IBS CANT WAIT CARD

I have been diagnosed with IBS. It took several monthes of pain and discomfort to finally be diagnosed. I find it really awful and embarrising when im out for the evening or shopping. My whole time is taken up with planning where the toilets are and what shops i can go into. I have had on several occasions the same old feeling of the urgency to dash to the loo and each time the shop owner says you cant use the toilet i then have to dash to the nearest toliet with a few accidents along the way.

Please can anyone tell me where i can get a free "cant wait" card to show staff in stores etc if i need the loo, like NOW IM DESPERATE. I know the IBS site have a membership with costs £24 but as im on benefits i have not always got the money to hand.

From one very worried IBS sufferer in need of help.

Julie

We definitely don't have anything like that in the U.S., but then I have found that we're much more into public restrooms in our shops than the U.K.

Can't you just tell them you're about to be sick? I mean, in a way, you are about to be sick. They'll just think you're going to be sick all over their merchandise, but it's better than you having to be "sick" all in your pants. If that IBS membership place has an e-mail, e-mail them and explain your financial situation; they may offer discounts to people on disability.

And do you have an "accident kit"? A few other people with a similar problem have assembled one for just such emergencies. It basically consists of a large handbag (very in fashion this season) with a freezer-size ziplock bag and some clean underwear (and you should probably include a wad of good toliet paper because public restroom toliet paper in Britain is the worst I've ever seen--especially in train stations). That way you can at least go to the toliet and change into clean underwear (put the dirty in the ziplock bag). Depending on the size of your bag, you may can even carry a spare pair of clean pants. Some black knit pants pack up easily and match pretty much any top that you're wearing. If you have a car and take it with you when you shop, you can at least keep a spare pair of pants in it. The other thing you can do is tie a long-sleeved shirt or jacket around your waist to cover up your behind, or get in the habit of wearing a lot of black bottoms (which won't show accidents) and/or shirts that are long enough to cover your behind in case you have an accident. If you are worried about going out, you can also wear a sanitary napkin which will help keep your underwear and pants clean. Just remember to place it a bit further to the back of your underwear than you would do if you were on your period.

Hello Jules if you call the Chrons and Colitis Foundation and explain your situation to them that you are on a limited income and can not afford to join because of financial difficulty they may be still able to help you get a I Cant Wait card or refer you on where to go for the card. The phone number is toll free: 1-800-93f2-2423. If you have a problem getting the card let me know I will try to help you get a card. Take care Phoelona

Hi Phoelona

Thanks for the reply. the only thing is i live in the uk and the web sites here are so unhelpful........thats why i was looking further afield. Maybe we can sort something between the two of us. If you can help this would be great and i would be so grateful.

Thanks

Jules x

Thanks so much and i really do appreciate it ...............thanks once again.

hope to hear from you soon

love

julie xx

http://www.wheretostopwheretogo.com/images/StopGoCard.pdf

In some places in the US it is a law that they have to let you use their restroom if you show them a card like that because of a girl that went on herself because they would not let her use their restroom..

I haven't ever encountered a situation in the US where I couldn't use the restroom in a store--at least not since the 80's (when I can remember grocery stores didn't have public restrooms).  I think the Americans with Disabilities Act requires bathrooms for public use in most--if not all--stores.  Lord knows in working with retail store leases I have seen a lot of mentions of building according to the ADA code and having a handicapped accessable bathroom. 

The UK is much more relaxed in their laws about equal access for the disabled.  But they are also frequently operating in buildings that are 100 years or more older and it can be difficult, if not impossible, to find the room for a lift, a bathroom or a wheelchair ramp.  I know Kilkenny City in Ireland--dubbed the medieval city for good reason--was definitely not handicap friendly.  But what you're going to do, tear up the "marble" sidewalks and try to widen them so someone can go down the way in a wheelchair?  Unlike here, most of their buildings are old and historical.

I'll have to check on the ADA requirements and see if providing a public restroom is a requirement in the U.S.  Could be good ammunition (if so) for people who encounter uncooperative shop owners. 

Hello Jules I have some good news (maybe). I spoke with a representative with the Crohns and Colitis Foundation, and the representative said that if your Dr is a member of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, that you could get a membership for FREE. You will need to call the Dr office, and see if your Dr is a member of the Crohn's Foundation, and if he is, you need to call the representative for the Crohn's Foundation. and they will give you a membership for FREE, in order to let you get your I Can't wait card. The phone number is 1-800-932-2423 Extension212. Good luck I hope that you get your card soon. You will need to give the Crohn's Foundation the name of your Dr and they will do the rest of the paperwork. Take care Jules.