Yeah I've broken down and used one on occasion. I'm probably well beyond even 18 months at this point though.
Load the seat up with paper and just get it over with.
The worst part about it though is not having a sink next to you to moisten the TP. And of course it never fails, when I actually do use a public stall it has to be one of my more messy excretions.
You have time to lay down toilet paper?
Dude...yeah.
It's mandatory. Sitting down on what is already one of the nastiest places on earth even WITHOUT the fact that a ton of other disgusting people have sat on it and spread their asshole and ballsack germs and critters all over it, is enough to skeeve me out to the point of OCD about the TP.
Yep others feel the same was as you about your having sat on the toilet before them.