Using disabled loo during period leakage

[moutonfou]

Using the disabled loo if there's a long queue and you're leaking blood - reasonable or unreasonable?

Not done it but was in the situation and luckily there was no queue - wondered what I would have done if there'd been one.

Any emergency makes it OK to use the disabled loo IMO.

Wouldn't use it otherwise though. I'd just feel a bit bad for using it for nothing other than a regulation wee or poop.

Don't be looking for mumsnet approval for these things.

Use your own judgement and then live with any consequences.

shirzy sorry I misunderstood you, of course you don't use it, if you are able to wait for a cubicle.

Lots of different people need accessible toilets.

Sirzy I agree with you there yes, I hadn't meant if said toilet was game for anyone who fancied it. Just the idea that no disabled person anywhere would ever have to wait at some point.
That said, where do you draw the line? wrt toddlers for example?

With a toddler if they couldn't wait I would (and have with nobody ever saying no!) ask the people in front if they could go. I think most people wouldn't think twice about letting a "dancing" child go before them!

YANBU
My Waitrose ( and i think all of them) has added a new sign to the disabled loo 'Disabilities are not always visible.' I understand this is after discussion with charities that support people with bowel diseases- Crohns, IBS etc.

I don't go along with this 'always leave the loo for a disabled person' if you are desperate or have a hidden disability.

Disabled people cannot expect the loo to be vacant at any time they wish to use it- other disabled people may be in it. And, generalising here, an able bodied person is likely to be in and out quite quickly.

I think the whole issue around loos for the disabled needs a re-think and some common sense. They are there to give access for wheelchairs and washing facilities in the same room. They do not mean that disabled people have an outright priority to the loo if other people need quick access. I have a condition that means sometimes I need a loo urgently. To observers, I look fit and able bodied. But at times I've not been able to wait in a queue of 20 women, so if the Disabled loo was free, I'd use it.

I get very shouty about disabled loos (disabled mum + I once saw a disabled man have an accident because a non-disabled person was using the disabled loo and it was bloody horrible, he cried and it was just awful) but even I think you're justified in using it in that circumstance.

If you have a pressing reason why you need to use an accessible toilet, use it.

Don't use it if you don't need to.

If someone with a disability comes along who needs it, they can generally wait.

There may, once in a blue moon, be someone who needs the accessible toilet urgently cannot use it because you are using it. Take that into account when deciding whether your reason to use it is pressing enough to justify it.

My DD2 sometimes needs to use an accessible toilet because she cannot cope with queuing in a busy environment with lots of smells, noises, people brushing past, hand driers, etc. If I knew someone needed it more urgently than she did, I would happily allow them to go first but I won't prevent her from ever using them just in case someone comes along while we are in there who needs it immediately.

Everyone can solve this problem with a little common sense and consideration for others.

The point of disabled toilet access isn't that people with disabilities are less able to wait for the toilet than others (unless their disability means they are, but that's not usual)
It's that they need specific facilities which occasionally may be occupied by someone else who also needs specific facilities.
A person with a genuine period emergency needs those specific facilities. Not because they are disabled, but there may be several reasons to need a disabled toilet. Having a toddler who can't fit into a regular stall with you would be another for example.
As long as you're not abusing the disabled toilets because you can't be arsed to queue then occasional use is ok.

Well I wouldn't. I can't imagine a period so heavy it was a 'toilet emergency'.

Imo disabled/accessible toilets are for those who are disabled or need more room to assist a disabled person.

And for the person who suggested a heavy period may be classed as a disability, no it really isn't.

It makes no difference who is in the toilet if a person with disabilities wanted to use it at that moment would it? What if there were a queue of disabled people waiting for it? Would they speak to each other to prioritise who was in most need?

A toilet emergency is just that regardless of disability and I wouldn't think twice about using an empty toilet.

If you have an urgent need to use the disability toilets, I think it's reasonable to. Whether that is because you're throwing up (surely no one wants sick everywhere?), leaking blood, sudden diarrhoea, toddler about to have an accident...

Common sense is what's needed really.

I can't imagine a period so heavy it was a 'toilet emergency'.

Blood clots dripping down leg coming out of skirt or trousers, blood dripping from crotch etc. It's not that hard to imagine.

In the real world there is give and take in these situations.

On mumsnet you will be called selfish and god knows what else even for considering it.

The chance of a disabled person arriving at that precise moment who physically can not wait, is low.

Ladies toilets notorious for having huge queues while women faff about doing god knows what. If I was literally leaking blood down my legs or through my clothes, and there was an empty toilet right there, I would use it quickly and clean myself up.

That person would be me. I didn't say that heavy periods were classed as a disability. I said that if you are flooding blood through a super plus tampon and towel that is a medical issue that would qualify you to use a disabled loo imo. The same as IBS which I also wouldn't class as a disability.

myrtle how ignorant and narrow minded you are. Some people periods are so heavy that it's like haemorrhaging, especially if they have PCOS. It's an accessible toilet, for those who need it, whatever their reasons! If you see someone who looks able bodied, coming out of the disabled toilet, I bet you woukd judge.

Well I wouldn't. I can't imagine a period so heavy it was a 'toilet emergency'.

Perhaps you should count yourself lucky that you've never had a very heavy period, then. I used to get them as a teen. Or do you think sudden flows are controllable?

I can't imagine a period so heavy it was a 'toilet emergency'.

I don't have to imagine.

where they need one tampon a day

You're not supposed to wear one for more than 8 hours, though.

If you can't imagine a period that heavy, you are lucky.

I can't imagine a period so heavy it was a 'toilet emergency'.

Really? You're very lucky then
Before I went through the menopause, I had days where I've had to work at home as I can't manage the 1hr 20min commute to work without leaking, and that's with the most absorbent tampon AND a heavy duty sanitary towel.
Popping to the loo every hour, asking a couple of female colleagues to discreetly let me know if any blood had seeped through my clothes, hands literally covered in blood after changing tampon and sanitary towel, it was awful....
If my period started while I was out, I'd have literally minutes to get some sanitary protection sorted before it soaked through my clothes. I rarely left the house....

In the real world there is give and take in these situations. On mumsnet you will be called selfish and god knows what else even for considering it.

Very true... I've been lambasted for saying I'd take my desperate toddler (they're older now so not an issue) if there was a queue to avoid an accident, so given that As you've had a generally positive response from the ever-harsh MN jury, I reckon you're ok!

While having horrible periods may not be officially a disability, it has a severe impact on the person in question, so ... if no one is using/waiting to use the disabled toilet at the time, fair enough.

(You could also try telling the other women waiting to use the regular loo that it's an emergency. If I didn't have to go very urgently, I'd let you go first)

Same with toddler about to soil themselves. Try to get given priority at the regular loo, first.

I think we all prefer a world where everyone is nice and clean and not leaking anything.