Community Forum

I am most discouraged by the terrible mess I make in the bathroom, so many times a day.

My bowel movements blast out of my colon, spraying a mess all over the toilet, that requires a detailed cleaning after each one... and this is horrible.  It prevents me from using anyone's bathroom as I do not know if there will be the implements necessary to do the cleaning.

And I have to do this over and over and over... any thoughts or suggestions? 

 Reply posted for Garfy4321.

Well, for the house you can add a bidet sprayer to your toilet. I just installed 2 in my house, they are helpful for rinsing off your butt and also rinsing down the toilet. You can pick them up for 25 bucks. I hear they make a portable one as well, its like a  spray bottle but I don't know how convenient that is to carry around or how practical, I mostly installed it for feeling clean.

 Reply posted for Garfy4321.

You may want to try thr Disposable toilet called The Biffy Bag. You can not use them for each trip to the bath room but they would come in handy if you are visiting someone. They fit in your pocket or purse and you can toss them in any trash can. save yuo the emmbrasment and the process of trying to clean up each time. Go to www.bifyybag.com and check them out. They work really well.

Good Luck.

 Reply posted for Garfy4321.

I have had that problem in the past. 15-20 bathroom trips aday. With everything just blasting out of me in an instant. You have to just keep cleaning untill you get things under control. Since I changed my diet, I now have 2 or 3 bathroom visits. I can't eat much, but it's better than sitting on the toilet all day.

 Reply posted for LBoogie0617.

Oh also if I know I will be going out I take immodium first thing when I wake up and never leave the house without having some stashed on my person. It can help reduce the number of trips you have to make to the toilet. Avoid trigger foods the day before and day of any excursions. Keep a bag in your car with an extra change of clothes, roll of toilet paper, baby wipes, and any meds you may need to be sure you have backup on hand if something happens. Even if you don't use it, it can help you feel more confident knowing it's there if you do. and finally if it's just plain not a good day and despite meds you are still running to BR every 20 minutes try to reschedule. My friends are so used to hearing today's just not a good day for my stomach it's not a prob. Best to stress yourself out as little as possible until you can get your symptoms into remission. It sucks having to miss out on things from time to time but it's more important to remain stress free and focus on rest when your body needs it.

 Reply posted for Garfy4321.

I carry bottles of hand sanitizer in my purse. In a pinch it and some toilet paper can be used to wipe up any spills. Also they make disinfection hand wipes that come in individual packages that can be carried in your pocket. I also keep a travel size bottle of body spray or perfume. Just do the best you can. If if the mess is really bad, pull the host aside and quietly explain you have a medical condition and you've had an accident. Ask if you could be discretely directed to cleaning supplies if there are none in the bathroom. It can be embarassing but most people will be accomodating and happy you didn't just leave it there. If they are insensitive to you then I wouldn't bother associating with them again anyway. People who aren't willing to be supportive of the issues that can occur with this disease aren't worth keeping around. Keep your head held high and just do the best you can.

 Reply posted for Garfy4321.

Garfy,

 Reply posted for Garfy4321.

Garfy you definitely have empathy from lots of folks here.  No one likes the bathroom aftermath of an IBD flare.  I don't know that there is a way to prevent it other than working on getting better.

Wishing you the best -

Claire's Mom

 Reply posted for Garfy4321.

I was hoping for some guidance or perhaps some empathy from others who experience the same.  It is like this for me every day. 

I probably shouldn't complain, it seems not long ago I could not leave the house for fear of losing control.  And others are losing organs, or even their lives.