Would it be odd for me to say I need the loo during a massage at a spa ??

[Mammawolf90]

I love a massage/spa treatment. I have a phobia of being in a situation I can't escape from eg spa treatment, bus, London underground, sitting in the middle of a row in a theatre. I'm slightly more relaxed in an indoor setting because I can get to the loo, worse case scenario, albeit it would be embarrassing. I get really bad anxiety which makes me think I urgently need the loo

Would you think it was odd for me to ask the therapist to pause the treatment while I went to the loo ?

No?

I think it would probably ruin the flow but maybe just knowing one was there would make you not need it? If that makes sense.

Probably, as the treatments aren't normally that long so I would think it was a bit odd, that going before wasn't enough, or just waiting until it was over.

Go before you go in, but if you need to go during as well, you need to go. Don’t spoil it for yourself by being desperate for the loo and unable to relax.

I will take anxiety meds and go beforehand. I have overactive bladder which means sometimes I can need to go ASAP and cannot wait. I cannot know when these instances will happen

I don't see a problem although it may depend on where the loo is and if you have to get completely dressed or can wear a robe.

Am I reading it right that its not that you actually need a wee, rather that you need to be able to get away from wherever you are? Would just being able to sit up for a moment be enough in which case you could say to the masseuse something like 'I may need to ask you to stop for a moment while I sit up for a couple of minutes'

I have a dodgy back and sometimes need to stop and stretch when I feel it cramping up. Even if my masseuse does think it's odd she has always been fine with it.

I have done this before, no point spending loads of money then hating every minute. It's fine, massage therapists have bladders too so they know what it's like...

I mean the most difficult part is I am normally just in my pants when having a massage so I'd have to get my clothes back on! Don't always have a robe, depends where I have the massage!

I'd just let the person know that I might need the loo partway through for medical reasons. I'm sure they would understand. Don't let it spoil something lovely for you x

You’re the paying customer remember, it’s about your comfort not theirs.

And they’d probably love a quick check of mumsnet while you’re gone.

Totally fine. Take a robe if you won't have one already, then if you need to go you can just fling it over the top and you don't need to faff getting dressed.

Masseuses experience far far weirder things then someone needing a wee. They won't bat an eyelid.

It’s fine. If you want to you can tell the therapist that you might need to go in the middle of the treatment and they won’t be surprised. A good therapist would ask if you’d like to plan in a toilet break in the middle of a full body treatment and might suggest the best time to go to minimise disruption. They want you to be comfortable, not feeling awkward about needing a wee.

Some massage rooms in a spa will have a loo adjoining. For others it might be further away. I'd research somewhere where the loo is really easy to get to. Then let them know in advance as a possible medical need. Then you can relax

The loo is next to the room and they have a robe in the room. No one would see me nip next door to the bathroom.

in that case no problem at all.

Totally normal, don't give it a second thought.

From a massage therapist, people do ask for the loo during a treatment ,believe me, you won't be the first or the last .
Go and have a lovely treatment , and don't worry about saying you need the loo

Normally the therapists advise you to go before the treatment starts to avoid this. But if it is not possible, I would inform them beforehand that you may have to go and ensure you have a robe at hand.

OP, I could have written this post. I totally empathise. I hope it makes you feel better that I have recently started to speak up and ask to go to the loo during treatments and nobody bats an eyelid. It's awful laying there thinking "omg I need a wee"

A massage therapist told me once after I did it that she was so glad, she wanted me to enjoy the treatment. I don't hesitate now. I hope you start to do the same!