Hello I go out sometimes in the car with my boyfriend just to nip places to shops and stuff but we are never out long as I don't know what I would do if I needed the toilet as the seats will be to low won't they? I mean I assume at some point you have to go to the toilet in public what do you do? And how do you sit down in a eat place or a coffee shop ?
X
Excellent question. I too would like to know how others have managed. Probably mostly a girl issue!
K. X
I thought the same things , measure the height of your chair at home against your walking stick , then if you are out you can out it against the chair and see if it's high enough, on the loo being low , look for a disabled toilet you can lower yourself down on the bars keeping your operated leg in front of you
Hi Jessica. You don't say how many weeks past your operation you are. This is what I did. From about the end of the second week I did go out for coffee etc. I had a backpack with an inflatable cushion in it and I also took another fat cushion as well, to raise the seating. I found that the maximum I could manage at this point was about 45 minutes and I didn't use any toilets at this point. By week 4 I was using some of the disabled toilets in shops, pubs, garden centres. I asked around to find where they were. Some are better than others, with a raised pedestal and grab bars which I could use as I stuck my leg out in front of me as I lowered myself down. I didn't attempt to use a normal toilet. By week 5 I was confident enough to find something to hang onto (wall, basin etc) as I stood over the toilet in a semi squat position. This took a bit of practice!
Hope this is useful and good luck. I expect you will get some more advice from others.
Steph
Disabled toilets. Use the railings to lower yourself down. If there isnt one you just have to use the walls of the stall to lower yourself down whilst walking your feet out infront of you. Thats what i do.
Invest in a 'She-wee'. It is small enough to fit in a handbag - just remember to take a plastic bag with you to pop it in (a freezer bag is best).
That way you don't have to worry about low toilet seats.
Thanks everyone! I didn't know if it was ok to use a disabled toilet I am very carefull about not bending and worry about these things
Xx
Thanks great advice
It's been nearly two weeks since my op x
Squat in the air and hope it lands properly if you're desperate...lol...!!! 😹
Jessica it is definitely okay to use the disabled toilets. I have a new appreciation for these. If you have your walker, cane or crutch then it gives that added notification for others.
hi Jessica,
I know, it is such a concern, isn't it - and a valid one -
I applaud you for undertaking these little outings at 2 weeks post-op though - I was just getting around in the house, going for little walks and had my friend take me to ortho outpatient to have staples removed at 2 weeks post-op -
Great tips from our forum members - height of the chair is important - I never had a cushion with me but always asked for one - public toillet is something else - not everywhere they have a toilet for disabled - My biggest challenge was at the hairdresser's - still is - goodness, never realized how low those toilet seats are !!
I agree with Steph ... you will become very creative, darling -
how are you doing otherwise?
big warm hug
renee
It has played on my mind too. When going to visit family/friends I take the toilet seat with me but risking a loo at the shops/restaurants is another thing. How far post op are you? I even bought a 'feminine' contraption which didn't work and using a thick pad 'just in case' was a non-starter! It is an issue!
Yes I didn't know if it was safe to use the disabled ones so never tried but I'm so glad I have people on here to give me advice I had to take a trip out couple of days after being discharged because my wound was infected that was hard but I hate being stuck in house now and I am determined to get better as quick as possible I am doing good how are you doing?
Seems like most people use the disabled toilets I haven't tried them yet and haven't visited family or friends and 2 weeks tommorow from when I had my operation
X
Just be aware that not all so-called disabled loos are raised pedestal. Remember to stick your leg right out straight on front of you as you go down . Enjoy your trips out!
Excellent!!
those are tricky - (toilet of friends and family) - one of my friends was soo low and bathroom so small with nothing around me that I could pull myself up with - nothing else to do than push yourself up from toilet seat -
you'll manage ...
Use disabled loos. They have more space. I had my left hip replaced in April 2015 and the right one in May 2016 and use disabled facilities when available. Some time ago our local Tourist Information Office was selling the RADAR keys that provide access to disabled toilets. They were not expensive and you didn't have to be disabled to get one. Can be useful if other toilets are not available.
As for sitting in cafes etc you can always take a cushion or ask the proprietor - I've been to a local cafe several times - where they know me - and grabbed cushions from different chairs so I could sit comfortably. It's worth looking for a chair with arms so you have some support when getting up and down.
Most places will have one handicapped bathroom that will have rails to hold on to and raised toilets.I went to our church on my third week,they have special seating and then went to dinner with our best buddies.You could call ahead and make sure the resteraunt has handicap bathrooms.Some stories have those little scooters and you could use one of those to shop.I just went out again this last week and I walked with my walker as I have a fractured femur.I was slow but steady.need to gain strength and stamina