Level of comfort while using public bathrooms

I may have been doing damage to my bladder by hardly ever using the bathroom outside house. I try to take in minimum amount of liquids just to avoid visiting bathrooms in public. When I do, I wipe the seat and then usually take shower after coming home.

Just recently I noticed a Muslim lady not carrying a water bottle when visiting the bathroom. I always carry a water bottle or a lota (since there’s one available there) when at college.

Getting back to the level of comfort using public bathrooms, I’m not at all comfortable. In fact, I’ve avoided it all day long (which I normally do) to the point that my stomach started to hurt in a weird way. I could barely walk.

Am I the only one who does this? How much damage could I possibly be doing to myself? Do you cleanse yourself with water (using a water bottle/lota) or use toilet paper when not at home?

Re: Level of comfort while using public bathrooms

You are doing a great deal of damage inside your body. You are letting the waste sit inside, just like the garbage starts to stink if not thrown on time, you are doing the same with your stomach. It's best you take whatever you need with you and use the public washrooms. No one's comfortable using public washrooms, you just have to do it!

I don't take a lota or a water bottle with me when I have to use a public washroom, but once I am home, I get myself cleaned up! .....

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Oh my gosh....thank god I am not the only one who tries to avoid public bathrooms. I live on campus so I usually run home after class. But if I really have to go then I go to the public bathroom. I usually don't carry a lota or anything. I just use a wet napkin. I almost thought I was a freak for waiting to get home to go to the bathroom and not liking public bathrooms. But that doesn't stop me from drinking liquids. I always take chai or coffee plus water to class.

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Dimagh_HotaToNa, you're beginning to scare me! I don't really feel any damage being done other than stomach hurting in a weird way. If I get a chance, I'll probably get it checked with the doctor sometime, insha'Allah.

Pyaari83, it's also a relief for me to hear that I'm not the only one. However, I do avoid coffee/pop and everything else. I usually drink water throughout the day, but no more than 500-750ml while outside home.

Re: Level of comfort while using public bathrooms

buy a water bottle, drink the water and use the empty bottle as lota!
there was a thread in general by funguy about things u can use as lotas.. cud be useful for u.

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suroor_ca02, water bottle has never been a problem for me. Just that I hate to step inside a public bathroom. It's usually so filthy and by far the most unhygienic place one could be at.

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Sweetie, I am just telling you what I have been through myself. I used to do the same, and meanwhile, I had developed a tumor inside my colon. I had to get it removed.

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^ i agree.. some of ur publics toilets in US are ulllkkh... shukar hai OZ is very hygenic... i dont mind using the public toilets here... like Dimagh, i go home and properly clean up (like take a shower)

Re: Level of comfort while using public bathrooms

Sadiyah

Try avoiding doing this, the damage may not be immediately evident but it'll catch up with age. You are excercising voluntary control over ur bladder, which is how it's suppose to work but it should be emptied when the opportunity is right. Having said that, not going to the bathroom for extended periods of time, despite the fact that ur brain recognizes u need to go may result in a weak bladder later in life and you may not be able to exercise as a good a control as you have now. Sorry for getting too technical but i hope you understand.

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this is partially the reason why people develop stones in the bladder. i do that too sometimes. but not alot as washrooms in the shopping malls here are clean mostly.

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i hate public bathrooms too but whne u gotta go, u gotta go! I just come home n take a shower too or the bottle thing works too

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water bottles fine, but whatever, if i have to go badly i go. i love the ones in sf where you put in a quarter n it self cleans, cus i cant stand dirty bathrooms.

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I NEVER use public bathrooms, unless I really really have to, this also goes for airplanes also.

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But man the ones in Dubai are sooooooooooo damn clean.

Re: Level of comfort while using public bathrooms

You'll give yourself a serious infection if you carry on the say you are Sadiyah. Anyway, I find it odd that you notice other peoples' peeing habits and what they do/don't take to the toilets. :p

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Sadiyah -- I 'almost' never use public bathrooms. I dont even go near them. Unfortunately I dont like to use other peoples bathrooms either...er its just Im very hyper clean esp when it comes to bathrooms. So. I have used the uni bathrooms a few times - yeah always carry a water bottle with you. But I just dont like to.But its true, that not using the bathroom when you need to - you're risking infections and all - thank God Ive never had one. But despite all that - I stay away from public bathrooms. I doubt I will ever change this habit.But drink extra cranberry juice- helps prevent bladder infections and so on.

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^ man I thought I was crazy, you should carry one of those portable potties.

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If I have to use public bathrooms then I use the disabled peoples one.....they're usually cleaner.

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I wipe the seat, cover it with toilet tissue and do my business then just use toilet paper but when I get home I wash my butt using water and change my boxers.

I have a bidet at home but public toilets don't, I've seen people carry bottles in there but I don't know how they can wash their arse with a bottle without getting water all over the show, surely you can't wash the crack properly?

In Pakistan we also have toilets in the ground, they're fine for Lota washing but not these chair shaped ones.

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me too! anyway, my office has really nice bathrooms and they get cleaned twice throughout the day. I don’t really have any problems using these washrooms.