ScienceGirl said...
I'm embarrassed to admit I've had accidents. One was during my first flare, and I am still angry at the CVS employee who told me I couldn't use their bathroom. I've worked retail before, and the (LEGAL) policy is that customers can use the bathroom if it's an emergency. By the time I got to the Shaws across the street, it was too late to do anything except clean up.
No accidents during my second flare, but I've had three or four with my current one. Most of them have been while teaching, since I cannot leave the classroom while in the middle of the lesson. I wore a pad last week to try to keep that from being a problem, like it had been the week before, but as luck would have it, it was a mostly solid BM, which made clean-up even harder. Doesn't help that I teach at 8am.
I'm lazy about prepping, but next time I have an 8am class, I'm doing pads again, but also bringing another pair of underwear and a bag to put the ruined pair in. In the past, for long car rides, I've also brought wipes for easier clean-up. As a woman, good clean-up is even more important to avoid vaginal infections :(
I have nothing but the highest respects for people like you who are able to continue on while having this disease. I wish I were more like you.
When I first started having symptoms I was pissed off and determined to not let it get me down. I was going to continue on doing what I was doing with or without the symptoms. Going on 7 years and I've lost all will to fight it in that sense. I know I was a lot less sick at the time and was able to do more, but now I dread leaving the house on bad days. For the last 4 months it has been nothing but bad days (with a short spell of good), so every trip to anywhere is a nightmare for me.
I've never had accidents in public, but I have had more than I would like while at home. And they are just as demoralizing as a public accident would be imo.
Peety said...
Dont be shy about asking to use the bathroom as often as you need to once you get to your appointment, or even to station yourself near the bathroom if you need to. They will not flinch because they know the disease. In fact, a good employee will ask you if you need to use the restroom before you have to ask!
Whether a retail establishment has to allow you to use their restroom is a matter of state law, believe it or not. Something to advocate for, if you are willing...
Strange thing about
my Dr. is that I have no idea where the bathroom is outside of the waiting room. I did however notice a lady asking the receptionist to use theirs and they allowed her back. It was very comforting to see that.