Family Cottage w/only one bathroom...

Ugh, my family has a summer home on a lake that my DH & I used to go to almost every weekend before I had UC.  Now that I have UC, we haven't been there in 3 years.  There are always other family members there so I'm basically sharing one bathroom with 4 or more people (sometimes as many as 10). 

Are there any super duper anti diarrhea meds that would stop me up for a weekend? lol.  I'd love to be able to take my DD to the cottage for 4th of July weekend.  The way my UC works is that first thing in the morning, I HAVE to go and there is no holding it.  The anxiety kills me every time I hear someone enter the one bathroom so it's like a double whammy (the urgency and the anxiety). 

I was just diagnosed with UC but have had IBS for many years.  I always have luck with Imodium taken 2 hours before going anyplace.  As for sharing a bathroom - you have to get up earlier than rest, move around and your turn will be first!  I found that works when traveling with my husband and only one bathroom.

Be sure to eat what you know will give you the least amount of problems too!

Good luck and have fun!

Elaine

Hi, I feel for you.  My advice is this: Don't eat much, eat and drink only what doesn't bother you as much.  The shower is a good idea in the morning.  If you tend to be gassy and don't want anyone to hear, run the shower while you go.  Other times, run the water.  Go to the bathroom when the others are outside.  Use the immodium if it works for you, try it before you go.  Try to relax and not stress.  Bring air freshener and some bathroom cleaner, that way you can keep everything nice and clean for everyone, just keep it in the cabinet in the bathroom.  If you think you have to go bad and there is some errand that needs to be run, offer to go and then go use a public restroom when possible.  Good luck, hopefully they all love you and know what you have and will not even care.  Try to have fun.  Bellski

Some of us have had success using a probiotic called, 'culterelle' which helps to give you formed stools. Other things like avoiding foods that are high in sugar 'may' help as well. Another good idea that someone mentioned is to eat less, but particularly less starchy foods and breads -- also avoid milk. These are things you can hopefully experiment with before your trip, to see if anything works for you.

Good luck,

NBT

I have no new suggestions other than what has already been mentioned. Just wanted to say Good luck and hope you do get to go. I live with one bathroom in our house so I've just gotten used to it and my family is understanding of it.

How about if you take a port-o-pot along with you, I have one in the back of my minivan so that I can leave the house period...you could try that, maybe keep it in the room you sleep in?

:)

hi glamourgirl,
i have the SAME issues you do when it comes to anxiety of hearing someone go in the bathroom. all of a sudden i'll need to go. i also talk with my family when we're all sharing one toilet so they know i'll knock if i REALLY need to get in there.

but ditto what pb4 just wrote. get yourself a nice camping porta potty. they even have some that flush so you could just leave it in your room for such an emergency. i find that just having something like that around gives me less anxiety, and then i'm able to wait for the real toilet. :) would be worth a try!

I was in a similar situation at a ski lodge. Everyone told me to kick them out of showering, brushing their teeth, whatever, if I had to go. That really reduced some of my anxiety. With my mom, I will poop even if she is in the shower. Just two weekends ago I was visiting family and had to kick my dad out of the shower so I could poop. He understood. She doesn't care. We can't see each other and really, we can't hear each other. I also would just go out in the woods if there is a place no one would see you. Finally, I keep a trash can w/ a trash bag in my car. You could keep one in your room. If you use it just tie it off and chuck it in the dumpster like you would dog poop!

With more distant relatives or friends I could see where it would be embarassing though.

Isn’t it crazy, the things we have to think about? Where’s the loo? Is there air freshener? What time do I have to get up to a) get uninterrupted loo time, and b) get my 4-5 bm’s done in enough time to make it to work? Will there be enuf TP!!!???

 

I swear if this disease wasn’t so tragic, it would make us all experts at logistics.

 

Although my sister is visiting next weekend from PA, I’ve had to be the one to decide what weekend events we can and can’t participate in, which sucks when I’m in the middle of a flare. So it’s “no, we can’t do the nature trail walk…” and “no, we can’t spend Sunday on a boat – yes, I know it has a bathroom…”.

 

What a life.