Speedo's in France with a colostomy.

[BachAtTheMoon]

We are heading to France camping next week with my parents. We were hoping to stop at a site with a pool, but reading the rules, they do not allow board shorts (which is fine for most of us). However, my DF has a colostomy bag which he is embarrassed to show in public. He also has a very large stomach as a result of all his past surgeries and finding speedo's or jammers which fit is problematic in itself. Has anyone any experience of being allowed to wear board shorts in these circumstances? Or should we look at avoiding pool altogether? The last thing I want is for my DF to feel embarrassed.

We have found that on campsites, especially Yelloh/Eurocamp ones shirts have been fine. It's only public pools that enforce the rule.

Rivers/lakes a good option, teen DS would rather die than wear speedos so we always do write dining (which is much more normal in France than UK)

Whereabouts will you be?

And I would speak to the office staff not pool staff to ask on site

We are looking at the Bordeaux area. Lots of lovely pools!

A lot of the men at the campsites I've stayed on spent their time poolside with board shorts on then just took them off to go in the water, that might work for your DF?

We’ve been to French campsites which strictly enforce the speedo rules - this means Lycra rather than cotton so you don’t necessarily need tiny pants.

Decathlon have Lycra fabric shorts which I’m sure would work well for him.

I'm sure the sites I've been to only enforced the rule for men actually going in the pool and not just poolside.

I think its the rise on the shorts and the snugness around his colostomy site that would worry him. He normally wears a really voluminous pair of boardies hoiked up to near his armpits! I think the terror of lycra would ruin any pool enjoyment for him so we might have a look at wild swimming.

You should find loads of wild places there, and don't forget the beach too

They have been very strict where we have stayed in France, h wouldn't swim at all, we avoided those places since. Spain and Italy were fine.

How about a proper rash vest? Bring a drs note translated into French perhaps? Try calling the site directly - it will vary

What on Earth is the reason?!

Yes, what is the rationale for men having to wear speedos? I’ve never heard of this before!

@arizona85 the reason for Speedo’s? Health and safety/hygiene I think. It means that blokes can’t wander round all day in “outside” shorts and then swim in them. So cleaner.

Agree to try longer length Lycra ones (like cycling shorts maybe)

The reason for his not wanting to wear them?

What a daft rule

It's the waist rise I think, rather than the leg length. I found some high waisted ones but they were very expensive! I don't think he'd be willing to get a dr's note. I think he'd rather not go in the pool if any of his scars or bag was on show. We will try beaches too I think.

We’ve had this in France too, it was a public pool and they wouldn’t let DS in with normal trunks (they had some speedos for him to borrow, much to his embarrassment!). The reason they gave was because of “les microbes” (not sure I quite follow the reasoning there but it was definitely non-negotiable).

Could you argue for this sort of thing as a medical/ health product and "reasonable adjustment"?

www.healthandcare.co.uk/cui-wear-ostomy-supports/cui-mens-ostomy-swimwear.html

Sorry forgot the link!

I'm wearing a rash vest on holiday at the moment to keep out of the sun, this would solve the problem I think.

I thought it was to do with pool filters, the more fabric the more fibres get shed. We all had to wear swimming caps in an indoor pool in France as well. Tres chic.

Betcha the french don’t do ‘reasonable adjustments’

I’ve looked it up, I’m wrong about the shorts, it’s as ememem said. It’s just the hair/swimming caps thing with the filters.

That's interesting to know about the speedos. I'm in a hotel in majorca and its speedo central! There are a lot of French guests here so this explains it.
I'm sorry about your dad's predicament OP.

We went to Siblu Bonne Anse Plage campsite in France (above Bordeaux). The shorts linked to above would be fine at the pool area there.

Try contacting the Colostomy Association helpline. They might have experience of similar and could advise you.
I think a rash vest might be a good idea - you could say he has scars he can't expose to the sun and they are made of the same material as Speedo's.