9. Out and about
Key points
- Planning is key to getting out and about.
- There are resources to help:
- Radar Key for accessible toilets.
- Toilet map.
- “Just can’t wait” card.
Getting out and about to shops and other public places can be difficult with bladder or bowel problems. Planning and preparation can go some way to reducing the stress of going out.
“He would wear a backpack and in it we’ve got clean clothes, pads, gloves in case it’s a poo, disposable bags and baby wet wipes.”
Wife
Things to think about
- Where are the toilet facilities? In the UK, Toilet Map can help you find public toilets (https://www.toiletmap.org.uk).
- 9000 accessible toilets (used to be called disabled toilets) in the UK are kept locked but can be accessed using a Radar Key - a large universal key used to open RADAR locks. Ask for a Radar key from your local council.
- Try to plan trips around the usual toilet-use routine, for example, after a morning bowel movement.
- If you’re going to be somewhere busy, you can get a “Just can’t wait” card from Bladder & Bowel UK that tells people you need to go to the front of the queue. It can also be useful in some shops that don’t allow general toilet access.
“It’s a bit of a pain on the plane because of how small the toilets are. But I can stand there with the door open and they [cabin crew] pull a curtain around or stand around us and it works.”
Husband
- Be prepared for accidental leakage:
- Dark coloured clothing shows wet patches far less than light coloured.
- Consider taking a bag with a change of clothing, wipes, disposal bags for pads, spare pads, plus a hand towel might be useful.
- Try not to worry about what other people think. People are less likely to notice than you might think. If they do, then most will be understanding. Ask for help if you need it, particularly from customer service staff.
“I would wait until she’d been and then we’d go shopping so I knew I’d got a window of opportunity there.”
Husband
“Well stuff them [other people who might notice problems].”
Wife