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.

Where I live most disabled loo's are also the only one big enough to fit a pram in, so disabled people regularly have to wait for me cos I can't fit in any other loo with my pram.

Possession of a pram isn't a disability. Leave it outside.

'so disabled people regularly have to wait for me cos I can't fit in any other loo with my pram.'

Myrtle
I didn't call you ridiculous. Just your posts.

So if for example I am walking down the street and the blood clots suddenly start coming out and I'm either not wearing sanitary protection or the blood overflows from my Sanpro because it's full. What's going to happen?

It's going to be the giants nose bleed snot trails all down my legs..... this is easy op is talking about.

' Lovely that you wod rather see a human being humiliated, for your own gain'

Also Aeroflot can you calm down? this ^ plus your 'spiteful' accusations and suggesting I 'do one' are very unpleasant

Unless it is locked and you need a special access key, It's not a disabled toilet, it's a toilet that has been adapted for disabled use and should be left free wherever possible for people with disabilities who would otherwise not be able to access toilet facilities. It just needs common sense applying. It doesn't mean no-one else can ever use it, just that it should be your last option.

When the ladies toilets have had a queue and I've had a toddler with an urgent need, I've taken them into the gents and if that wasn't an option then I'd have a quick trip into the disabled toilet if it was free. There is no sense allowing a child to wet themselves when there is a vacant facility. I just wouldn't be loitering in there. Same goes for the OPs situation.

I've done this. It was running down my legs and I was feeling sickthe and light headed. I hadthink spare underwear and baby wipes, water and painkillers. Luckily wearing a dress and no stainage. I went in cleaned myself up, had a couple of paracetamol and a quick drink and went back out. Five mins tops. I'm probably evil but I'd do it again! If necessary.

Not RTFT.

My first thought was that I would be annoyed to have to wait for a disabled loo (which can be hard to find) just for someone dealing with their period. Then it occurred to me how much harder I would find dealing with my heavy periods if I wasn't in the disabled toilet with a sink immediately to hand.

So I guess YANBU but should avoid if at all possible.

And just because someone looks embarrassed coming out does not mean that they don't have a disability too. It has taken my DB years to overcome his embarrassment and to accept that he is as entitled as anyone else to use them.

Been there done that OP my periods are disgusting. Defo emergency !

It's been said before but "disabled" toilets are usually referred to as "accessible" toilets. The toilet is not "disabled", it is more easily "accessible" than normal ones.

There is nothing to prevent anyone from using an acessible toilet if they feel they need to. There is no game of "disability trumps" to be played, after all not all disabilities are immediately obvious to the casual observer.

Just because you do not consider yourself to be disabled does not mean you have fewer rights than someone who does. Given the circumstances you describe, you would be right to use the accessible toilet, and anyone who takes issue with you would be in the wrong. Discriminating based upon one's disability-status is not lawful, everybody has the right to use an accessible toilet if they feel the need, and you have done nothing wrong.

The pram post? Unreasonable beyond words and I can't be arsed to get into arguing about it yet again.

The OP? I have no issue with her using the facilities at all. If you have long term gynae issues btw OP, it IS classed as a disability...

Disability - "You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities."
www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010

The pram poster is so obviously clearly goading .

I agree GoodMorning1 - I sometimes need to top-up my make-up throughout the day and the disabled toilets are the only ones with a bit of privacy, a mirror and large enough that I can make sure I look good from all angles. Sometimes disabled people have to wait for me too but to be fair I didn't design such a short-lasting matte lipstick.

As PPs have said, it's not just changing your sanpro and a quick wipe, it can be having to wash or baby wipe your entire bottom half down, rinse out pants and get changed. The privacy (and low sink) in an accessible loo are needed here. I've had to wash my legs and get changed before. I was grateful for the space to empty my handbag out and being able to wash without being stared at.

Also surely people would complain if you washed yourself at the shared basins. There's always one...

I've wondered about getting a Radar key but I don't think I'd get one. I have severe endometriosis and can go through a super night pad every 40 mins on some days and will be leaking everywhere. It's very embarrassing

Wow vlad - you've found one with a mirror?!
Disabled people don't need to know what they look like, after all...

YANBU at all

People use the accessible loo for all sorts of reasons- continence issues, hidden disabilities like colitis or IBS, stoma, because they're feeling ill or can't access the normal toilets with a pram.

I feel it's there for anyone who cannot wait, who needs extra privacy or cannot get into a standard cubicle. Nobody is going to challenge you or ask what your reason is (or if they do they are being very rude and personal!)

I have a hidden disability and a Radar key. I always open it for someone without a key if they ask, I assume their need is genuine.

I have Coeliac and although I try to wait for a regular toilet, sometimes I have to dash for the disabled loo. I don't think extremely heavy blood flow (clotting, running down legs) is all that different. It's still something that would cause huge embarrassment if you can't get somewhere fast to take care of your needs.

I have sadly. There was way too much blood to just clean up using tissues and neither my dignity nor others using the ladies needed to see me trying to wash at the communal sinks.

Disabled loo gave me privacy to clean up me properly, clean and mess I made in the process of sorting myself out and let me retain some dignity from being a woman that can flood a tampon and 'thick as your wrist towel' within an hour of leaving her house.

Not ideal but a better and more dignified approach than trying to make do in normal toilets.

FFS! Leaving a helpless child alone in a public place while you use the toilet is neglectful at best and if you need to pee and keep your child safe at the same time, using the accessible toilet is not only allowed, it's the right and sensible thing to do. Regardless of what you think, that blue stick symbol doesn't say anything about who can use accessible toilets, it only says that when it's on a toilet door, a wheelchair user can access everything inside. That's all it says. I agree with the post up thread about all toilets should give users privacy and facilities to wash themselves if in need to do so. What no-one has any right to do, is to judge anyone else's reasons for using a public facility they're fully entitled to use. I'm disabled, enough to justify a maximum award of Disability Living Allowance plus Severe Disability Premium on top of that, and I don't judge people in that situation, I don't tolerate being judged, either. I've intervened with people getting stroppy with other users while waiting in a queue for an accessible toilet, though.

What no-one has any right to do, is to judge anyone else's reasons for using a public facility they're fully entitled to use.

I judge selfish cunts who use facilities they aren't entitled to use.

I'm a Radar key holder and a sufferer of occasionally v heavy periods. OP, if I were there and knew your situation, I would point you in the direction of the accessable toilet. The in-cubicle sink would be very handy for washing bloody hands or knickers as needed.

Leaving a regular cubicle with traces of blood on your hands to wash up (and yes, I know tissue exists but blood doesn't wipe up nicely) is unhygienic and humiliating. It's better for everyone if you use the accessable toilet.

I always use the disabled toilets at work during my period. My periods are so heavy and messy that I need access to a sink!

I'm amazed that there are people on here who think because they have simple, easy, light periods that heavy debilitating periods don't exist. Women can be our own worst enemy.

I judge selfish cunts who use facilities they aren't entitled to use.

So holier than thou. That doesn't include accessible toilets, everybody IS entitled to use them.

There was a thread a while ago where someone got flamed for wanting to use the accessible loo because they had a stomach bug come on suddenly. I can't imagine how embarrassing that would be to happen and definitely wouldn't judge someone wanting to use a toilet with a sink to clean up after that either. I have IBS to I understand how urgent toilet needs can be sometimes.

The world isn't black and white; sometimes you need to think in colours too.

That doesn't include accessible toilets, everybody IS entitled to use them.

No, they aren't if other toilets are available.