Carry These 3 Things When Having Bowel Movement Issues & Using Public Toilets

When you have an anal fissure, one of the things that can make your discomfort worse is taking a large bowel movement. While many things, including your diet, can affect how large your stools are, people who resist the urge to move their bowels when the need arises can also end up with large stools that are difficult to pass.

While moving your bowels when you have the urge is important for reducing pain from a fissure, you may struggle with going when you're out in public. Many people have trouble using the bathroom at work, in a restaurant, or elsewhere away from home. Here are some things that you can carry that may help you to do so.

Hand Sanitizer

For people who are leery of germs, sitting on a public toilet is an unsettling experience. If you're concerned about the cleanliness of doing so, you may hold your bowel movement until you get home—but this behavior can make it bigger, more difficult to pass, and thus more likely to irritate your fissure.

One way to get around your concern about germs is to always carry a bottle of hand sanitizer. While covering the toilet seat with carefully laid toilet paper might work, you may feel better about dripping some sanitizer on the seat and wiping it down with paper towel. When you feel that the seat is cleaner, you may feel comfortable enough to move your bowels.

Something to Entertain You

You might read when you sit on the toilet at home. This habit can be effective because it can take your mind off the task, allowing you to relax as you move your bowels. Staring at the inside of the door in your public toilet stall doesn't have the same effect, and you may find that you're not relaxed enough to go. It's handy to always carry a small book or something else that will entertain you as you sit. With such an item in your pocket or purse, you'll ideally feel keener to use the bathroom when the need arises.

Folding Stool

If you're short in stature, a tall public toilet may be a challenge. If your feet are barely able to touch the floor, you may have trouble getting into a comfortable position to move your bowels. This scenario can compel you to hold your urge until you're home, which may pose complications to your fissure. You can address this problem by carrying a small, folding stool with you in your backpack or purse. Setting this device on the floor in front of the toilet will allow you to get into a comfortable position to move your bowels.

To learn more about your options and to seek relief, contact resources like Pilipshen Colon & Rectal Surgical Services.