Up with loos!

I won a holiday to Turkey in the later 1990s. I went with my best friend who was 20 years older… so I was c late 50s, she was late 70s ( as I am now) … accomodation and local loo were smelly almost everywhere, and towards the end of this holiday we both went down with diahorrea…I had Imodium but it wasn’t fully working. Got to the Airport to come home…sent through to a room to wait, one toilet block near only. Plane delayed for hours, we both needed the loo. My. Friend went first and came back complaining hole in the ground toilet! I went later… awful hole in the ground… after a few trips to and fro… went back in and this time one of the others in the row had its door open, they’d all been occupied previously, went in …normal toilet! We’d both chosen the Only one in the row that was the Turkish hole in the ground version!
No fun with diahorrea'! Thank goodness loads of Imodium eventually worked!

I don’t like sitting on public loos so hover, but am aware it’s not good for pelvic floor or complete bladder emptying.
Feet should apparently be flat on the floor to aid natural defecation and prevent piles! I’m short so always dangle from loos and still have trouble getting up!

I have a Radar key due to having an ileostomy and sometimes need a bit more room to empty or change my stoma bag. However, I'm frequently disgusted at how dirty the accessible/disabled toilets are.

I have a phobia about public loos - my Mother attempted a 'no touch' technique if we were forced to use them, and I was practically boiled in TCP on arriving home. I hover - too much information, sorry - caused by my early training, so the height is largely irrelevant. My friend's mother, a dignified lady whose overall build reminded me of a stout pigeon, had compiled her own local 'good loo' guide, and announced that several stores were on her blacklist as the flush was too high. Mystified, we pressed further. Evidently she would never touch the flush handles, and would take her shoe off to press the button/lever with her foot. The picture this conjured made it very difficult for us to keep straight faces.

What are radar keys

RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) were the organisation behind the introduction of a nearly universal (in UK, anyway) lock for accessible toilets, way back in the 70s. Anyone who needs it can buy one of the keys and know they'll have access to thousands of loos across the country.
RADAR no longer exist but the keys are still widely available and known as the National Key Scheme.

SueDonim

I used a loo in Edinburgh airport recently and it was incredibly low, I sat down with a thud! Although I don’t normally have a problem standing up this was a challenge. As I left the cubicle I spotted the sign on the door which said Children’s toilet. 😂😂

Wow ! What a cute write up !

At last someone after my own heart. Sometimes it's like sitting on the floor. Pub loos (I find) are the worst. If only they would install higher loos in public places.

We've both had hip replacements, and the teams around the surgeons make sure that chairs, sofas, and loos are at a good height. You can get blocks to raise chairs, and a special seat for the loo (and yes, you can get taller ones that are pre-made that way).

As many have said, I find lots of 'normal' loos quite a shock when sitting down!

Alison333

I read that it's supposed to be healthy to have a low level loo (allegedly more natural) but since I had my knee replacement, I have to sort of drop down and getting up again can be interesting!

I wonder how people manage with those squat style loos abroad? French campsites always had them in the 1960s.

We’ve lived abroad where squat toilets were the norm. Even older folk had no problems using them because it’s part of their culture to squat down when you want to rest rather than sit on a chair. They slept on mattresses on the floor, too and most people walked everywhere as few had cars. Older people were remarkably agile and I suspect that their active lifestyle contributed to their staying fit and healthy.

A lot of the places that rent out wheelchairs/ mobility scooters in shopping centres and town centres sell radar keys they are usually for under £10.00

I feel your pain and agree it's not great out there loo wise. However I did watch a video some time ago about standing up safely, it was advocating the 'nose over toes ' method. You lean forward from sitting until your nose is pointing over your toes and you will be lifted up naturally, although it's undoubtedly easier with a grab rail

Thank you!
Also known as the “Ar*e over tip” manoeuvre?

Wow ! What a cute write up!
???

We have a higher than average confort height, can bearly touch floor with feet but oh boy is it easy to get up 🤣 #nokneeissues

Squat or semi squat is natures preferred position to achieve complete evacuation and avoid constipation and hemorrhoids. I dont know if this is why lots of toilets are so low, or if its just fashion. When I had a precautionary colonoscopy I was advised by the doctor to buy a toilet stool to raise my knees higher and it does seem to work.

RosiesMaw
Omg , I can so relate .
We are currently away I. France & the house we are staying in has a “ Loo” so low that you have to think about “ how , you are going to get up “ 🆙
We have both worked it out that there is no other way than holding g onto the door handle !
Also as this is the only one & is downstairs , I make sure I don’t have any nighttime trips 💤

Scribbles
Thank you for this information as an IBS sufferer it sounds like something that would be helpful to have .

NanaTuesday, you can get them from AgeUK and several other charities, plus places such as Argos. I got mine from our local heel-bar/key cutter but I'd steer clear of those advertised on eBay or Amazon and so on because there's no guarantee they'll work or that you'd ever get a refund.

I once went in a toilet in London. I did hesitate because it was a single toilet with a sliding door, and it looked like a pod thing
In the end I didn't go in because it looked like you wouldn't be able to get out, it also looked like an alien space ship to tell you the truth... All this time I was dying to go. I think the only thing you can do is go in a pub, buy a packet of crisps and use their toilet.

Im 5ft 1" and find that most of the toilets in disabled loos are far too high for me, and im only perched on it with legs dangling.Which is a shame as i am registered disabled & have osteoarthritis in both knees & other joints,and use a stick. Even the bars dont help as im clinging onto them so i dont fall forwards.Not every disabled person is tall..I also used a loo at Butlins marked 'childrens toilet', which seemed like a normal one same as in the ladies. I dont mind using normal ladies loos, but only those which are a bit wider, or have outward opening doors are easy to use.

I agree Welshpoppy- one i went in today in a Tesco store -i walked in, saw all the 'mess' all inside the toilet bowl and walked straight back out,i decided i would rather take my chances in the ladies loos- surprised to find they were quite wide, very clean, and had no- touch flushers.I reported the state of the disabled loo to a staff member.I appreciated that they might get in a mess, but its as if staff dont bother checking or cleaning the disabled loos, sometimes even in medical centres.

I have a RADAR key which is a boon. I also carry a 'Can't Wait Card' because I've got IBS and have to be careful what I eat - which is a nuisance. I've yet to find an 'accessible toilet' cubicle that follows guidance BUT it is better than nothing. I sometimes have to use the 'ordinary' toilets eg in motorway stations which are very difficult to get up and down. Still better than trying to 'hold on' to avoid a 'mishap' !!!

We were once allocated an 'accessible' room at a Holiday Inn. Aah, the bliss of being able to get off the loo without a struggle. Strangely enough, the shower was over the bath, so not accessible for everyone.
A higher loo is on our list for home.

I frequently find myself in supermarkets and parks where loos are closed due to vandalism? Lack if staff etc. What use is a locked daytime loo to anyone!