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I spoke to my mother recently and I recalled to her a story about when I was young and in elementary school. my teacher told my mother I was going to the bathroom to often and she suspected I was playing around in the bathroom. so, to this my mother said dont let her go. well, i raised my hand to go one day and was turned down. it was during the diahrea portion of my IBS...i had to go and sat that as she said No and began to hold onto the desk and sweat profusely and then begin to shake and then whine and cry..it took about 30 mins before the bell rang and I ran out so fast I ran into the bathroom and exploded....it all came out at once because I was holding it..No child should ever have to go through that. My mother then told me that she suspects that I had this IBS since i was a baby as I had the same symptoms...diahrea and then constipation...alternating...never knowing which one would hit...I had it thru elemntary and then jr high and sometimes in high school and when I began to have babies only once in awhile..but as I got older it became once again more pronounced....I use to tease my kids about always having to find a restroom...but now its me always finding a restroom and Im teased...I keep poise with me at all times..its the long extended poise..as it catches the front or the back..and its good because who knows if its diahrea that it can roll to the front..sounds awful but it can happen. when I had my 1st baby..in a little hospital this side of the mexican border...the dr there cut my sphincter...never to sew it up again and therefore I cant be sure whether constipation or diagrea ...it will stay in...or come out without my help...I keep adult pullups in case it becomes inflamed...I have had it only once so bad I almost had to be hospitalized..It was during a really horrible upset..I found out some awful news and it upset me so badly that...I began to have something I cant describe...pain so bad that I had to hold onto the walls...I began to be afraid to eat..because not long after the eating..it would start up...cramps...so bad I had to be somewhere private...I acutally did hold onto the walls and then closed my eyes and did breathing..like having a baby..it was diahrea..it had blood and mucus...then as it was done coming out..the end of it was a funny color...white...it was yellow and t hen to a white...the smell was like a newborn babies bowel when its breast fed....then when it was over the pain was gone...but each time i ate ..it was so severe I would yell ...hold on and it would make noise that was so loud...and you could see my stomach literally ripling...it was horrible..I could feel each movement as it came down..all liquid...I was given muscle relaxers and anything that would stop cramps...the only thing that worked on me....was XANAX...it worked immediately....I took it for 1 1/2 yr afraid to get off..but as I got off slowly...I had horrible cramps but not bowel cramps..just getting off cramps...but my bowels had stopped doing it...I was wasting away with this...so for now I take nothing..but..when I try things like yogurt with good bacteria...it does help move my bowels but..after awhile i begin to burn in them and esp at the lower end..i dont know if that is my hemroid burning or what..but when I use any probiotic..it burns me out....its suppose to be good..but I have to be careful of too much ruffage as well...not an easy life..and im allergic to most medicines...
I sent for the card...but everywhere i go I have to find one and am afraid to go out where there are none..my husband gripes and thinks its mental ..not real...he needs to find out its for real...I eat and then cramp..its a sure thing now..so I go in and go several times..its not always diahrea....when it is constipation...it builds up for awhile and caused impaction...I have to use something then...I was given so many differnt things and it caused diahrea...so bad...Im sensitive ...I think I was tested for crohns disease and it wasnt that...
Jennifer, thank you for your very useful post.
Last year, when researched my Sharepost, When You Gotta Go, and They Tell You "No", I learned that, in most states in the U.S., it's illegal to deny anyone access to a public restroom. This means that under existing state code in most states-no additional laws are actually necessary in those states-anyone requesting use of a rest room must be accommodated. No special passes are required. Proof of "need" or urgency is not expected. Nor is begging or cajoling on the part of the citizen. Rest rooms in public places should be clean, safe, in working order, and accessible, in most states. No one requesting use of the bathroom should be turned away.
As I noted in my Sharepost, I stumbled onto a rather unique organization, the American Restroom Association, which is "FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHT TO USE A RESTROOM."
Their site explains:
"Business and mercantile establishments occasionally indicate they have no customer toilet facilities. Most likely the store managers, owners and even some local code officials are not aware that this policy is at variance with their municipalities building code. Almost all States adopt comprehensive consensus code that contains well-vetted language, which requires toilets facilities for customers, patrons and visitors. This code is then enacted Statewide or where not mandated is often adopted voluntarily at the municipal level.
With a few exceptions States have adopted either the International Plumbing Code (IPC), the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) or the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC).
Building restroom access at non-food business establishments is covered by state building code in just about every state in the country. Typically, this code requires that all buildings have restrooms, and that all building occupants be allowed to use the restroom. When a person enters a business establishment, assuming they were not immediately asked to leave, they are an occupant. Restrooms that are locked are allowed under Code, as long as requests to use the toilet facilities are honored.
While the Code is generally adopted at the state level, building codes are most often enforced at the local level. Violation is often a misdemeanor. Consumer complaints usually result in an inspection of the facility. Violations found may lead to warnings, fines or the closing of the business until the violation is resolved."
Wanting to be certain, I contacted a member of my state's legislature, and this was the reply:
Hi, Hope:
The Code of Virginia, in Chapter 6 of Title 36 (Uniform Statewide Building Code) incorporates, by reference, the regulations adopted by the International Plumbing Code.
BTW everyone, for reference, the applicable sections of the International Plumbing Code (IPC), is:
403.6 Customer facilities. Customers, patrons and visitors shall be provided with public toilet facilities in structures and tenant spaces intended for public utilization. Public toilet facilities shall be located not more than one story above or below the space required to be provided with public toilet facilities and the path of travel to such facilities shall not exceed a distance of 500 feet (152 m).
403.6.1 Covered malls. In covered mall buildings, the path of travel to required toilet facilities shall not exceed a distance of 300 feet (91,440 mm). The required facilities shall be based on total square footage, and facilities shall be installed in each individual store or in a central toilet area located in accordance with this section. The maximum travel distance to the central toilet facilities in covered mall buildings shall be measured from the main entrance of any store or tenant space.
The theme of restroom needs is certainly a very compelling one-I posted another piece on the topic last year, as well:
A Bathroom at the Inn-My Top 5 Picks for Urgent Pit Stops on the Road
Happy (and comfortable) travels!
Hope
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Great Post, Jennifer.
I, too, know all the good and bad restrooms from Colorado to Washington, D.C. Another resource reader's should know about is the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. With your membership comes a small wallet-sized card that on the front says, I Can't Wait! And the back easily describes that you have a colon disease that requires you to urgently use the bathroom. It's very handy to have, and I've used it a time or two on airplanes and at big venues like a concert to jump the line.