I have had MC for over 6 or 7 years and usually only travel with my husband, but I have an upcoming trip and I am scared to death of having an accident while my traveling companion is in the only bathroom... So, I am seriously thinking of purchasing a portable camping porta potty and a little pop up tent to " go " in.
Sounds desperate I know. I am.
Has anyone any other ideas or experience with this?
I will take probiotic ( Culturelle ) twice daily and one Imodium daily.
But nighttime right before I go to sleep and early morning are my biggest concerns!
Thank you for the support!
Taking a trip with friends, sharing hotel rooms with 1 Bath
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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jmarksberry
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:04 pm
OK, I'll admit these are desperate measures, but MC can lead to desperate situations, so you might give this some thought:
I don't know how well you know your traveling companion (probably not well enough for this), but you might lay out some ground rules for the trip.
1. You have first dibs on the bathroom every morning.
2. The bathroom door can never be locked. If the need arises, you have the right to burst in at any time and take over the "throne", regardless of circumstances.
Maybe someone else will have some less radical ideas.
Tex
I don't know how well you know your traveling companion (probably not well enough for this), but you might lay out some ground rules for the trip.
1. You have first dibs on the bathroom every morning.
2. The bathroom door can never be locked. If the need arises, you have the right to burst in at any time and take over the "throne", regardless of circumstances.
Maybe someone else will have some less radical ideas.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
when you are at home, how often do you have urgent bowel motions?
as Stress tends to be a trigger for MC, the main approach is 'dont stress and overthink'
my suggestions
- talk to your room mate - explain what MC is, and that there may be times that you need the bathroom at short notice.
- be transparent with them during the trip - ie if after dinner you are having some belly gurgles and think there will be issues, let them know
- the main thing is - dont feel embarrassed about needing the bathroom.
what many find when travelling is that because you are relaxed, enjoying yourself, having fun, the good happiness hormones are good for our guts and there are minimal issues, (until you get home post trip and there can be a few days of symptoms)
as Stress tends to be a trigger for MC, the main approach is 'dont stress and overthink'
my suggestions
- talk to your room mate - explain what MC is, and that there may be times that you need the bathroom at short notice.
- be transparent with them during the trip - ie if after dinner you are having some belly gurgles and think there will be issues, let them know
- the main thing is - dont feel embarrassed about needing the bathroom.
what many find when travelling is that because you are relaxed, enjoying yourself, having fun, the good happiness hormones are good for our guts and there are minimal issues, (until you get home post trip and there can be a few days of symptoms)
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Weirdly, I generally do better when I am traveling than when I am at home. Perhaps it is the lack of work stress.
Are you staying in one place or traveling around?
I'd consider paying extra for my own room even if I had to stay at a cheaper motel across the street for affordability and join
the group during the day and break away in the evening.
Are accomodations booked? Many times you can get airbnb accomodations with multiple rooms and bathrooms for the
same price as a hotel.
I've only stayed at airbnb twice but if money is a concern you can generally get a room and private bathroom with access to
a kitchen for about $50.00 per night in the US and either walk to link up with your friend at her motel or catch an uber
for $3.00 or $5.00 to link up with your friend at their motel.
If you do end up sharing a room, make sure you know where the lobby bathroom is. I have been known to utilize the lobby
bathroom in the morning and/or evening. Most of the lobby bathrooms have multiple stalls too.
Are you staying in one place or traveling around?
I'd consider paying extra for my own room even if I had to stay at a cheaper motel across the street for affordability and join
the group during the day and break away in the evening.
Are accomodations booked? Many times you can get airbnb accomodations with multiple rooms and bathrooms for the
same price as a hotel.
I've only stayed at airbnb twice but if money is a concern you can generally get a room and private bathroom with access to
a kitchen for about $50.00 per night in the US and either walk to link up with your friend at her motel or catch an uber
for $3.00 or $5.00 to link up with your friend at their motel.
If you do end up sharing a room, make sure you know where the lobby bathroom is. I have been known to utilize the lobby
bathroom in the morning and/or evening. Most of the lobby bathrooms have multiple stalls too.
I agree with Brandy about the lobby bathroom. I shared a bathroom with my son's girlfriend while on vacation and I used the lobby bathroom several times during our stay.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
If you think a portable camper potty would be helpful do what you need to do.
I can say that the lobby restrooms work really well, particularly in the evening. Virtually no one ever uses
the lobby restrooms as everyone wants to use the private restrooms in their rooms. Even with 3 stalls
I've found the lobby restrooms are about empty virtually all the time.
If getting your own room is financially an option....blame it on your gastroenterologist. Just say, "Due to my colitis my gastroenterologist recommends (or say requires me) that I have my own bathroom when traveling." Don't elaborate. Leave it at that.
I'm really proud of you. Keep us posted on how your trip goes and what you end up doing. I've turned down
"girlfriend trips" just because of the room thing....the restaurant thing etc.
I can say that the lobby restrooms work really well, particularly in the evening. Virtually no one ever uses
the lobby restrooms as everyone wants to use the private restrooms in their rooms. Even with 3 stalls
I've found the lobby restrooms are about empty virtually all the time.
If getting your own room is financially an option....blame it on your gastroenterologist. Just say, "Due to my colitis my gastroenterologist recommends (or say requires me) that I have my own bathroom when traveling." Don't elaborate. Leave it at that.
I'm really proud of you. Keep us posted on how your trip goes and what you end up doing. I've turned down
"girlfriend trips" just because of the room thing....the restaurant thing etc.
Brandy beat me to it but I would also consider either getting my own room and definitely know where the lobby restroom is ( or there may be one by the pool or workout room).
Good luck! Planning ahead will help relieve some stress.
Carol
Good luck! Planning ahead will help relieve some stress.
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
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RanchGal424
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2018 4:46 pm
I have experienced this same situation! A couple of times, I was able to successfully contact the hotel ahead of time and have them reserve a room that was located on the first floor/lobby floor or on the conference room floor that had a public restroom nearby. This provided a close, viable option in case I needed to make a quick dash. If this is the case, make sure to ask the hotel to make several extra room keys so you have them handy in case you need to make an emergency dash to another bathroom and you don't end up locking yourself out of your hotel room in the meantime.
I also make sure to pack and use Immodium on trips where I know there may be a risk of a flare- it's definitely not a "cure all", but it does help control the frequency of D, at least in my own experience.
I also make sure to pack and use Immodium on trips where I know there may be a risk of a flare- it's definitely not a "cure all", but it does help control the frequency of D, at least in my own experience.
LC symptoms since 2006
Diagnosed with LC: 2010
GF DF since 2018, EF since 2019
Determined to reach remission!
Diagnosed with LC: 2010
GF DF since 2018, EF since 2019
Determined to reach remission!
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jmarksberry
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:04 pm
Thank you all for the wonderful advice. Here is what I have done.
I purchased this porta potty from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057 ... UTF8&psc=1
And I purchased a pop up tent called a Green Elephant Utilitent https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0 ... UTF8&psc=1
I have told all of my travel mates of my situation. And although I have purchased the tent, since the potty is so small, I believe I can place it in a standard size closet. It is very well made and I gave it a "trial run" at my house and it works like a charm! I am also going to have it set up in the back seat of my small SUV for the travel part! And I am going to a horse exhibition and going to request being able to park near the arena.
If anyone wants further info, let me know.
But the tent I may take to the beach with us! As it comes with sand bags to hold it down.
This is a big trip for me as I rarely go anywhere, mostly due to this but I also have other health problems.
Thanks for the support and I will let you know how it goes!
this disease will not define me.
I purchased this porta potty from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057 ... UTF8&psc=1
And I purchased a pop up tent called a Green Elephant Utilitent https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0 ... UTF8&psc=1
I have told all of my travel mates of my situation. And although I have purchased the tent, since the potty is so small, I believe I can place it in a standard size closet. It is very well made and I gave it a "trial run" at my house and it works like a charm! I am also going to have it set up in the back seat of my small SUV for the travel part! And I am going to a horse exhibition and going to request being able to park near the arena.
If anyone wants further info, let me know.
But the tent I may take to the beach with us! As it comes with sand bags to hold it down.
This is a big trip for me as I rarely go anywhere, mostly due to this but I also have other health problems.
Thanks for the support and I will let you know how it goes!
this disease will not define me.
J, you have your plan. Now you can relax and focus on having fun.
I have admit that I laughed when I saw the portable potties on Amazon are named ‘Easy Go’ and, my personal favorite, ‘Serene Life’ (only $99). Ninety-nine dollars seems like a bargain for a serene life.
In case anyone else is interested:: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07218B4 ... 1145120294
I have admit that I laughed when I saw the portable potties on Amazon are named ‘Easy Go’ and, my personal favorite, ‘Serene Life’ (only $99). Ninety-nine dollars seems like a bargain for a serene life.
In case anyone else is interested:: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07218B4 ... 1145120294
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou