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UC emergency card.... LET ME IN THE BATHROOM NOW!!!!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/29/2011 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently visiting the US and went to my favorite one stop shop, a large store with a red and white logo (which shall remain anonymous, but I think you get it).

10 minutes into my shopping and I got "the urge". After rushing from the back of the store to the bathroom, I find it closed for cleaning. I knocked... no answer. Knocked again.... no answer. Pushed the door open to find the gentleman cleaning the restroom had pushed the cleaning cart against the door, so I couldn't get it in! I explained that it was an emergency and needed to get to the stall. "NO, you cannot. I'm mopping and can't leave the floor wet".

By now I'm in a cold sweat, clenching with all my might. I explained I had colitis and needed to get in: "No, you'll just have to wait".

By this time all the other ladies who had been waiting are in a panic for me as well (nice, everyone knows I'm about to poop my pants), calling employees and asking for them to help. No one lifted a finger. I tried to go to the men's and it was full!!

FINALLY, the man cleaning comes out, taking his leisurely time. Even after he was done, he wouldn't let me in till he had taken down the little , outside the bathroom!! AARRRGGGHHH!!! I think the sheer indignation of it all helped me hold it in.

I spoke to the manager (so nice telling perfect strangers about your condition). His response was: he couldn't let you in if the floor was wet. Sorry. He's having a bad week because his son passed away last week (I'm sorry for the gentleman).

Isn't there a card you can get from your GI in the US that obligates establishments to let you into the bathroom immediately? I thought I had read about that somewhere.
Posted 7/29/2011 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.myibd.org/index.html is one card that you can order. The problem is it has no legal bearing, just a way to say, "Look, I'm really serious!!"

Some states/cities also have laws about letting people use the bathroom. I heard Seattle has one but the same problem - I don't know how well known it is, and if you're still refused, what can you do?
Posted 7/29/2011 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Lol if it was me I would have just done a crap on the floor and then once done laughed at him as he would be the one having to clean it up. Seriously would have done that.

Oh yeah, I have the card it's called the can't wait card but I got it here in the UK when I joined the NACC.
Posted 7/30/2011 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
i have the UC Card and it is no help to me.

there is no way that i could hold it that long.
i had many accidents and from now on,when i have to go out
i wear Assurance underwear less stress.
Posted 7/30/2011 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
That's horrible Guate, that happened to me once at BLoomingdales, I desperately had to use the bathroom and it was closed for cleaning. I knew I wouldn't make it to another bathroom so I had to wait. No one was there to help, I had to clench, sweat, breath deep and stay still until the cleaning person exited and I could use the toilet. I was so lucky that day. I am thankful you didn't have an accident.
Posted 7/30/2011 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
I think maybe Minnesota has a law (I thought callalily or someone mentioned it) but I'm not sure about Michigan. I probably would've forced my way in and gone anyways and he could listen to my farts of fury. I'd feel bad about his loss too, but it's not like you had any way to know, and even if you had, there's nothing you could've done.

Also it seems like they could've put up a wet floor sign, that way you could've gone in and they might not have to worry about being liable if you fell and killed yourself.
Posted 7/30/2011 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I had an incident at a Shell gas station. The bathroom was locked, so I asked the guy behind the counter for the key, and he said someone was in there. It was a total lie, there was no one in there and he knew it, he just didn't want to be bothered. Anyway, I waited for about 10 minutes in agony for the person to come out and ended up having an accident. I found a different employee who unlocked the door for me. I left a huge smelly mess in the bathroom as I cleaned myself up. Too bad for them.
Posted 7/30/2011 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, people please don't poop on floors and leave messes! That kind of stuff will make employees of retail establishments less likely to want to help people in need of a restroom. I worked in retail and there was a HUGE mess left by someone who apparently had a bag leak and ya know, not one person felt sorry for the man or woman who had the leak they were all just grossed out by having to clean someone's poop. I know, I know people should be more respectful and helpful and caring but the idea of punishing someone by making them clean up your poop. Really, really not OK.

But, Guategirl I totally feel for you and I suggest writing to corporate Target. I suspect the employee was following orders. I doubt his grief had anything to do with it. He's probably been told if someone slips on the wet floor he'll get fired or some such. And, let's be real, he probably gets LOTS of people saying they really have to go now who are perfectly capable of holding it, they're just jerks. So, I would say put it on Target to change their policy. Not on some poor schlep who cleans the bathroom at one store.
Posted 7/30/2011 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't poop on the floor lol!! I just left a stinky mess in the garbage can.
Posted 7/30/2011 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
I was aiming more for the toilet =)
Posted 7/30/2011 5:02 PM (GMT 0)

C_G_K said...
I didn't poop on the floor lol!! I just left a stinky mess in the garbage can.

I didn't think you pooped on the floor! lol but I am glad it was just a garbage can mess, that's not such a big deal. :o)
Posted 7/30/2011 9:59 PM (GMT 0)

Ugh Just Ugh said...

C_G_K said...
I didn't poop on the floor lol!! I just left a stinky mess in the garbage can.

I didn't think you pooped on the floor! lol but I am glad it was just a garbage can mess, that's not such a big deal. :o)

I did it all over the walls and floor and ceiling and sink ha ha. Kidding.

Seriously though theres no way in hell i'd clean up someone elses mess.
Posted 7/31/2011 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Even when I pooped (more like bled) on the floor after my first scope and I just woke up from anesthesia, I locked myself in until I got it cleaned up. My mom was gonna do it but I didn't even let her in.
Posted 7/31/2011 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Man that sucks. It happened to me in the mall once. The bathroom was open but the toilets were taken. One guy was sitting there for 20 min or so, and I couldn't hold it so I ended up bleeding all over the floor (it all dripped down my pants). Embarrassing as heck. I hope that guy who took his sweet time slipped on that blood and hit his behind hard on the floor.

Post Edited (stupidcolon) : 7/30/2011 11:10:54 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/31/2011 7:33 AM (GMT 0)
I've been there. I was not allowed to use the bathroom and ended up pooing in my pants. Luckily, I made it to the car.

In the case of wet floors, there is an issue of liability. If you slip and fall, then you could sue.

Too many people sue for stupid reasons that we aren't allowed to do anything anymore.

I got the card after that incident happened. I haven't needed it since I got it though.

Technically, the card has no legal baring in the US, but most people don't know that.

This disease needs to be made more public. Part of the reason, we get rejected is that most people who don't have UC or don't know of someone in the family who has it, have no idea that such a disease can exist. They don't understand that it's possible for an adult to go in his/her pants.
Posted 7/31/2011 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Threads like this make me freak out! While I do not share the UC dx I share in your need for a bathroom ASAP! I've been in harried situations before too but in your case, that employee should have said - oh of course, let me push my cart outside and you can use the bathroom. Let's just say he must not have anyone in his family with bowel issues!!!!

It's enough to make you just want to drop your pants on the spot and go #2.

Not really but wow, wouldn't that send a message? :-)

Yeah I know, not many of us would do that (although I could imagine it, that person would find themselves in jail no doubt).

But when it's urgent, those w/o bowel issues have zero compassion. This is when I wish them just one day of mild food poisoning. Is that terrible to admit?

Just one day of explosive diarrhea.

But who am I kidding - the non-bowel issue people will never understand our needs. Never!
Posted 8/12/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry it took me so long to respond, but I'm having a good old LOL session here! This is hilarious! Hadn't even thought of pooping right in the middle of the floor, but wouldn't that have sent a message! Might have even made the 6 o'clock news! Wouldn't that raise awareness for UC?! Haha!

Seriously though, a card letting people know that they need to let us use the closest bathroom would be a Godsend. I had an accident because a fancy clothes store made me go to bathroom down the hall in the mall. Like they don't have an employee bathroom.... right....

Thanks for the laughs though!
Posted 8/12/2011 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
Actually many states have adopted Ally's Law. This is a law that states, if one has a urgent medical condition and has to use the restroom immediately, that the businesses must comply. However, there are a few stipulations such as if there is only ONE employee in the business and can not leave their assigned post than you will not be able to use the bathroom (they may need to accompany you especially if the bathroom is in a store room).

EP, yes MI just adopted Ally's Law.

I have the I can't wait card myself. I have never had to use it but at least I know it's there. But as for the store Guategirl, he was doing his job and I agree probably wouldn't let you in for liability reasons. BUT I think he may of been being a bit of a jerk as well, taking his sweet time; probably just to irk you.
Posted 8/12/2011 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Sue the ******s, this should be law, not a suggestion.
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