Bathroom snob

We went for a road trip Saturday and came back today - not too far away, just to Nauvoo, IL (about a 13 hour trip each way). My poor pregnant feet are all swollen, and my legs are killing me (gotta love fibro).

Anyway, we stopped at a gas station that was absolutely filthy and disgusting. Anyone else feel like they've turned into a bathroom snob since getting Crohn's? Before I never cared, but since I spend so much time around toilets and am super aware of how contagious c. diff. and other bacteria can be, I just can't handle it when bathrooms are disgusting. (And I'm not talking typical gas station or fast food gross; this one was so bad, I almost made my husband take us somewhere else, but it was the nicest looking one around that area, lol.)

Oh I can be a big time snob. Of course depending on how big the emergency is to get in there. Then I'm swearing about how disgusting it is while I go. But yeah, there was always this one place we'd stop for gas on a road trip that only had a freaking outhouse. Now they are GROSS. I'd rather just find a bush then sit down and hover over what the last 50 people put in there. I also try to pee standing up most days, unless it's a really clean bathroom.

I am a total bathroom snob. Especially since I have these whatever these sore are all on the back of my legs, hips and buttocks. I also started carrying a big bag that I carry baby wipes, germ x and hospital spray in so if need be, I will make it clean before I even think of sitting down. I generally try to hold it until I get home or just go to areas where I know the bathrooms. But I am prepared just in case =)

I copied and pasted this from a very recent study PDF where a company swabbed and then cultured bacteria from a typical public washroom.

Obviously there's going to be some super disgusting bathrooms and super clean bathrooms... however it was interesting that the dirtiest place was actually the sink.

Makes you think twice about shaking someones hand when you really think about it ! Yeeesh...

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Results: The numbers of bacteria varied widely in the restroom. The most unhygienic object was the sink, with 50,000 bacteria. The most hygienic object was the dispenser of liquid soap as no bacteria were found.

Object & Qty of Bacteria Cultured:

Sink: 50,000
Radiator: 1,200
Tap: 1,000
Hand Rail: 360
Toilet Paper Dispenser: 220
Floor: 200
Side Wall: 170
Waste Bin: 150
Toilet Seat: 150
Under the Toilet: 80
Hand Dryer: 80
Ceiling Air Vent: 30
Toilet Flush Handle: 20
Mirror: 9
Antibacterial Soap Dispenser: 0

I feel like my bathroom snobbery has actually lowered with the onset of the urgent D. If I have a bathroom that I can use, I am just grateful. If there is hand sanitizer I ALWAYS put some on toilet paper and wipe the whole seat down, though. I often carry it with me, too.

My worst experiences were in Germany because I had to rely even more heavily on my boyfriend for help but the only time a bathroom was an issue was a non-pay one on the Autobahn. I'd rather pay $5 for the other ones than the 50c they charge, than go in a non-pay one again. It was bad. I almost didn't use it but I really had no choice. It was that or an accident.

I live in NYC and I know along most commutes I make, where I can get off the train if I have to go. There is actually a staffed and *relatively* clean bathroom in Times Sq. They're cleaned and such but often smell of urine because anyone can use them including the untidy amongst us. Once I even had to beg a station agent if they had a bathroom and he had seen me running up and down the stairs to outside and realizing I was in a warehouse area, and he let me use their station one. It wasn't fancy but it was clean and had ample TP.

I have such low standards now. As long as I don't have to go in my pants, I'm happy. It's my goal in life that that humiliation will never repeat itself :(