To wonder if this counts as a disability enough to use the disabled loo?

[Lemononachair]

Inspired by another thread! I have been considering getting myself a radar key so I have access to a toilet when out where there otherwise might not be one, but I'm not sure whether or not I Wbu to do so as I don't know if it 'counts' as a disability as such.

I have a medically diagnosed hyperactive bladder condition, essentially it's urge incontinence. I take muscle relaxant medication to try and control this but it doesn't always help and I have wet myself in public before. As you can imagine this is hugely embarrassing and I'm always nervous about it happening again. It doesn't seem to matter how much or what I drink, whether I do pelvic floor exercises etc (I actually have several kegel toner devices and I believe my pelvic floor is pretty strong) but sometimes the urge is just too strong and I cannot wait or hold it. Sometimes I can need to go 3 times in an hour even if I don't drink anything at all and the urge will come on very quickly and intensely.

Wibu to get myself a key?

YANBU. If you know you will have to rush to the loo for whatever reason, get yourself a key.

YANBU you need some where to get cleaned up and change clothes, you can’t do that in a normal cubicle.

How would using the accessible toilet make that better?

That's the question you need to ask.

Accessible toilets are just as likely to have people queuing at busy times.

Maybe get one and only use it if there is a queue for the normal toilets?

Oh and yes, if you have wet yourself of course use it.

YANBU, at all. Friends with Crohn’s disease have (and very much need) radar keys for a very similar reason.

YANBU. You need quick access at times and also the space and privacy to clean yourself of needed.

Hesafriend Privacy is one very good reason.

I have mobility issues and am a radar key holder. If you were behind me in the queue for the accessible and I knew you had bladder issues, I'd let you go in first. Must be a bloody nightmare

YANBU a close friend has a serious medical condition and a side effect is that it affects her bladder and she constantly needs to go. I really sympathise OP as I know how difficult it is for her. She might call to visit me and the first thing she will do while shouting hello is run to my loo. These sort of things really are hidden disabilities

YANBU

You definitely qualify

People assume disabled Loos are just for people in wheelchairs, they're not

I have several invisible conditions and have a radar key, I don't use it now but did in the past and would have no qualms over using it today if the necessity was there

They're used legitimately whether it's because a person is in a mobility chair, or has less ability to stand and needs more room to manoeuvre, or has any kind of ostomy bag, or continence issue

Yanbu, get yourself a key.

@Hesafriendfromwork I normally use the regular toilets and would only use the disabled if I couldn't access the others for whatever reason. It's just having a key might save me valuable time trying to find alternative toilets or someone to open it for me. Obviously if I did have an accident then they are very useful for changing, I always carry spares with me just in case

On the plus side my condition means I can pee incredibly quickly!

Yes, I think this would be exactly what the accessible loo is for.
Do you use proper incontinence protection currently? I have flare ups of irritable bladder and find using the right pad gives me confidence in case I have an accident. Sanpro isn't the same!

If you do get one please still use the regular loo if you can easily manage there. Plenty of people with mobility problems also have continence issues like you do. They cannot use any other loo and with everyone and her wife using the disabled loos now this is becoming an increasing problem.

Having bladder or bowel issues allow you to use a disabled toilet google radar key scheme your area that will direct you where to get one for free.

Crossed post. Thank you OP

You don't need a disability to use a disabled toilet, they're not for exclusive use by disabled people, they're just toilets adapted to make it easier.

It's just having a key might save me valuable time trying to find alternative toilets or someone to open it for me.

I just checked in our city and radar key map shows the toilets exactly where normal public toilets are. Maybe it's just the case here?

That's useful to know @SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated, I'm not in a city but handy to know if I am visiting one maybe I could look it up if I need to.

If you have the option of an accessible toilet as well as the others, surely that means you're less likely to wet yourself waiting because a queue-less option is more likely to be available the more toilets you can use? So I'd have said fine, but obviously don't when you don't have to.

Sometimes the normal toilets are further away than the radar key toilet. You should definitely get a key.

Clearly no one has been to Wetherspoons where the toilets are 7,000 miles away

They're are invisible disabilities that need the disabled loo, for the sink inside the cubicle to wash hands before changing a bag etc and also for IBD sufferers it's about the noise too, it can be embarrassing in busy toilets if your tummy is bad