HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

90 people and 1 tiny bathroom

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/31/2014 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Not trying to scare anyone out of flying, but those who fly know what I'm talking about.

Flew from TX to AZ yesterday and announcement "ladies and gentlemen, the rear restroom is out of order so everyone must use the one in front."

Nice huh? Fortunately I was empty bowel wise, but still immodium makes me want to urinate. The flight was crowded and our one little bathroom was in constant use.

Let's just say, on my next trip I'm going to make sure it's a larger plane with at least 3 bathrooms!!!!!
Posted 12/31/2014 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Wow I feel your pain. Glad it worked out!
Posted 12/31/2014 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, let the anxiety double at that announcement; fun. Glad your uc cooperated.
Posted 12/31/2014 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
The first time I flew was about a month ago. I couldn't believe how tiny and cramped everything was - definitely not what has been depicted in movies! But I can only imagine what a nightmare this could be with only one bathroom.
Posted 12/31/2014 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry but the thought of that makes me want to poop.
Posted 12/31/2014 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
This could be the title of a movie... a horror movie.
Posted 12/31/2014 11:07 PM (GMT 0)

Guardian7 said...
This could be the title of a movie... a horror movie.


LOL !!!
Posted 12/31/2014 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
I hate flying even though this never happened to me (did spend 2 hours waiting on tarmac before a 7 hour transatlantic flight pre-UC). Hate being stuffed into a confined space without room to turn, can't walk around. I just made the decision to switch my RX away from WalMart because there are always 8-10 people waiting in line with one clerk dispensing which I cannot stand either, makes me so angry being treated like this.

They are making boocoo dollars off us (WalMart and the airlines) and treat us like cattle. I'm mad as hell and will not put up with this (Network movie).
Posted 12/31/2014 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Even though I'm doing fairly well right now my flying days are over. UC and plane travel don't mix.
Posted 12/31/2014 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
yup, just moooove along ima - there are plenty of businesses out in the world that want you as a customer and treat you as real life human being -
Posted 1/1/2015 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
try fainting on the plane (which I did unfortunately in May) you get instant bathroom access!! haha
Posted 1/1/2015 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
if i was on that plane, my guts would have gotten so nervous that they would've made me poop. i hate being in situations where i have to share a bathroom!
Posted 1/1/2015 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Funny comments. Joanna this was SHARE CITY. I saw mothers and their daughters going in together. Not sure how they even fit in there. I could see the door bending and buckling. LOL

Post Edited (arizonahiker) : 12/31/2014 6:38:31 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/1/2015 8:19 AM (GMT 0)
Every single time I fly, I remember my worst bathroom sharing experience, it was spending roughly a month sharing a single bathroom with 10-16 family members. If I made it through that without a single accident, I figured I'd make it through any 8+ hour flight. Thinking of the most horrific time you've experienced in terms of colitis can really ease any situation you're dealing with. I suppose that's a positive you can take away from the experience, the notion that you've been through tougher things is a blessing in disguise.
Posted 1/5/2015 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
"Yeah, let the anxiety double at that announcement; fun. Glad your uc cooperated."

COMPLETLY AGREE WITH THIS !!!
Posted 1/5/2015 4:10 AM (GMT 0)

bananagirl said...
if i was on that plane, my guts would have gotten so nervous that they would've made me poop. i hate being in situations where i have to share a bathroom!

Ditto to this! Tell me I cant poop and I instantly have to poop!

In related news: I just booked a flight.... Paid to upgrade to first class for the sole reason that there's way fewer people to bathroom ratio and puts my mind at ease a little more. darn, UC is costly!!!!
Posted 1/5/2015 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
Amen to iPoop and Veteran Member!!!

I've flown more times than I can count and almost always have connecting flights, no non-stop (->more stress & timing concerns + more bathroom concerns).

Having been held captive on the tarmac in DO NOT MOVE mode many times before take-off AND after landing, I now try to be as proactive as possible with bathroom visits.

On a recent trip, when it was announced that the flight attendants would be coming through to collect service items as we approached the destination city, I thought: I better go now. Luckily I had a front row seat (just had to climb over one stranger) and the bathroom was at the front of the plane. Two flight attendants were at the front of the cabin and saw me go in.

When I opened the door, there was urine everywhere. So it took me some time to clean that up. As soon as I sat down, there was very aggressive banging on the bathroom door. I said, "Just a minute." But the ventilation and other noises in the bathroom were so loud I could not hear any response. Fortunately, I did not REALLY have to go, so I was finishing up rather quickly when a second round of more aggressive banging startled me. I got out as quickly as I could and got scolded at the front of the plane by a perturbed flight attendant who said, I MUST get to my seat because the plane is landing.

When I got to my seat, my spouse told me that the flight attendant had been YELLING at the bathroom door with the threat that: "If you do not return to your seat immediately, we will have to abandon the landing!" I felt humiliated and did not appreciate the strange looks I got from other passengers as we deplaned and went to baggage claim.

I've had so many unpleasant experiences flying that I try to avoid it now. If I have to fly, I will time my preemptive bathroom break to occur 30 minutes before expected landing time, instead of after the "approach" announcement, which was about 15-20 minutes before landing.
Posted 1/5/2015 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
I think you just scared 1/2 the room into never wanting to fly again. LOL

"Ladies and gentlemen WE HAVE TO ABORT THE LANDING BECAUSE THE LADY IN SEAT D17 IS STILL IN THE BATHROOM!!!" LOL
Posted 1/6/2015 12:35 AM (GMT 0)

arizonahiker said...
I think you just scared 1/2 the room into never wanting to fly again. LOL

"Ladies and gentlemen WE HAVE TO ABORT THE LANDING BECAUSE THE LADY IN SEAT D17 IS STILL IN THE BATHROOM!!!" LOL

Oh god blush cry I can't imagine....well, I couldn't imagine, but now I can, lol. Thanks a lot guys. Lol.
Posted 1/6/2015 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
I hate flying! Recently few to Florida....the way there we had to stop in Maryland...so was on plane for a very long time...they wouldn't let us off....I've been in a flare so was scared...just didn't eat or drink that day...I fear germs and can not go in the airplane bathroom...at least I don't want to...I made it. Without having to go....I feel your frustration? I VOTE FOR ROAD TRIPS, love them...hate flying...and yes...they are cramped and claustrophobic!
Posted 1/6/2015 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
I just want to calm everyone's nerves (including my own!) about flying. You basically get what you pay for. When you book a flight you can go to seatguru.com and look up the plane and count the restrooms, etc. I'll just never take a plane again with only 2 restrooms total.

If you eat extremely light, or don't eat at all before, take lots of immodium you'll be great. You can time it to use the restroom just before landing. I hardly eat at all before traveling and it does the trick! I also chew on fennel seeds (they eliminate gas and settle the g.i. tract), and nibble on things like granola bars, pretzels, or bread crust. It always works.

See...flying CAN be fun! :)
Posted 1/6/2015 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
This is my nightmare! I travel a lot and get serious bathroom anxiety every time. Immodium is my go-to, it's my safety blanket and gives me the confidence to keep flying.

Worst experience for me was one time just before landing, bad diarrhea kicked in. I stuck my head out of the bathroom to tell the flight attendant I didn't know if I was going to be able to wrap things up in time to get back to my seat for landing! She actually told me I could stay in the bathroom for landing and she wouldn't tell anyone! LOL. Thankfully I was able to pull myself together. She made the person sitting nearest the rest room switch seats with me so I could get up and duck into the stall if I absolutely had to. I ended up being fine, and I think it was because she made me feel so comfortable and at ease.
Posted 1/6/2015 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for their supportive and amusing replies. :-)

I did not mean to terrify future air passengers. I'm glad we can use this forum to share tips for managing these challenges.

Special thanks to Arizonahiker for starting the thread and adding the useful info about seatguru.com! Also, your quote is pretty close -- the flight attendant had said "abort the landing," not "abandon the landing." He was so melodramatic!
Posted 1/6/2015 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
I don't fly anymore. I decided I don't like it, and therefore I am just not going to do it anymore!! but I am glad you made it off the plane accident free!
Posted 1/11/2015 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Safest for me is to not eat anything until I reach my destination.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12