Should we Ostomates freely use Disabled toilets?

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.