English guy looking for some advise on an upcoming road trip

[maximusno2]

Ok first off been a member of these boards for a few years but have to say I haven't really posted much. But have to say some of the advise I have read has been amazing.
Ok to cut a long story short I have decided to do it, in less than a month I will be flying out to LA and renting a car for 7 weeks and doing a road trip around the West coast also going inland a bit! Its something I have always dreamed of doing and I finally got the opportunity and spare funds.

Now here is the part I am needing advice/ suggestions on. I am fully incontinent of my bladder and as a result must wear nappies or shall we say diapers as I am going to America! obviously I can not take 7 weeks of supplies with me. I will take enough to last me a few days (or is that risking it?) before I can find a source. Now am I best finding a shop or ordering online and having them sent to the hotel I will be staying in for the first two nights? if so does anyone have any suggestions on which website/shop to use etc?

Also I have never visited America before! what is the deal on using the disabled toilets? does one need a key like one does in the UK? obviously I will be driving a load and will be relying a lot on changing at rest stops etc or is this a bad idea?

Sorry this is becoming a long post but might as well mention all my concerns in this one post!

So I am planning on camping at some of the National Parks there seems to be an abundance of fantastic looking campsites! Now does anyone know the deal on disposing of absorbent products whilst at these? is it ok to just put them in the normal rubbish like I would at a campsite in England or is it frowned upon in the States weird question I know but don't want to be upsetting people etc.

My last question is when I am not camping I will be staying a mainly Motel 6's kind of planned my route around them as they seem value for money. Now how does one dispose of used nappies whilst staying at a hotel? Just in the normal rubbish in the room/bathroom? Take them out with me each morning?

I look forward to your response and free to add any other hints or tips you think might help me on this adventure!!

[Porkchop]

Hey Maximusno2, hope your vacation is enjoyable!! And no, you don't need a key to use the handicapped restrooms. If you pass a handicapped restroom, just use it. As for diapers, what is available in stores stinks, so pre-ordering them and shipping to a hotel is a great idea. I can't answer about where to order, though I use XP Medical, because I am still new and learning. Same goes for changing in public rest stops and the like. If you figure it out, let me know!! LOL!! As for the trash (campsites and hotels), I don't see why you couldn't dispose of your used diapers in normal trashcans. I do tend to put mine in plastic grocery bags to seal in the smell and such, but other than that it should be ok. Hope that was helpful!

PS: Remember that we drive on the other side of the road here in the US!

[mlhjr]

You are right Mike, don't rely on store for your diapers or you will have a mess. I travel by pickup truck so I just carry them with me. But I have drop shipped them before and they were waiting for me on my arrival. My back pack is my life line, it has all my meds, diaper, wipe, and anything I need to move about freely. Hope you have a great vacation !!

[WetDad]

Welcome to the USA! Several things to be aware of over here:

1. The rest rooms often have a disabled booth. There is no key needed, just use it if you need to. Very rarely will it have a sink or a rubbish bin inside however. Just use the common ones.

2. You can leave your nappies in the rubbish bin in your hotel room. I always tip several dollars a day in advance and they are really nice about taking mine out as they clean the room. Sometimes, they leave me extra chocolates!

3. We Yanks will toss anything in the rubbish bin at the campsites. Nappies are quite acceptable for this, though recycling your beer bottles & newspapers is advised.

4. Save all those thin plastic bags from the grocer to put your nappies, wipes, etc. into. While people are used to baby nappies going straight into the rubbish, they freak out at seeing adult nappies. Not sure why, but it does happen.

5. We haven't a clue how to to use a round-about. Be prepared for much stupidity near these.

Have a great trip!

[Porkchop]

5. We haven't a clue how to to use a round-about. Be prepared for much stupidity near these.

What is this "round-about" of which you speak kind sir? LOL

[Wetters]

WetDad, I think you and I have talked about living/having lived proximate to one another. I must admit that I hate roundabouts almost as much as I hate indwelling catheters.

Wetters

[Patrick]

Here roundabouts are more typically called traffic circles. I have rarely used one of these driver-torture devices successfully. On some of the larger ones a driver must change lanes two or three times in order to emerge on the same road on which he/she entered the circle. On one occasion I got stuck in the inside lane and circled the roundabout three times before finding a considerate driver who allowed me to cross in front and get off. At the wrong place, but I was still off that (expletive deleted) traffic circle.

[Wetters]

Patrick, you nailed it. My husband thinks that I'm the only person on the face of the Earth who hates roundabouts/traffic circles. He grew up with one in his neighborhood. It was second nature to him when he learned to drive in his teen years (1960s).

Wetters

[Texan]

What a great trip you have planned! Your idea to order online and ship to your hotel is the best plan. I have used Duraline Medical Products for years. Here is a link to their site: http://www.dmponline.com/youth-adult-briefs They do carry Molicare super plus and the Tena Super diapers. Their prices are very reasonable and service has been excellent. Also XP Medical carries many more of the super absorbent diapers. Now many of the rest stops on the interstate highways(motorways in England) have a family restroom that has everything you would need, just a one room restroom for handicapped or families. Again no key needed! Just go in if it is unlocked. Let us know how the trip goes.

[ILuvLA]

Hi Maximusno2 ... Just a few things to add to the other advice already posted. Our own member, JDinVirgina, has an excellent white paper on diapers and there is a section in it on traveling. I suggest you locate it and read up,on that section.

As for 7 weeks of diapers ... You are right! It's best to only take a few days supply and have more delivered to whatever hotel or motel you're staying at. Given that you will be traveling from one place to another, I highly suggest you use Amazon.com. You can ship single packages to individual locations. I would also suggest that you call the hotel or motel ahead of time and let them know that a package is coming to them on your behalf. That way, they can be expecting it. Lastly, I would suggest that on the shipping label, you include your reservation or confirmation number. That way they can connect the received package to the expected guest: which would be you.

It takes a bit of coordination, but it's a lot better than driving around with a trunk full of diaper cases.

Best of luck to you… May you have a great time and this great land… Enjoy yourself!