8 replies to this topic

[Gary Anderson]

Quote

I'm still also curious for an answer to my query about how folks in a wheelchair can use a tiny airplane toilet (what technique) coz as mentioned I struggle quite a bit with my nose in the door coz they are so small. I guess permanent wheelchair users can enlighten me on all this fun.

Right posters. This question was posted on Moose's site on the other side.

I hope Gaz does not mind me quoting it here but stone me, I am only just back for a 2nd day and no-one can seem to answer it.

Even when I was a/bodied I found plane toilets hard.

So, if someone puts you in an aisle w/chair and takes you to the loo how do you manage in a tiny plane toilet.

Please reply - p/cards if you like as Simon's was a good one yesterday.

[knightrider]

Now thats a good point! Im a T6 para and the thought of the plane toilets are putting me off going abroad.
What if i really need to go what do i do just do it in front of everyone because theres no way in getting in one of those little bogs
There must be some airline that have sum kind of disabled toilet,but i dont know. Does anybody else know?

[rosalie]

Hi everyone,

Talk about timing for this question.... My husband Avi flew to the US yesterday from Israel - this is the longest flight he has attempted since his accident and of course the toilet was the most worrying factor.

According to what we were told long flights (over six hrs I think) are obliged by law to have a special wheelchair on board so that w/c users can be taken to the toilet if necessary. I don't know about actual access into the toilet though...

In our experience the best way (and the most common way amongst our circle of friends) to avoid toilet problems on flights is just not to eat - do the bathroom program as close to the flight as possible and then stop eating, thus preventing "accidents". Well, that works OK for short flights but is a bit of a problem for 13 hr flights.... as you can imagine, we were both quite apprehensive. Anyway, the good news is that he arrived safely and called me yesterday after he landed - he said the flight was great, he actually ate and no accidents... those are the only details I have so far but I will ask him about toilet access and will let you know.

By the way, he is now in Atlanta, Georgia with the Israel wheelchair basketball team for a tournament... wish us luck - we're aiming for Beijing in 2008

Rosalie

[kanga2433]

Well, I am just over 3 weeks away from a trip to Canada. My plan is just to drain urine into a 2ltr bag and get my wife to empty it as necessary. My bowels are such that they won't go at all without some sort of stimulation so I don't expect any problems there, though it would be a good idea to avoid eating things that 'loosen things up'. Grapes and cherry tomatoes can be a problem but bananas work the other way round.

I'll post when I get home and let people know how things went. I don't like the look of a small loo, but I am travelling on Air Canada, the official airline of the Canadian paralypic team so maybe they have a larger loo. Time will tell. Watch this space.

[Boozyuzi]

Imodium to stop you needing a crap and get one of those 1300ml Manfred Sauer leg bags to pee into.

[russ1]

I'll answer the original question - all long haul airplanes are supposed to have one wheelchair accessable toilet with more room than your standard loo. You have to be able to transfer yourself and I'd imagine it might be an awkward transfer. Once you're in I cant imagine you need much space as there's no standing up involved but I can't speak from experience.

However most paras will just stick in an indwelling cath and time their bowel procedure to suit the flight or if they're worried dose up on immodium. I'm not keen on the immodium trick as it buggers up your routine and makes accidents in the days after the flight more likely IMHO. However for those still on a once every 24 hour routine it's tricky to get the timing right especially on very long haul flights. Personally I eat and drink as normal before and during long haul flights (9 hours to the states) as I want to be confident that my routine isn't upset. I do try to avoid those foods that I know will loosen me up though.

[wheels1974]

I am a C4 Quadriplegic and live in Australia. I have no use of my arms or legs at all. I have been very fortunate Re: travelling as I have flown to New Zealand, America twice, Africa 3 times and once I arrived to Africa on 2 occasions I had to organise a small charter plane like a 5 seater to literally fly me to the remote parts of Africa.
Obviously I have travelled with at least 2 people each time because of my high level of quadriplegia.
When it comes to urinating, if you are on condom drainage I find putting in a indwelling catheter the best option just until you get into your hotel or room, this will prevent any condom misfortunes like leaks or having your condom come off during transfers. When it comes to emptying your leg bag all I do is carry a 2 litre or half gallon juice container in a bag that I need with me at all times. When it comes to emptying the urine just empty it directly into that juice container and tighten the screw top and place it back in your carry bag with some of your essentials. As for bowels well generally most are on a every second day bowel routine, if this is the case its best to open your bowels then fly that same day.
For example my bowel routine is 8am every second day, so I would book a flight that falls on a bowel day and make sure your flight departs between 3 and 6pm.
This way it gives you some time just in case you have a bowel accident soon after you get in your wheelchair. Most flights don't exceed 24 hours and IF you were to do a extended flight then it is wise to stop off half way and stay a night or two. Another important NOTE it is always a great idea to remove the fluid insert from its base IF using a Jay cushion and place it on the plane seat and IF your on a ROHO place the ROHO bladder on the plane seat also. Should anyone need to contact me please feel free to email me at: sinbad99au@yahoo.com.au Cheers all and believe me ANYTHING can be achieved.

[HiltonP]

When planning a long haul flight I believe one SHOULD NOT bank on being able to
- use the on-board chair, or
- use the toilet.

I never have, and quite frankly, I cannot understand how the airlines expect one to be able to. The toilets, even the supposedly disabled friendly ones, are incredibly small . . . and all the on-board chairs I've seen have little or no brakes so transfering can be interesting at best, and down right dangerous at worst.

Make your own bowel and bladder arrangements (lots of good suggestions above), but don't plan on using the on-board toilet (regardless of what the airlines tell you). If you rely on access to the on-board toilet you might well be in for an unpleasant surprise!

Edited by HiltonP, 07 June 2006 - 11:37 AM.

[milosh]

well, although i'm very high quad, fortunately i don't have prob with bowel/bladder. i control it better than most AB's.

anyways, as i do travel plenty... just a few advices to the fellas over there. don't eat/drink too much on-board. i also avoided that when getting out somewhere without wheelchair-friendly toliet. do your pee [any way you do it] at the airport immediately prior to check-in. the most of modern airports i've been to [in europe, russia, both americas and parts of asia] got toilets for wheelchair users. use them before you fly.

BTW, coffee [any kind] is a big enemy of your bladder. i mean, the more you drink, the sooner you'll have to pee.