International Travel with Intermittent Catheters

A few weeks ago, I set off on a ten-day trip to Taiwan. I’m a Taiwanese American musician and composer, and over the past year I’ve been reconnecting with my roots through collaborations with Resident Island Dance, a Taiwanese physically integrated dance company that features both dancers with and without physical disabilities. This year, I composed music for their newest piece and was invited to perform it live on stage during their nationwide tour.

Carina Ho, the blog's author (and third from the left, seated in a wheelchair), takes a picture with her fellow musicians during dress rehearsal.

Travel always feels like an adventure, but for me it also comes with a certain amount of calculation. As a longtime catheter user, every trip starts with a checklist and a mental equation.

The Packing Math

It begins simply enough: I use an average of seven catheters a day. For ten days away, that’s seventy catheters. Then I add an extra box of Coloplast SpeediCaths—just in case—bringing the total to around 110. I always pack backup antibiotics too, since I’m prone to urinary tract infections.

“Average Catheters Used per Day x Number of Days x 1.5 (just in case) = Total Number of Catheters Needed for the Trip”

It’s a lot of preparation for something most travelers never have to think about. The space those supplies take up in my luggage is a reminder that catheterization can sometimes get in the way of spontaneity. Still, experience has taught me that being overprepared is always better than the alternative.

Healthcare in Taiwan

When I arrived in Taiwan, I immediately came down with a UTI, which is apparently not unusual in humid climates. I started needing the bathroom every couple of hours, along with the usual fatigue and burning sensation. Spending long days in the theater and using a busy public restroom didn’t help.

Thankfully, I’d packed antibiotics and extra catheters, but I still felt a quiet panic about running through my supply too quickly. Taiwan’s healthcare system turned out to be a blessing. I was able to see a urologist for about six U.S. dollars, and they prescribed D-Mannose and cranberry supplements to take alongside the antibiotics. Within four or five days, I was back to normal.

Reflections

The experience reminded me that being an adventurer who also uses catheters means living with a certain level of risk — and a lot of planning. After years of traveling with a spinal cord injury, I’ve learned how to prepare efficiently, but this trip taught me to consider adding D-Mannose, cranberry pills, and even more spare catheters to the list.

Traveling with a catheter isn’t effortless, but it’s far from impossible. With planning, patience, and a little flexibility, adventure is still within reach. My hope is that catheter technology continues to improve, making it easier to stay clean, prevent infections, and reduce the constant worry about supplies. Because everyone deserves the chance to experience the world without being defined by the logistics of their bathroom needs.