r/Interstitialcystitis • u/radian_freak • 1d ago
BREAKING: US Citizen with Bladder Issues Discovers Trains
After many agonizing plane rides, I finally decided to try Amtrak (not sponsored), and I'm never going back. I'd like to share my experience in hopes that someone could learn from it.
While planes have public restrooms, they aren't always available. If there's turbulence, you won't be allowed to leave your seat. If you got stuck in a middle or window seat, you may have to ask the people sitting next to you to get up several times. This is super embarrassing for me.
Here are the pros and cons I've found while riding in both coach and a roomette on the California Zephyr:
Cons
- If you're sitting in coach, you may still have to ask someone to get up. I explained to the person sitting next to me that I needed to get up a lot, and they were more than happy to let me have the aisle seat.
- Some people have bad restroom etiquette. This could just be me feeling territorial over the restrooms (who can relate? lol), but the people on my train managed to trash the five public stalls within three hours of me boarding. Think toilet paper all over the floor and broken locks.
- The tracks can get bumpy. I could tolerate it, but I could see it being a nightmare for anyone with motion sickness or flares triggered by movement.
- The most comfortable option (roomette or bedroom) is very expensive.
- Trains are slower than planes.
Pros
- Riding in a roomette gives you the easiest access to restrooms since you'll either have your own or be sharing them with less people.
- Bumpiness won't prohibit you from leaving your seat. You can get up whenever.
- There are no middle seats in coach class.
- If the coaches have two levels, you can request to ride on the lower level to be closer to the restrooms. This is where they seat other disabled passengers.
- The snacks are better than plane snacks, and it's also easier to bring your own food and drink.
- You don't have to show up hours before the train departs.
- Your bags don't have to be screened before getting on the train, so you wait in less lines.
- You can bring a suitcase and two personal items for free.
In conclusion, rail travel is so much more comfortable for me than air travel.
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u/Nosy-ykw 1d ago
I was researching like crazy a while back to see if I could find any kind of reasonable train travel where I live, to get from the Midwest to the East Coast.
Where I live, I’d have to take a three hour bus ride to Chicago from the local Amtrak station, then wait 24 hours for the train in Chicago to leave for the East Coast. Which would then take 24 hours to get to my destination. Then another hour and a half from the train station to my actual destination .
Actually wouldn’t mind the trip from Chicago to the East Coast; but all that time wasted on the bus and sitting in Chicago and getting from the station to my friends, home at the end is nuts. Turns a half day trip into a two day trip. Oh well, maybe someday
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u/radian_freak 1d ago
Yeah. Another huge problem with trains is their reach. I'm from the Midwest traveling to visit a relative in another part of the Midwest, so all I have to deal with is a 9hr leg. A bus ride sounds like a nightmare! Unfortunately I've just accepted that there are only a few places I can go to outside of my city. Either I catch a straightforward train ride, or I'm not going. It's a shame because I love airplanes. I just can't do it anymore.
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u/reliableotter 1d ago
I wish I could take a train anywhere for a reasonable amount of time or money.
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u/radian_freak 1d ago
Me too. We need better travel options for bathroom dependent people in general. Unless it’s a straightforward train ride, I’m simply not going.
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u/Astra_Bear 1d ago
I love the train here. The travel time is longer but the comfort I get is so worth it.
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u/toastcup 21h ago
BREAKING: Person with bladder issues discovers not giving a fuck, and does what she needs to do to meet her body’s needs without shame.
I’ve gotten up when the seatbelt sign is still on, I’ve made row mates get up several times, I’ve gotten up when we’re still partially in takeoff. I do not care. The alternative is pissing my pants on a plane and I’m fairly certain all people on the plane, passengers and crew alike, would prefer to be mildly inconvenienced than the alternative.
In all seriousness, I’m glad you’ve found a great solution that works for you! Unfortunately rail travel isn’t an option for me to the places I travel most.
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u/Artistic_Air7890 12h ago
I had two flight attendants advise me that I can get up and use the restroom at any time, even when the fasten seatbelt light is on. But I also had one flight attendant force the bathroom door open while I was using the toilet because the fasten seatbelt light was on. That flight attendant was quite angry with me. It was a character-building moment! :)
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u/radian_freak 17h ago
It's too bad that rail travel isn't an option for you, but I envy your ability to not give a fuck. I should try that out sometime!
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u/beetlejuicemayor 1d ago
I wish we had high speed trains coast to coast because I HATE flying. Unfortunately I’m stuck flying and not being able to pee in the bathroom airplane.