How to handle accidents in public?

How do people handle accidents in public places? At work if you have to change your clothes? Do you have several pairs of the same pants to switch on and off? How do you discreetly go to the bathroom with a bag of clothes, underwear and wipes? Is it something that I just have to prepare for in advance and accept that this will happen? I never had this problem with my previous flares. Usually I had a few minutes to get to the bathroom when I had a bad urge. Right now I am lucky if I have 10 seconds to get my pants down.

I found that being prepared "to the max" took some of the worry about accidents away, lessing the stresss.
I routinely carry baby wipes, pads and extra underwear when I go out.
Always check out the locations of the bathrooms when arriving at a new place.
I think a lot of it was mental (even after the urgency began to lessen).
I stopped being embarassed about carrying a large handbag long ago.

You might look into adding slippery elm. I'm finding it very helpful.

I had one such back in early December, of all places, in the men's room at the clinic in which my gastroenterologist has his office. Its in one building of a very large, urban medical campus. I'd just come from an appointment with my ophthalmologist in another building and was passing by my gastroenterologist's office on the way to the parking garage when the urge struck. I ran to the nearest mens room, gassing and gurgling all the way. Into the stall I went, pulled down my pants and, in an enormous explosion of gas and blood, relieved myself then and there with about half going either onto or into the toilet, the rest onto the floor. There was simply no way that I would have been equipped in the circumstances to clean up such an extensive mess. So I simply wiped myself, pulled up my pants, washed my hands, and reported the incident to the Gastroenterology Department's receptionists who then called the janiitor, gave me some pads and arranged an appointment on the spot with my physician through his administrative assistant. That was the day that Canasa was added to my regimen and it came none too soon.

Post Edited (Captain Ca-Ca) : 2/2/2012 3:37:17 PM (GMT-7)

How do you take slippery elm powder? Is there a brand that you recommend? First thing in the morning with a food or a smoothie? Before or after the aloe vera stomach remedy?

I definitely think my nerves are involved because even if I am on the phone too long I get nervous and my tummy starts to gurgle and then I have to go. Sometimes when I feel the prednisone working I feel that I could push and push and nothing will come out. Other times I think I have to pee and then it is a watery bloody mess. Each day gets better so I keep thinking another week and I will be fine. Still can't hold in a mesalamine enema. I can't believe that is my new goal!

Manhattan, I recommend you see someone about the anxiety. I feel like my treatment has been very positively impacted by starting an antidepressant. I am much less anxious overall and perhaps that's what I needed to get better.

I take Pristiq and I feel like it has helped me to feel less anxious and negative. I have heard wellbutrin can help with IBD symptoms. A few people on here and the Crohn's boad have used it successfully. I hated the idea of taking another pill, but actually, I think considering it's been helpful, it's one of the better ones I take. There are a few I question their effectiveness, at least for me, the antidepressant has given me a life without migraine headaches, that alone is worth taking a pill for! Kills 2 birds, no migraines and less anxious.

I find being as prepared as possible helps. I have had several accidents but lucky that my pants are always spared, just not my underpants!

I keep a cute cosmetic with wipes in a ziploc, 2 pairs of spare underwear, and calmoseptine. That way I can just grab the cosmetic and go. It isn't so obvious since lots of women carry their tampons or make-up to the bathroom. If I am at a point where I know an accident is a possibility I will sometimes wear 2 pairs of full coverage underwear or wear underwear with a pad. I have found the new stayfree pads out of some new material to be very helpful.

Sorry you are having to deal with this. Accidents are the worst!

I to have had this happen to me & my good friend has a illioscopy bag & has had problems. I always carry wipes with me & have had to leave my underware in the trash before fortunatly only twice in public. & the worst one thank God I was in my own home. My friend  & I know where all the bathrooms are & if you belong to the Chron & colitis foundation they will sent you a card to carry that says I CAN"T WAIT you could show it to someone if you need to cut in front of someone. Stress will make it worse, It if it startes to happen so often that you need to wear da pad you really need to talk to your DR. you could try some other meds. I feel your shame / embarssment. Try to plan your days My friend can go to a movie & dinner but not dinner & a movie,& I understand that. Planning helps, on trips I take a pad to sleep on in someones elses bed cuz I just never know whats gonna happen

Thank you for all the feedback. It is comforting to know that others also have this problem. I think being prepared for the worst case scenario and having all the back ups will ease my anxiety. Much appreciated!

i ALWAYS carry hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, pads, and a plastic bag when i go out. this just makes me feel more prepared if something happens. if i didn't have anything to clean myself up with, i'd be so screwed. if i was flaring REALLY badly, i'd wear a Depends diaper just to feel safe. only problem with those is that they are HUGE and it's totally noticeable when i wear one.