UDP client/server communication over WAN

[AngelOfCarnage]

I am attempting to create a server and client that utilizes both TCP and UDP. The server works very well in a LAN setting but the UDP messages are not being received when transmitted over a WAN. I believe it is because the UDP socket used to send the data is not remaining in the NAT tables long enough to return any information. Is there a way to either make the UDP port stay open in the router (without port forwarding) or use the same port for UDP as the already connected TCP connection? Thanks in advance.

[BioPhysEngr]

Unfortunatly, I don't know. I do not often write networked programs. However, a question I had was in regard to:

I believe it is because the UDP socket used to send the data is not remaining in the NAT tables long enough to return any information..

What led you to think this? What happens if you enabled port forwarding, for example (I know that's not the final target solution, just as a debugging measure)?