@Angieb posted:Hello all I have a Jpouch
Ive noticed after eating when I’m home I do not have to go to the bathroom right away. But if Im out let’s say at mall and I eat before I shop . Once I start walking around for approximately 10-15 mins I get the urgency to go and can’t hold it and have to use the bathroom right away. Is it because I’m walking right after eating. I don’t understand why that happens its so frustrating. It seems like I can’t eat anything if I’m not at home . Does this happen to anyone else. I’m thinking not to eat out if not going home straight away. Should I take Imodium before I leave the house and before I eat? If I take it right after I eat I don’t see it working because it wouldn’t have time to digest. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to be able to enjoy eating out and walking around a mall or any where for that matter after eating.
HI Angie. I've had my pouch for 27 years and find that when I am most anxious about having to use the bathroom (malls, long meetings at work, airplanes, at a friend's house for dinner) is exactly when I get this feeling like I NEED to use the bathroom. I believe that it's a bit of a Pavlovian response for me because, like you, I'm never rushed about it in the comfort of my own home. Even working from home during Covid has been telling because I hardly use the bathroom at all during the work day now whereas at the office I'd be in and out of the can several times a day.
Would you be comfortable wearing a pad and finding a place to sit, near the bathroom at the mall, but not in it. Just to wait out the feeling for few minutes to see if it's your mind doing all the instigating?