Hi everyone,
yesterday i went out shopping and totally forgot that I cannot use a public loo, so I had to rush home, very annoying, so does anyone know how long before we can sit on a regular loo? I'm 5 weeks post opp, I looked at the disabled loo's and they are too low aswell,
happy new year to all,
Lynne.
I went on a bus tour across the U.S.it was about American history. Holy cow those toilets were only like 14 inches from the floor..even in the hotel rooms.
Well I was five months post op. I had a extremely hard time getting off the toilet.because anything that puts my bum lower than my knees I can't get up.
I had to pull on the toilet paper roll enough get me up.
Soooooooooo just saying it Mart also be a while.lol
Lynne
I was told at my 6 week consultant appointment to keep using the toilet riser till I was comfortable without it as I have long legs!
I stopped using it at about 16 weeks.
Pete (Gloucestershire UK)
Normal UK toilet is approx 16-17 inches from floor. My lower leg is about this length and one year after THR I still can't get up without holding onto something.
So I'm inclined to agree with ginger - it might take a while yet. Just remember to hold on and you'll be OK.
Happy New Year
Hi Marg6910-ni
thanks for all the replies, my main concern about using lower toilets apart from getting back up is dislocation, ant thoughts on this?
Hi
When did you have your THR and where are you?
I know the disabled ones I use in the North East England seem to be high enough.
I was told 6 weeks post op I could stop using the ordinary ones
It depends on you really ....as we've said in different threads healing is a personal thing.....different people heal at different rates
Love
Eileen UK
Hi Eileen,
I'm in central scotland, and the loo's up here don't have any bars or means of leverage to get up with, and I'm scared I'll get stuck in the loo lol
Hi Lynne
I was in Scotland at end October (10 months Post op) and had no difficulty finding something to hold onto. Even if you have to resort to leaning on the ACTUAL toilet (between your legs & using toilet paper under your hand) you should be able to manage OK. With regard to dislocation - I don't think there should be any chance of that.
Hi Lynne
That sounds unusual......I'vecome across some in the North East that dont have bars but most have bars that may be pushed up out of the way but can be pulled down
I can understand your feelings but I'm sure thee must be something to lever yourself up on....even if its not a proper bar.
What about sending a letter into {whoever it is} council or the store and explaining to them
Its surprising how many things people who aren't diabled dont notice..
It might work..
I find store are usually the best places for disabled loos.
We had a Marks and Spencer and the disabled loo door pulled out....not pushed in. Try going in on a scooter to that one......I was OK if I had me scooter I just parked it outside and went it but some people cant get off their scooters.....just little things they dont notice.
Anyway I havent been back in that particular area since that but did talk to a manager about it.
Love
Eileen
Gosh, that would be awful to get stuck & not be able to get back up! My THR is in 3 wks so I will put this on my list of things to pay attention to. The times I have used a wheelchair my problem was that the aisles in the stores were too narrow to navigate.
i hope you recover speedily so you can enjoy your new hip.
Hi Lynne I have been sent home told to use normal loo!
apparantly new thoughts on it. (Probably thoughts about costs of supplying the extras on NHS)
Hi Janet
Thats dreadful.....I've had 2 THR's and couldnt have coped at the beginning without the raised seat and the arms around it to push yourself up.....not for the 6 weeks anyway
Did they tell you what thinking had changed? Where are you?
It probably is the funding
Love
Eileen UK
Hi Lynne
I just used to use the regular or disabled loo and stretch out my leg as far as it would go so that I was not bending it. The risk is dislocation and it recedes over time so as long as you dont break all the golden rules all of the time you will be ok. Keep the leg and hip as straight as possible and you will be just fine. Dont be tied to home and away from rehab just because of your bladder xxx
That is odd about the normal loo - my local services provided so much kit my hubby hid it when it arrived as he thought it would depress me!. Contact the hospital, GP or local community services to see what is on offer and TAKE IT ALL xxx
Hi Janet
Christine has a point
My stuff came from the Occpational Therapist at the hospital
Did you get anything??
Eileen
I used my raised toilet seat at home well into 4 months post op. I made sure my trips out in public were short. And really, there is no rule that says we women cannot stand straddled over the toilet is there?
Dawn
Lynne
I think you will find that M&S werequite correct in having the loo door open out.
Its done so if you collapse whilst in there they can open the door to get to you otherwise you may be blocking the door from opening.
The only time Ive seen a disabled loo withthe door opening in the door had another door within it that opened out so medics could get in.
There are also standards for disabled loos that specify grab rails hand holds heights etc which I thought were covering England , Scotland and Wales.
Pete (Gloucestershire UK)
OK,
So how do you get in if its a door opening out and you are in a wheelchair unable to get out and have no one with you????
Lots of doors have buttons outside and you push them and the door opens inwards, there is also a knob {of some sort} at he top that stafff can pull push or something and it opens the door in emergencies
I was sat outside 2 disabled ones for quite some time with the red showing as if it was locked. A member of staff passed and I mentioned it and he used theis "thingey" LOL tthe top and opened them from the outside....no one in either so they were out of order
North East mush hve different toilets to to your end]
Love
Eileen UK
Here in the states the loos don't have staff to help. The doors do open in.and if you lock them. No one can get in to help.
Because normal people use the handicapped loos I had to use normal one.omg I had a hard time getting up. I had wished to have a cane with me.Then I could use it over the door and pull up on.
Hi Ginger
We dont have staff to help as such.......I was in a large shopping mall and a member of staff just happened to pass.....nothing to do with the loos 
We have the same problem....normal {not that we aren't normal}
people use the disabled ones for no real reason. It annoys me.
Especially if they are teenagers with nothing wrong with them
Love
Eileen UK