While I do have a stoma (Ileostomy), I can usually use a normal WC in public toilets, a restaurant, or pub etc where necessary. Even one of those horrible Portaloos!
However, I much prefer the extra space and convenience of a disabled facility as it gives me much more room to attend to things and there's also far less chance of "making a mess" or accidentally soiling my clothes. Also, there's usually access to a wash hand basin etc.
Of course, the above is even more important if you require to change your bag for whatever reason... If away from home for a longer period or in the case of a leak.
So, as a matter of course, I will tend to utilise disabled toilets when available and I also have a radar key where necessary.
However, I do sometimes find it embarrassing if someone else is waiting to use the loo afterwards. Especially if they appear to be much more "disabled" than me....... I look surprisingly fit and healthy on the outside! So, I usually offer an apologetic explanation that I have a health problem and require to use the toilet. I'm not always sure if I'm believed or not but I can't help feeling guilty.
The other week, I was in a cafe in Inverness where the staff had to "buzz" you through a door to get to all the toilets. There was one gents toilet and another cubicle which served for "Ladies and/or Disabled". The latter was free and I was about to enter when a woman entered the toilet area with another woman who was carrying crutches. They immediately started "ranting and raving" at me and so I said she could go first if she wanted. However, that didn't placate them either as A) I had no business using a disabled toilet and b) there was already a toilet for Gents....... (It wasn't a disabled one though).
They continued to make a fuss and even complained about me to the staff. However, I was reassured by them that the toilet was for both Ladies and Disabled persons of either gender. I also explained that I had a health issue to them and they said that was OK.
However, the entire incident left me feeling very uncomfortable for the rest of the day. I ended up leaving the cafe and using the facilities in a nearby shopping centre instead.
Anyway, I wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences. I realise we aren't officially registed as disabled as far as "parking" and matters relating to vehicles are concerned but how do we actually stand otherwise? We do qualify for keys, however, and I usually carry one of these cards which the stoma companies issue which state that we have "Use toilet facilities urgently" if necessary although they don't stipulate use of disabled facilities.
Hi Johnny
The short answer to your question is
YES you can use disabled toilets
The Colostomy Association have been campaigning on this for several years now with great success and whilst you may not see the above image on public toilets you will come across toilets in supermarkets, sporting venues with the number of places growing daily with information on disabled toilets with wording to the effect
"THAT ALL DISABILITIES ARE NOT VISIBLE'
I do see the signage quite often with the exception of hospitals for some reason.
I always use them because they are larger, often cleaner and have places to put items out on
I never feel embarrassed about using them and even carry a card with the information on, the only time I have received a comment was in a garden centre when a little girl asked her mother why I was using the baby changing room which was actually the disabled toilet doubling up as the baby changing room
Use your radar key and toilet card but do keep using the disabled toilets with having any conscious about it .
You know that Macmillans have a toilet card that you can get.
If you need anymore help please let me know, always here to help
Ian
Ah sorry to hear this and I will keep this in mind Ian .
Inverness in general has a good 'open door' policy and on the whole does well at supporting people with cancer needs but you just can allow for 'people' :(
I was in a wheel chair then crutches for three to four months following my treatment but actually did not apply for a Blue Badge. The availability of spaces at our hospital were often used up and the waiting time was far to long to get a spot so my wife just set me down at the drop off points and went and parked in the normal spaces........and the exercise was actually part of my recuperation.
Inverness is great but not perfect - yet 
I do indeed know the very famous "Inverness Institution" lol..... and yes people from all over the world will go through their doors.
The invisible disability is such a challange. I have lived with a rare and rather aggressive type of skin lymphoma with many open tumours so at times had to change dressings so did use disabled facilitys as I need access to a sink so have had a few stand off's.........I was once challanged about 'nothing wrong with you' so I lifted my shirt and showed my back covered in bloody dressings and walked away saying "yes, incurable cancer sucks - have a great day"
Being on the board of trustees for two Charity Coffee Shops in the Inverness area I get the challanges. Most of our toilets are set up for disabled, male, female and baby changing facilities. It's hard to cover all the bases so the signs on the doors basiclly says first come first served.
