Travelling to London tomorrow and already getting nervous about the train journey!

[Lucy2006]

Hello everyone, looking for some calming advice.

Off to London tomorrow for a outpatients appointment at the shard (non ibis related) and will be getting the train, I've got tickets for the shortest travel time which is 47 min roughly with no stops.

I've not been on a train for about 15 years and worried about the number of toilets that will be on board and if they will be working. I've booked first class tickets at off peak time of 10:20am in hope it may be slightly quieter to make me feel better.

Not left more than half hour away from home in 10years and worried about having the urgency to get to the toilet and if my anxiety gets really bad that ill have a panic attack which I've never had one but worry that I will.

I'm debating whether to use an enema 2-3 hours before leaving to make sure I wont need to go while out?

How do other cope with travelling on trains and having ibs?

[fenbadger]

I manage ok. Timing, planning and I take extra loperamide before starting. (not exceeding the maximum recommended dose). It works ok. Leave extra time to get to the station and do try to use the station toilet before you board. It can be hit and miss whether they're working anywhere, and I boarded at a station that had a full cess pit so the toilets were closed. There usually 2 on trains with 4 or more carriages. Try to get the disabled coach (has a small, difficult to find wheelchair symbol) as this is SUPPOSED to have a little more attention and less likely to be out of service. But not guaranteed.

As if you don't have enough on your plate, You must be going to London Bridge I think, and this may be an area subject to the current strike. Allow lots of extra time and if you can, run a last minute check before you leave home by either a search on National rail or by checking "changes to train times" on the same website. Go at least 1 train before you were planning. There's a note on the website with a link to the industrial action. Southeastern Railway is operating an amended timetable and Southern is suffering disruption until Friday. Hopefully staff will be able to help and there should be up to date info on display screens. There may be bus alternatives - which mostly have no toilets.

nationalrail.co.uk/service_...

Can you take a precautionary diocalm or similar? Yes, do take something to clear yourself before you go.

Good luck

[Lucy2006 in reply to fenbadger]

Thank you for your reply, I'll be looking for a toilet as soon as I board to see if it available and sit near it. I'll be on thameslink trains so luckily the current strike action is todo with southern. I'll also be taking Imodium.

[fenbadger in reply to Lucy2006]

should be ok then. Immodium works for me (brand name of loperamide) and as you say Thames link is not part of it. Beware however of knock on effects as people take different routes to work

[Moijoy]

Hi Lucy,

Would it be a good idea to wear some form of incontinence pad to make you feel less on edge and carry a spare just in case, just a thought good luck I’m sure you will be fine.

[fenbadger]

how did you get on?

[Lucy2006]

I made it there and back, went a lot better than I thought it would. Kind of made me think a bit different and could be more confident todo more things now 😊

[Hidden]

never stop doing anything just because you are frightened of having an accident.

if you have an accident then so what go and get yourself changed and cleaned up and make sure you take spare clothes and cleaning products with you when you go out anywhere.

if you stop going out because of that then when you really need to go out anywhere it will be more difficult as you have trained your brain that the only way you can cope is to avoid those things and it makes things worse.

[Hidden]

its always hit or miss if the bathrooms will be in order wherever you go. At my workplace there are bathrooms on a floor that nearly always say out of order on them and I had said jokingly to another member of staff when are they ever in order and laughed and I said I just assume those are out of order so don't bother with them unless someone tells me otherwise. I hope it all went well for you at the shard. We went to the view thing there in January which i enjoyed but won't do again.