Weak bladder..any suggetions.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 783
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From: UK.
Weak bladder..any suggetions.
I'm 62 now and fly a slow type 50knts cruise...over the last year a prob has developed that's becoming a nuisance to me.
Most of my flying is to airfields at around 1 hours flying time away from my base...but part way into a flight I sometimes I feel the need to have a pee....it can become quite urgent.
Upto now I have managed to make it to my destination but once parked there is a very very urgent rush to the gents..sometimes only just making it.
I have spoken to the GP...him saying there is medication but if you can manage without ect ect.
Anybody else have or have had this prob and can give me any suggestions of how to deal with it.
In the summer I home to partake in a much longer flight than normal, I need to wear a flying suit in my open cockpit so those devices that can be used in flight will prob not work for me.
Most of my flying is to airfields at around 1 hours flying time away from my base...but part way into a flight I sometimes I feel the need to have a pee....it can become quite urgent.
Upto now I have managed to make it to my destination but once parked there is a very very urgent rush to the gents..sometimes only just making it.
I have spoken to the GP...him saying there is medication but if you can manage without ect ect.
Anybody else have or have had this prob and can give me any suggestions of how to deal with it.
In the summer I home to partake in a much longer flight than normal, I need to wear a flying suit in my open cockpit so those devices that can be used in flight will prob not work for me.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
I don't share your problem! However.....
When I was diving commercially and technical deep diving we used to use a product called Convene. They are an external catheter that rolls on like a condom with an easy release adhesive that can then be collected into off board collection. In our case for diving they were just connected to a valve on the leg of the suit and vented to the water.
There is no reason why you could not use one of these hooked up to a bottle. It would be discreet and leave no mess.
I would suggest you are brutally honest when choosing your size. Most men are small or medium!!!!
When I was diving commercially and technical deep diving we used to use a product called Convene. They are an external catheter that rolls on like a condom with an easy release adhesive that can then be collected into off board collection. In our case for diving they were just connected to a valve on the leg of the suit and vented to the water.
There is no reason why you could not use one of these hooked up to a bottle. It would be discreet and leave no mess.
I would suggest you are brutally honest when choosing your size. Most men are small or medium!!!!
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 145
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From: Middle England
Know the feeling. It's a function of age they tell me. Here's what I do.
1. My before-flight checklist includes a 'PILOT - Drain excess fluid' item immediately after the Check A is complete (whether I want to go or not).
2. No tea or coffee before flight or at lunch stop. Take a bottle of water and sip in flight if thirsty.
3 I have a couple of 'Little John's on board and to hand, though thanks to 1 and 2 above they've never been used.
I seem to be seriously affected by tea. When I only drink water, things are so much better. I recently managed a 14.5 hour flight with two refuelling (and loo) stops without drama consuming only water and Pringles (not to mention 800 litres of avgas).
1. My before-flight checklist includes a 'PILOT - Drain excess fluid' item immediately after the Check A is complete (whether I want to go or not).
2. No tea or coffee before flight or at lunch stop. Take a bottle of water and sip in flight if thirsty.
3 I have a couple of 'Little John's on board and to hand, though thanks to 1 and 2 above they've never been used.
I seem to be seriously affected by tea. When I only drink water, things are so much better. I recently managed a 14.5 hour flight with two refuelling (and loo) stops without drama consuming only water and Pringles (not to mention 800 litres of avgas).
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: England
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 112
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From: Hampshire
Glider pilots often have this problem as cross country flight often last 5+ hrs.
The BGA shop has a page of products. If you can wear it in a glider you can wear it in an open cockpit.
BGA - British Gliding Association - Online Shop - (Powered by CubeCart)
The BGA shop has a page of products. If you can wear it in a glider you can wear it in an open cockpit.
BGA - British Gliding Association - Online Shop - (Powered by CubeCart)
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Amsterdam
I was going to suggest the same thing - look at the glider fraternity.
The glider fraternity have an additional problem. Gliders need to have a very small cross-section to be aerodynamically efficient. This results in a near-flat pilot position, with the pilots knees typically well above his/her butt. In fact, your butt will rest into a - for lack of a better word - butt-well. This means that any open system, that relies on gravity (like peeing in a bottle) will not work. Because there's simply no space below your butt to put the bottle.
Various solutions have been tried with more or less success, and sometimes hilarious results (but you'd have to go to a gliding bar to hear those stories). By far the easiest, cheapest and least risky solution seems to be adult diapers. Available from your local pharmacy under the "incontinence" section.
The glider fraternity have an additional problem. Gliders need to have a very small cross-section to be aerodynamically efficient. This results in a near-flat pilot position, with the pilots knees typically well above his/her butt. In fact, your butt will rest into a - for lack of a better word - butt-well. This means that any open system, that relies on gravity (like peeing in a bottle) will not work. Because there's simply no space below your butt to put the bottle.
Various solutions have been tried with more or less success, and sometimes hilarious results (but you'd have to go to a gliding bar to hear those stories). By far the easiest, cheapest and least risky solution seems to be adult diapers. Available from your local pharmacy under the "incontinence" section.
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 441
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From: UK
Personally I never:
Forget to go to the toilet immediately before flight (last nervous pee);
Drink anything other than water before flying;
Drink more than I absolutely need before flight (not much);
Drink within an hour of flying.
Good luck with whichever remedy proves successful !
Forget to go to the toilet immediately before flight (last nervous pee);
Drink anything other than water before flying;
Drink more than I absolutely need before flight (not much);
Drink within an hour of flying.
Good luck with whichever remedy proves successful !
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 783
Likes: 2
From: UK.
Mmmm lot of interesting ideas.
Bose was your device like this one...I cant find anything under the Convene name.
25 male external catheter small 25mm PRIVATE LISTING | eBay
Bose was your device like this one...I cant find anything under the Convene name.
25 male external catheter small 25mm PRIVATE LISTING | eBay
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 0
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
Yep, those are the type of thing.
Its actually Conveen and they are manufactured by Coloplast in Peterborough.
The Conveen is a lot thinner and comfortable to wear.
Its actually Conveen and they are manufactured by Coloplast in Peterborough.
The Conveen is a lot thinner and comfortable to wear.
Last edited by S-Works; 4th January 2015 at 14:27.
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Near the watter...
Have you had a PSA test? Urination at an hourly frequency can well indicate prostate problems...and at 62 you are at an age for prostate cancer to manifest itself. Do not delay...get tested...it may save your life, as it did mine, 8 years ago when I was 60....and it was just barely in time.
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 639
Likes: 4
From: Mare Imbrium
Yes its an age thing.
Unfortunately you'll just have to work out how to cope - suggestions already made are all worth looking into.
Two further bits of advice (both from the gliding community):
- don't be tempted to restrict how much you drink before the flight or during it; dehydration is a real risk and it can seriously impair your mental function, not a good idea
- similarly the need to pee can be very distracting, so its better to accept it and get it over with before it gets too urgent (unfortunately I'm not sure that any of the equipment based solutions are 100% reliable)
As an aside I recall reading in a biography of a wartime fighter pilot how he managed to pee all over his compass which then iced over so he couldn't see it to navigate - moral for today being to keep the iPad well clear, I suppose.
Unfortunately you'll just have to work out how to cope - suggestions already made are all worth looking into.
Two further bits of advice (both from the gliding community):
- don't be tempted to restrict how much you drink before the flight or during it; dehydration is a real risk and it can seriously impair your mental function, not a good idea
- similarly the need to pee can be very distracting, so its better to accept it and get it over with before it gets too urgent (unfortunately I'm not sure that any of the equipment based solutions are 100% reliable)
As an aside I recall reading in a biography of a wartime fighter pilot how he managed to pee all over his compass which then iced over so he couldn't see it to navigate - moral for today being to keep the iPad well clear, I suppose.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 551
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From: England
Originally Posted by magpienja
apart from the picture on the ebay page is there anything else that goes with that...tubing bags ect???
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
Bose...apart from the picture on the ebay page is there anything else that goes with that...tubing bags ect???
No, thats it, we used to then connect a length of rubber tube to the off board dump valve and use an inline connector to join them so it could be quick released. Nothing quite as bad as pulling a dry suit off while still attached.....
No, thats it, we used to then connect a length of rubber tube to the off board dump valve and use an inline connector to join them so it could be quick released. Nothing quite as bad as pulling a dry suit off while still attached.....
Joined: Dec 2012
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 841
From: Co. Down
My flying days are long over and three times a night when you're 70+ acquires a quite different meaning to that which it had when you were 20+. The nice thing is that you'll forget what was different about it.
These days -- years -- my problem is long drives rather than long flights. I find the one-litre Coppella apple juice bottle works well, with screw cap closing a wide enough neck to accommodate the average gentleman
These days -- years -- my problem is long drives rather than long flights. I find the one-litre Coppella apple juice bottle works well, with screw cap closing a wide enough neck to accommodate the average gentleman
Joined: Sep 2001
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 2,787
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From: Toronto
Home health care shops
Have all the products at hand.
As for size, they have disposable gauges and will direct you to a private room where you can make the measurement.
The Coloplasts are excellent quality, but come with glue that goes on much easier than they come off
They are made for paraplegics with no sensation.
Unroll the things and remove the glue with laquer thinner. Dust with talcum powder and roll up until required.
Use a bit of electric tape to secure behind the corona - not too tight. Run plastic tubing to a freezer bag.
As for size, they have disposable gauges and will direct you to a private room where you can make the measurement.
The Coloplasts are excellent quality, but come with glue that goes on much easier than they come off
They are made for paraplegics with no sensation.
Unroll the things and remove the glue with laquer thinner. Dust with talcum powder and roll up until required.
Use a bit of electric tape to secure behind the corona - not too tight. Run plastic tubing to a freezer bag.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 367
Likes: 3
From: Philippines
I think some empty sports drinks bottles have a large enough hole to use in an emergency! I was caught short once in a 6 hour glider flight and had to pee into a winter glove and chuck it out the DV window.