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Thank goodness for my "potty van"

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Posted 5/5/2008 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
I had to take my son to school this morning because he forgot to bring a form home for me to sign for a field trip today...I had to wait for him to get it from his locker and bring it back to me in the van to sign the darned thing...soon as he first got out when we arrived the urge hit and there was (as usual first thing in the am) NO STOPPING IT...I hate that feeling, but luckily I have that port-o-pot in the back of my van for emergencies, and no one was around in the parking lot (thank goodness for the tinted windows though).  I'm sitting there on the pot and just finishing and I see him come running back to the van with this form...

I cannot believe how stupidly annoying this friggen disease is...my periods are soon going to be here, I can always tell, because I havn't eat much lately but going a little more than usual....I'd like to know where the heck it all comes from when there's not much going in????????????  SO FRUSTRATING!!!

But I suppose the silver lining on this dark cloud was at least I didn't crap my pants (this time) and I've got that port-o-pot in the van thank goodness.

I'm telling ya though, if any of you drive a van and are able to take the very back seats out, definitely invest in one of those potty's because it's well worth it.

:)

Posted 5/5/2008 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Way cool! Here's to resourcefulness!! When I had D for several months, I got a bucket, trash bags, and paper towels. I filled the bottom of the bag with paper towels for absorbancy. It was ready to go at a moments' notice. But an actual port-a-potty sounds way more comfortable! Glad you made it!!
Posted 5/5/2008 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
I can see your son running over and throwing the door open "here it is mom" and you sitting on the pot waving to the other moms walking into school lol!! I know that didn't happen but you need a flag to hang out the window or something to warn your family. Like college kids with the sock on the door knob.
Posted 5/5/2008 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
LOL ya an "occupied" sign in big red, flashing neon lights eh!

It was close though, I just seen him comming back out while I was finishing up, apparently I can wipe faster than he can run...and he's a fast runner LOL!
Posted 5/5/2008 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I want to invent a driver's seat where there's a trap door that slides open and voila! a potty hidden inside. I drive a sedan, so the porto potty idea wouldn't work.
Posted 5/5/2008 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
I have to keep a stash of trash bags in my car for situations like that. I had to use one yesterday. My poor daughter was with me. I have to say I'm lucky to have such an understanding, supportive daughter! I tried to use the gas station restroom, worrying I'd need a key and have to take the extra (valuable time) to go in to ask the attendant. Turns out they weren't even open! At least that left the parking lot private for the use of my trash bags! ;-)
Posted 5/5/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
pb, i thought that was "you"! it's me, shannon from the other site (what happened to it?) how have u been?? i miss "seeing" everyone from the other place...johnmc, ect....

hope all is well, and im glad u had ur "potty van"!!!! lol
Posted 5/5/2008 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
HI Shannon!!!!

How the heck are you???? I don't know what happend to the other place, I think he just shut it down because it was costing him $$ to run it and he wasn't spending much of any time on it anymore so he probably ditched it...glad you found HW though...I havn't noticed anyone from there over here, you're the first since it shut down.

So how have you been doing?
Posted 5/5/2008 7:21 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Pb,

My hubby and I are looking into purchasing a mini-van now that the girls are getting bigger and our car is feeling smaller.  I think I definitely want one now.  That must really ease the anxiety knowing you have a backup plan in case you can't make it.

And on another note - I saw Shannon's post, I think I'm from the "other" site you were mentioning too.  I was newly diagnosed when I joined that one found lot's of help from everyone and then one day it was just gone!  I keep checking every now and then to see if it's back up, but I've found HW now and love everyone here! 

Posted 5/5/2008 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
i kept checking, thinking that i just couldn't log in for some reason! lol, i thought some of the others might find their way here, but guess not!

we are good, ava (my baby) is turning ONE on the 12th, if u can believe that!!!! seems like just yesterday that i had her!
i have been pretty much flare free since i took pred after the pg, and i did not go back onto the 6mp since i found the two lumps in my breast and i was worried about using an immune suppresant....oddly enough tho, i have not had to many problems since!!!!

how r u doing? how r ur kids??

anyways, good to find some of my old "friends"! shannon
Posted 5/5/2008 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
That has to be the best story ever!!

I'm jealous now.

rj
Posted 5/5/2008 8:43 PM (GMT 0)

Melissa H said...

Hi Pb,

My hubby and I are looking into purchasing a mini-van now that the girls are getting bigger and our car is feeling smaller.  I think I definitely want one now.  That must really ease the anxiety knowing you have a backup plan in case you can't make it.

And on another note - I saw Shannon's post, I think I'm from the "other" site you were mentioning too.  I was newly diagnosed when I joined that one found lot's of help from everyone and then one day it was just gone!  I keep checking every now and then to see if it's back up, but I've found HW now and love everyone here! 


Hi Melissa :)

Glad you joined here as Shannon did too!!

You're right, my van is definitely my security blanket for when I leave the house and although I'm doing better, I still have issues with frequency and urgency and there are just times when it still comes in handy...I have to admit, today's the first time I've had to use it in over a yr, which is a good thing, but for day's like today I feel that I will always have a van as long as I have IBD.

We made sure to get one that has split passenger seats right behind the front seats so I can walk from front to back without having to climb over any seats (we purchased a ford windstar sport 2000), some of the newer ones don't have captains chairs right behind the front seats which I found odd (my sister bought a 2005 ford windstar but it's not a "sport") and hers has bench seats behind the front seats, that doesn't appeal to me, but I suppose it would still be better than nothing at all.

:)

Posted 5/5/2008 8:49 PM (GMT 0)

Wow Shannon, it sure does go by fast eh...my oldest daughter is graduating this yr...her grad celebrations are on the 24th of may but I'm planning ahead for this long day to come, I'm going to do a liquid diet for 3 days before the 24th, this way I'll only have to run to the can to pee all day and night instead of pooping (hopefully) LOL!  I have another 3 yrs before my son graduates, maybe they'll have a cure for us by then???  (would sure be nice!)

I checked in on and off too and thought the same as you, but I finally figured he shut it down so I took it out of my favorites list.

I'm sure glad to here you've been flare free...hope it's nothing serious with the lumps?  Glad you're doing better and I hope it lasts a long time!!

You're probably aware that HW also has a UC forum, I post there as well since you know my CD is mainly located in the colon, as well as on and off in the rectom (thankfully it's been "off" in the rectom for some time now, since starting probiotics actually.

Be sure to keep in touch, either here or at the UC forum...it's sure nice to talk with you again!

:)

shannon1 said...
i kept checking, thinking that i just couldn't log in for some reason! lol, i thought some of the others might find their way here, but guess not!

we are good, ava (my baby) is turning ONE on the 12th, if u can believe that!!!! seems like just yesterday that i had her!
i have been pretty much flare free since i took pred after the pg, and i did not go back onto the 6mp since i found the two lumps in my breast and i was worried about using an immune suppresant....oddly enough tho, i have not had to many problems since!!!!

how r u doing? how r ur kids??

anyways, good to find some of my old "friends"! shannon

Posted 5/5/2008 8:52 PM (GMT 0)

Really glad you enjoyed it Redjeep, don't be jealous though, next time you're in the market for a new vehical go for a van...as much as I miss my beautiful ford taurus Se 24 valve (my inlaws bought it so it's still in the family so to speak) having the van has sure made things easier all around.

:)

Redjeep said...
That has to be the best story ever!!

I'm jealous now.

rj

Posted 5/6/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
wow pb, a graduate! good luck w/ the cermonies!!! i hoope u only have to pee to!!!! lol

i did find the UC boards, thanks!

the two lumps came back benign...found the first one right after giving birth and had it removed and found the second one a few months later....we have a huge family history of breast cancer, so we chose to remove them rather than biopsy.

anyways, im glad to see u again, and im sure i will see u on the UC board!
Posted 5/6/2008 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
you can also do that in a regular car with a shallow tupperwear type of container lined with a plastic shopping bag..slide in under me and slide out..tie the baggy and reload :) used to use that with long trips..temp smell..all good
Posted 5/6/2008 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Shannon :)

I come to HW everyday so I'm sure we'll run into each other here, same with Melissa H.

:)
Posted 5/6/2008 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
pb4, i want to thank you for this thread.

i am having issues totally unrelated to my H's crohns, but your thread reminded me of how i can cope, and to look for every possible way to do it.

now i just think potty van and it helps me so much! your a cool person:) hang in there.

the mind pic of your son at school, opening a door and you conducting business off a port a potty is just priceless.

Posted 5/6/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks jodyisme :)

Luckily my son had no clue as just as I seen him comming back I was wiping up and man am I fast because like I said, he had no clue...still, what a pain in the arse this disease is.

Like they say, where there's a will there's a way and I don't want this DD to take total control over my life again (referring to when I was suffering with severe depression and anxiety because of CD).

Thanks again for your encourgaging words :)
Posted 5/6/2008 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
i think i understand, as i ended up with my problem being my entire focus and forgot there was a world beyond the door, so to speak. it just took so much to deal and cope, everything faded in the background. is this like what you mean?

just the pic, like, you get a really nice quilt or something, (heck, a crown and ipod even) sit there, and people would be like ,,,what is she doing and why arent i doing it? kinda stuff...was a great idea in my mind..lol...you turned something so bad into something funny and that is just the key to coping and handling life. and you reminded me of it and how bad i needed it also.....:) and how cool you were to have this mind set about it.

im just so glad you are doing better now and can help others of us who need that sometimes...

Posted 5/6/2008 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
I wonder if you could hang curtin rods? Maybe the tension rods or shower curtin rods? Pink frilly curtins on the potty van. And a isgn that says "Do not disturb or you will regret it!"
Posted 5/7/2008 4:15 AM (GMT 0)

I'm glad I was able to remind you of that, afterall if we couldn't laugh we'd only cry right.  Yes, it is hard to concentrate/focus on "life" in general when this DD takes up so much space in your mind, guess that's why it's easy to fall into depression, the anxiety doesn't help either, of course when you feel better CD symptom wise thankfully the anxiety level drops some...I guess something is better than nothing.

And thanks, I'm glad I'm doing better and I hope I'm helping others like you say, othewise what's the point right.

Thanks again for your understanding and words of encourgement.

:)

jodyisme said...
i think i understand, as i ended up with my problem being my entire focus and forgot there was a world beyond the door, so to speak. it just took so much to deal and cope, everything faded in the background. is this like what you mean?

just the pic, like, you get a really nice quilt or something, (heck, a crown and ipod even) sit there, and people would be like ,,,what is she doing and why arent i doing it? kinda stuff...was a great idea in my mind..lol...you turned something so bad into something funny and that is just the key to coping and handling life. and you reminded me of it and how bad i needed it also.....:) and how cool you were to have this mind set about it.

im just so glad you are doing better now and can help others of us who need that sometimes...

Posted 5/7/2008 4:22 AM (GMT 0)

I thought about doing that when I first got the van, but I figured it might be too much of a hassle, not to mention when I get groceries and the bag packers help me out with loading my van I'm worried that it might look a little odd to people (those who have no clue about living a life with IBD) seeing curtains hanging there, even pushed off to one side, as they'd have to be for driving safety to see out the back window...but I do cover my potty with a blanket so no one sees it...funny suggestions though LOL, I'll tell ya, I'm glad as I'm sure my kids are (both teens, one girl, one boy) that I havn't (knocking on wood) had to use it with them in the van, only my poor hubby has had to be subject to that cruelty...good thing the back side windows open and I have a great smelling air freshner back there to spray...it's alot different when pooping into a plastic bag (that's what I line it with, easier clean up) then pooping into a toilet bowl of water, tends to lessen the smell when it's drowning in water...ah the things we have to do to get through living with this ridiculous disease.

:)

FallColors said...
I wonder if you could hang curtin rods? Maybe the tension rods or shower curtin rods? Pink frilly curtins on the potty van. And a isgn that says "Do not disturb or you will regret it!"

Posted 5/7/2008 4:23 AM (GMT 0)

LOL, beats hanging your butt over the side of the boat eh!!  "Full moon on the water" ****.

:)

Kim Hopkins said...
Hey! This is a great story! Girl- you should see me in our boat. It ain't even a big boat and I have my daughter's potty seat in there from when she was potty training. Talk about a full moon on the water :o) And my kids 10 & 4 act like they think e1's mom does that :o) Have a great night-KIM

Posted 5/7/2008 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
PB4 - make hubby get out next time!!! Even if there is no woods to poop in surely there is a spot he can pull over and get out!
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