www.incontinentsupport.org

Good Afternoon Friends,
My surgeon's appointment is on Friday and I appreciate all the kind words of support both publicly and privately. Keep my fingers crossed that he has good news.
In the meantime, the Covid lockdowns have ebbed and flowed. Some weeks its more restrictive and other weeks its more generous. I try to normalize my life within reason and with safe precautions when our state and county leaders allow me to. I am sure that many of you are like me and know where the lavatories are within a 10 mile radius or which stores and restaurants are ok with non patrons to use their facilities without a full dissertation. Covid has definitely kept me on my toes. Some businesses that I relied on have since closed (hopefully temporarily). Others have signs that apologize that the facilities are not open. This happened to me over the weekend and I am still distraught. My husband and I decided to go for a walk at a outdoor shopping mall for some exercise and fresh air. In the middle of our walk, I felt pressure and I told him that we need to find a restroom now just in case. I went to a coffee shop but it was takeout only and the restroom had the unfortunate sign that it was closed since it was takeout only. The anxiety didn't help the urgency and I went next door to an italian restaurant. From afar, I saw a line of several women waiting for the sole bathroom and at that point I knew I was done. Thankfully my husband was with me and gave me strength as I completed my void. I was frustrated that it happenend and even more so that I had to go home to change. The pullon with booster pad needed a change and could not handle another situation. It was a premature end to a lovely day.

Sorry I had to vent about this and forgive me for sharing these details. Its more than anyone wants to hear but I'm sure its not nothing new for my friends on this forum. My husband thinks that it helps relieve my stress if I don't keep it in.
Diane

He's right. This is the place to vent, where the folks reading your post understand, because they have endured the same or similar situations. We all have such war stories. Covid has made the work of finding and memorizing the locations of all of the convenient and reliably clean handicapped restrooms on our usual haunts sadly out of date. Here are a hope and a prayer that soon enough folks will have been vaccinated to enable us to return to our lives in the good old days of two years ago.

Feel free to vent on here! Everyday if you need it. We are all in the same boat.

Because of Covid I started using greater protection but only when going out. I think I will not use public restrooms until Covid is defeated.

I appreciate your kind words.
We are all creatures of habit whether we want to admit it or not.
For most of my routine and errands, I generally go to the same places (grocery, Walmart, etc) and I have fine-tuned my routine to accomodate my disability. That has now been disrupted.

I do security two nights a week driving to different businesses checking doors, windows,nothing open but one convenience store.I wear Rearz Inspire In control A heavy absorption diaper,for 8 hours shift.Cold winter air makes it worse.

I can't really say that Covid has changed anything for me protection wise. I suspect that's because I'm almost always over-protected unless an unusual situation comes up. Using more than needed also keeps me from having to use public restrooms even if one is available.

You’re right Diane, we are all creatures of habit, sometimes at a level stronger than conscious thought. The pandemic has disrupted daily routine of billions of people worldwide. I also like my routine, it was also disrupted. These are strange times but we have to adapt. We must hold on at all costs, even if these costs include stronger protection in our case. Good luck!

I've made larger diaper orders to reduce the need to visit the postal office, but as our covid situation is tolerable and the complete lockdown was lifted in the summer, my protection use has not really changed. I wear protection to work and bed, but that's it. I've led a pretty domestic life since March 2020. I go to the office every day, yes, but other than that I haven't really met people. Outside of work I only go do my groceries and visit my doctor. Usually I would pop into the market toilet if I needed to, but I have to admit that even though our covid situation is pretty decent I have chosen a few times to relieve myself in to the diaper rather than going to the bit icky public restroom that sees hundreds of users every day.

My protection level has not changed.