The Perfect Bathroom

Before I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, I really hated using the bathroom, especially if it wasn’t my own. If I could make it home in time, then I would wait until I got home. I knew that the bathroom was clean, well lit, and safe. When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s, that changed very quickly.

I remember when I was at my worst, running across camp as fast as I could to get to the bathroom. The bathroom was hot, small and a borderline outhouse. But I had no choice. I had to use it. Over the years, I have been in thousands of bathrooms, all over the country. Some are great, and some totally horrible. Bathrooms are to serve a purpose. They are there to relieve waste, in a time in need. They should be comfortable and easy to access.  Below are my criteria for the best type of bathrooms.

1. A great fan

This is a big must. The fan serves as a big factor. The fan will not only take the fog off of the mirrors, but it will also cause a big distraction to anybody standing directly out front waiting. This could be good for extra privacy.

2. The bathroom has to be multi-stall bathroom

You might be surprised, but a single stall bathroom is too small. Also everybody knows that you are in there when there is a single stall bathroom. At least with a multi-stall bathroom, you are in there with others. Usually the other people you don’t know, and will not see them again.

3. Lighting

You have to have a bathroom with good lighting. This is important when you are in a flare up and are in need of a bathroom quickly. You have to be able to navigate to the seat. You also have to know if there is toilet paper. Yep, that has happened to me before.

4. A good flush

A loud and strong flush can also be used to disguise you and any noise you might make when in a bathroom. With chronic pouchitis, my bathroom visit are quite noisy, and I use the flush three or four times to mask the sound. It really works for me when I am in my school building. I hate that feeling of walking out of the bathroom and people are looking at you.

Those are just a few things that are needed for my ideal bathroom. But anybody with Inflammatory Bowel Disease will tell you that in the time of need, it doesn’t matter if you are in your “ideal” bathroom or not. For those that do not know, the CrohnsAndColitis.com website offers medical cards for IBD patients. These cards can come into great use if you are not home and in a place that doesn’t’ have bathrooms for the public. You can show the card to the people in charge and if they have any kind of heart, and they should let you use their bathroom.

The bathroom is an important part of any “Cronie” life. We spend the most time there. Make your bathroom work for you. It will make IBD just a tad bit better.