anything (that is listed - propably not northshore or crinkels) in a phamacy, they will get - if it's not there - within a day somtimes within hours.  Moreover a well sorted drugstore will have some Tena products as well as there store brands wich are - for the price - not that bad at all ( Müller Drogeriemarkt , DM Drogeriemarkt).

[Alex Bridges]

3 hours ago, WetDad said:

Just buy more along the way. I spent a week in Italy recently and that is how I got by. There are pharmacy shops everywhere, just look for the green "+". You will have to ask, as they are kept in the back. 

Do you feel you got the quality you needed?

[WetDad]

Yes. Not quite MegaMax, but Hartmann quality.

[DiaperedAllTheTime]

When I am going to be going on a long business trip I always pack one large suitcase full of diapers.  As I write this that bag is being loaded onto an airplane.  As someone with airline status I have never had to use the medical card for my diaper supplies as I get three bags free but would in a heartbeat if I needed to. 

For me, I like to have enough overlap with me until I can get diapers shipped to my hotel.  My suitcase fits 40-50 diapers which is perfect.

[Dubious]

I had to do some research and it says they require a note from the doctor for that free bag, if they enforce this, is another question..

I have no plans to fly and isn't incontinent, so this doesn't apply to me anyway

[WetDad]

I fly at least 3 weeks a month, and I never let them take my bags. They are always with me. I have a medical equipment tag on my Cpap and nobody has ever asked for documentation. 

[DiaperedAllTheTime]

On 3/18/2019 at 5:02 PM, Dubious said:

I had to do some research and it says they require a note from the doctor for that free bag, if they enforce this, is another question..

I have no plans to fly and isn't incontinent, so this doesn't apply to me anyway

I wish I actually had to pay for my bags because I would have already found out if this is true or not.  As it stands now, thanks to my status with Delta, on domestic flights I get three bags up to 70 pounds at no charge.  I doubt there will ever be a situation where I would need four bags.  This has always meant I have never had to ask this question.  When I first started flying and did not have status I was not wearing diapers permanently so I did not need to travel with so many.  If I think about it I will ask the next time. 

As far as a doctor's letter, I am not sure how that would work.  My primary care doctor knows that I wear diapers permanently but has never referred me to a Urologist.  I did make it very clear to her I did not want any treatment for my OAB but she did recommend me to a colorectal specialist for my anal leakage who I have not seen yet.  I have no idea who would write the letter.