I Need to WEE!
A photo of Fudge Ethan’s giant brown teddy bear sitting in Ethan’s power chair demonstrating how the urine bottle is used
**** disclaimer bodily fluids and private parts mentioned ****
One of the most frustrating things about my disability is not being able to go to the toilet independently. Throughout my life, I’ve had to constantly call for support from support workers or my mum to assist me to go to the bathroom. This can be up to 5 to 6 times a day, which can become exhausting for both me and the person helping me. There have been lots of different methods used to support me in going to the toilet. Most of which involve a urine bottle and transferring me into a suitable position to do so. As I’ve grown older I’ve had to adapt to different pieces of equipment due to changing chairs and circumstances.
Pictured: The two types of urine bottles that I use to assist me to go to the toilet
For example, back when I was in school, I would really struggle to ask for assistance from the E.S.O (education support officer) as it could be quite a lengthy process and I would often feel tense due to this requiring two members of staff, meaning that it would take time away from other students. This would become very stressful and would prevent me from allowing myself to go to the toilet. Leading me to stop drinking as much water so that I wouldn’t need to use the restroom as often.
Over time, there has been a lot of trial and error on what works best for me and my team. A couple of years ago I discovered what I call the ‘blue willy’. Which is a large bottle that sits on the ground by the side of my chair that can hold multiple wees. The bottle is connected to a tube that is attached to a cylinder-shaped cup that holds my penis with a hole at the end that allows the wee to pass through to the bottle. Each morning my support workers or mum assists me with putting on the ‘blue willy’ and will often empty it before showering or whenever it is getting full. This has helped me to gain independence in going to the toilet and vastly decreased the number of times I need to ask for assistance. It is also a much simpler method for support workers and those assisting me.
Pictured: Fudge demonstrating how the urinal bottle is positioned while Ethan is sitting in his chair and urinal bottle (or blue willy).
One of the biggest challenges for a person with limited mobility in a wheelchair is being able to go to the toilet in the community. This can include a variety of challenges for me and my team such as limited bathroom space, being unable to physically lift me due to lifting restrictions and often that most bathrooms aren’t accessible and don’t have the equipment (such as a hoist) to support a person like me.
It has often been a challenge for me to use the bathroom when I’m out and about. On school excisions, I wasn’t allowed to go to the toilet due to only having access to one E.S.O. and it required two staff to assist me in using the bathroom. This would mean that I would have to wear a pull-up, which is essentially an adult nappy. This would be quite an uncomfortable experience for me as I would have to hold on until I returned to school. On the other hand, if I was out with Mum and needed to use the bathroom this would be tricky as she would have to manually transfer me from my chair to the toilet which in the process would harm her back. For a long time, this was just the reality I had to deal with as there was no other way around it. However, if there were more changing places which is a particular form of disabled bathroom that has a hoist, an adult change table and other equipment more readily available in the community this would make something that is a basic human need more accessible to all.
Thankfully, in 2018 we were told about a device called a uriadome. A uridome is essentially a condom that sticks to my penis and is connected to a tube that is attached to a leg bag that holds my urine. This gives me the freedom to go to the bathroom independently while I’m out. Discovering the uridome was a life-changing day for me as I knew that I was finally able to use the bathroom discreetly and independently. It has also been easier for those assisting me as the process is simple and only involves emptying the bag while were out.
Pictured: Fudge demonstrating how the uridome is used
At the end of the day we all have our own way that we like to do things but I think we can all agree that each person should have the right and access to basic human requirements such as using the bathroom that makes them feel comfortable and safe.
Cheers, Ethan.
For anyone who is unsure were to find an accessible bathroom click on the link and it will show you all the available public bathrooms in your area!