Looking for advice

[Rainybean]

Hi all, I'm after a little help if anyone can offer any.

On Friday I'm going away for a few days and I'm wanting to plan ahead. I always need to know where toilets are as I go often, I have a radar key (only used it once and overheard a man saying well she doesn't f*****g need that so not used it since as I was embarrassed)

Can anyone recommend anything to help for the journey? Am I best taking immodium? If so am I better to take it on the morning before setting off or the night before etc

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[MargaritaNiko]

Hello, I think it’s great that you’ve got a radar key, very proactive. I’d be lost without mine and only use it when I have to but just having it is a comfort sometimes. I can appreciate how off-putting it must have been to overhear that incredibly ignorant man saying what he did. Please don’t let it put you off. IBS is an incredibly valid health condition and he clearly doesn’t have a clue!

I carry Imodium instants with me at all times. It’s normally the act of leaving the house or waiting around that sets me off so I would probably just have one after going to the loo for the last time before leaving. I’m not sure how severe your IBS-D is though, so another person might recommend taking it the night before.

If it helps I’ve found wearing Tena pants to help, you can wear them under your underwear and although I’ve never actually needed to ‘use’ them, I feel that just having them on under my clothes for a flight or something relaxes me a bit more for those times you may not be able to get to a toilet. I hope this helps, it’s hard to advise as it’s such an individual condition. I do sympathise though as this is something I experience myself!

[Rainybean in reply to MargaritaNiko]

Thank you for your reply. I find I go 3-4 times on a morning, rarely seems to happen in the afternoons.

I've seen several people say tena pants or pads but I didn't think they would be useful with them being for bladder incontinence but I think I'll get some and see if it helps. I think it's mainly the thought of an accident happening while out and about is what makes it worse so maybe wearing them may ease my anxiety a bit to know I have some sort of protection there should the worst happen

[MargaritaNiko in reply to Rainybean]

Ah yes I hear you completely. It’s genuinely the anxiety for me, they’ve never actually been put to the test so it’s very much psychological for me.

[Rainybean in reply to MargaritaNiko]

And if the worst should happen it's better it going into them then your normal underwear and possibly showing through your jeans or whatever you are wearing. Yes you are right, I'm going to get some. Thank you!

[huggit]

Hi me again ...I would take 2 the night before and 2 in the morning

[Rainybean in reply to huggit]

Hello stranger 😂 I'm away Friday Saturday and Sunday so would you recommend 2 Thursday night and then more each morning?

[huggit in reply to Rainybean]

Yes I must admit that when on holiday I take 4 in the morning so that I can literally forget about it for the day and enjoy my holiday.

[Rainybean in reply to huggit]

Thanks for your advice ☺️

[Briggsy0304]

Hey Rainybean,

Here's what I do when travelling:

Always take a radar key (YOU DO NEED A RADAR KEY - YOU HAVE IBS! F*** ANYONE WHO SAYS OTHERWISE!!!!!!).

A can't wait card from the IBS network is really handy, comes in 20 languages as well

I always take toilet paper with me

You can get a really handy app on your phone which tells you where all the public toilets are

Give yourself extra time to travel, if you arrive early then a bonus. You don't want to have to run to catch a plane or a train.

If you're driving, check to see when traffic is light & where all the stop offs are.

I'd say with travelling, travel when you feel your best. I'm always bad in the am, so never travel before midday.

I'd say have the Imodium handy, you never know when you may need it, plus I find it lets me walk around with more confidence.

Also, I read a quote recently from a doctor "IBS patients worry they will have an accident, but it's never happened" - This is true for me & I always keep it in my mind.

[Rainybean in reply to Briggsy0304]

Thank you for your reply. What is the name of the app that tells you where all the toilets are please?

[Briggsy0304 in reply to Rainybean]

It's called "where is the public toilet"

play.google.com/store/apps/...

That's an android one

apps.apple.com/gb/app/toile...

Doesn't look like it's on iPhone - but that one may be useful

[Rainybean in reply to Briggsy0304]

That's brilliant, thank you

[Hidden]

If you find Imodium helps you then by all means use that and use your radar key when you need it and put that comment down to that man's ignorance as those toilets are there for anyone who needs them whether they are in a wheelchair or not so don't be afraid to use them when you need to and wear an adult sanitary product as well just in case there's problems and if there are you are unlikely to see those people again so go ahead live your life and enjoy your holiday!

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network]

Hi, please don't feel that you can't use your radar key. Take a look in our online store -we have lots of products to help including a travel pack. theibsnetwork.org/shop/supp...