This topic is about recurring dreams experienced by someone with an ileostomy. In these dreams, they often find themselves in a situation where their ostomy pouch is over-full, and they need to find a bathroom. However, every toilet they encounter is either locked, dirty, lacks privacy, or something goes wrong while trying to empty the pouch. They usually wake up during this frantic search, find that everything is actually fine, empty the pouch, and then go back to sleep, often returning to more pleasant dreams.

Here are some insights and advice shared by others:

1. The person doesn't recall having these dreams before their ostomy. The dreams aren't a nightly occurrence and are more amusing than distressing. Sometimes, they can even control or change the dream. They humorously mention that losing the stoma in a dream would be more of a relief than a scare.

2. Lucid dreaming or dream-control techniques can be helpful. Some people suggest learning to recognize when you're dreaming, which allows you to steer the dream's direction or wake yourself up. Practicing these techniques regularly can reduce anxiety and transform nightmares into neutral or pleasant dreams. Examples include Dalí’s spoon-over-tin method, Edison’s micro-naps, and general lucid-dream training.

3. For situations where a restroom isn't available, consider portable emptying options. Carry a small plastic container with a tight lid and use doggie-waste bags as liners. This way, you can discreetly empty the pouch if needed. One hiker uses a modified medical container with pre-torn toilet paper and hand wipes stored inside, along with black dog-waste bags.

4. In rural or wilderness areas, if no facilities are available, stepping behind a tree can offer enough privacy.

5. It's helpful to remember that dreams often reflect what's on our minds, and their frequency usually decreases over time. Some people have found that their worst "bathroom" nightmares disappeared after getting a stoma, highlighting the positive impact of the surgery on their lives.