I am having some bad, long lasting GI issues. My doctor ordered a stool sample to test for blood and for the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.
Problem 1: my roommate, understandably grossed out by the entire process, has said I am absolutely not to put those containers in the fridge.
Problem 2: I usually only ever need to "go" at night, and this place is not only not open on nights or weekends, they have pretty stupid hours too.
As a result, I have a followup with my GI doc where I was able to get my bloodwork done but not the fecal testing because I haven’t been able to time it so I wouldn’t have to put the sample in the fridge.
My idea here is if I get a paper bag and fold it up to look like some long forgotten thing, and then hide it in the back or door of the fridge where she rarely looks, I might be able to get it in and out without her knowing it was there. However, I do worry that if she finds out about it it will distress her/gross her out knowing it was in there.
WIBTA if I tricked her this way?
Edit: To answer some questions:
1. No, I’m not putting it just in a baggie. It goes in a plastic specimen collection container, then in an airtight plastic bag, then if it were to be put in the fridge it would be in a paper bag too to hide it from sight. I’m not just shitting in a bag and putting it in the fridge.
2. I can’t freeze it (IE putting it with ice in a cooler) because as pointed out, this shouldn’t be done unless the lab specifically requests it. It has to be either "fresh" or refrigerated, not frozen. Also there’s a cost issue.
3. Germaphobia- no, she’s not a germaphobe. Pet dishes get washed in the dishwasher with ours for example, human utensils sometimes get used to for dog food, and open cans of dog food are stored in the fridge. Not that I mind it, just doesn’t strike me as what a germaphobe does.
4. Laxatives- the test instructions I got specifically say NOT to use laxatives. I’m not listening to Reddit over the testing site about how to collect the sample.
5. Cooler- In my experience, I have had things freeze. Other Redditors have informed me that is absolutely just a weird coincidence and not the norm, so I am willing to say "okay, my experience was weird" on that one and say coolers could work there if I can get help on the money side of things. Weird things happen sometimes when you go off your own experience, like the friend I once had who insisted peaches were spicy, then we asked him what was going on and it turned out he was allergic. Thanks for telling me to give it another try.
Edit 2- Concluded I WIBTA if I went ahead and did it, so I decided I’m just going to put the sample in the garage and hope it doesn’t get too cold or hot. Please don’t downvote people with medical knowledge sharing their inputs, such as the lab scientist who is being heavily downvoted for explaining the importance of maintaining an ideal temperature for stool samples, or the patient relaying that her medical team has told her it is okay to go in the fridge.
Is it cold where you are? If so, put it outside. Or get a little cooler with ice packs. Disposable ice packs
Yes, you are. Sh!t does not belong in the fridge or any other place where food is or where you eat. Good god…
I can’t believe I had to scroll so far to find the voice of reason.
YWBTA…please don’t do this.
Would you be able to keep it outside if it’s cold enough, or use a disposable cooler bag + ice packs?
Is it winter where you are? If so put the sample in a zip lock bag and keep it outside.
Can you get a *tiny* mini fridge that you put in your room?
Info: what’s wrong with putting it in a cooler with ice packs?
You would be TA. What about a little cooler bag (they’re cheap at most grocery stores) and some ice or if you’re feeling lazy, get a frozen bag of peas or something.
If only there was something portable that could keep things cold with ice or an ice pack for a day or so…. like A COOLER!!!
Yes. YWBTA. Don’t put it in the fridge.
YTA – a disposable Styrofoam cooler and a bag of ice is like $8 and would be fine until morning.
Uh, yeah that’s really really really gross my friend. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well but it’s not fair to your roommates either. You can purchase a tiny fridge for your room and store it there, lots of new moms store milk in small fridges exactly like this so it’s definitely an option. YWBTA if you actually did this.
YWBTA
Bud take some laxatives in the morning and you’ll poo a few hours later.
Like this isn’t some mild inconvenience. Your roommate (rightfully) doesn’t want literal human shit in the same place they store their food.
That is very reasonable. That is so reasonable that it doesn’t even need to be said.
Or if you REALLY don’t want to take laxatives and poo, then buy your own mini fridge. Apparently having human feces in your fridge doesn’t bother you, so once you drop off the sample you’ll have your own mini fridge!
You need to tell your roommate if you plan to do this. And it is your health we are talking about. I assume you have a kit which would be medically sealed. You have to work this out with your roommate. It is gross, I see that but sometimes we gotta do gross things. YWBTA to not be honest.
ITT: A bunch of young people who have never had to go to the doctor for poop related issues. They literally tell you to put it in the sample container and then to refrigerate it. OP isn’t going to be putting exposed poop into the fridge.
NTA, OP. Put the stool sample in the sample container, close it, wash your hands, and then put it in a ziplock bag and wash your hands again. Bam, clean and safe. Put it in an opaque container, hide it where they won’t immediately find it, and then remove it in the morning to take it to the lab.
Everyone else in here is getting upset because poop is gross. They’re not considering that A) this is a health issue, B) you’re not going to get poop on anything in the fridge, and C) your doctor probably directly told you to do this. They are not giving you advice that will help you take care of yourself. This thread is literally Reddit being judgmental about things that they don’t understand and all, literally, because they’re imagining a turd sitting out in the fridge.