Originally Posted by etch5895
I would advise someone in this situation (and I'm no doctor, so take it for what it is worth), to avoid liquids as much as possible before and during the flight, and to force yourself to go when possible (just before boarding, and in the air just before the seat belt sign comes on for the descent). I'd also say let the FA know about it.
Without getting technical, overactive bladder is not quite that simple. You can go and have to go again 10 minutes later -- which is what happened to my mother. She did not drink any fluids and she went right before boarding.
It is a much more common condition than most people realize and all I was trying to say is that, sometimes, there are extenuating circumstances for people leaping up to use the lav. When one has to choose between regulations and having an accident right there in the seat, I would say a trip to the lav is the obvious choice and certainly the least embarrassing.