Re: taking a shower

[Guest guest]

Norma,

There's a type of shower seat that extends beyond the tub. You just sit

down, and once you're sitting, you can get your legs over the seat any way you

want, or just scoot over sideways.

I have a shower seat that fits into the tub, and a grab bar on the shower

wall as well as one that fits over the tub and kind of " vises " in. Then, when I

need to stand up, I can grab the two bars, and hang on to them as I get out of

the shower.

My Aunt had one, and my mom had the other, and I tried both of their, and

decided I preferred the one with the grab bars. But you can also put grab bars

in with the one that extends out of the tub too.

The neatest thing about the shower seats is that you can arrange the shower

head to spray right on the areas which are the most painful, and oh! does that

feel good!

I'm short too, and my husband comes in and washes my back and my hair. He

actually likes doing it. I think it helps him feel less helpless, because he

wants so much to do something for me. But I always ask him first if he'd mind,

and tell him if he's tired, it's OK, it can wait another day. Then I tell him

how wonderful it feels to have him do it - even when he gets soap in my eyes!

LOL

Hope this helps.

Dix

Norma wrote:

This might sound trivial, but I have great trouble taking showers like today.

[Guest guest]

Norma wrote:

> This might sound trivial, but I have great trouble taking showers like today.

When I try to get into the tub I can't swing my leg over the edge without my

husband lifting my leg over. I'm in such terrible pain after only a short time

in the shower I could scream. I have to hang onto the wall to give me support

or I would fall down

Hi Norma

Part of what I do for a living is match people up to the type of durable

medical equipment that will be most useful to them. I also redesign

bathrooms, kitchens etc to make them " disability friendly " and teach

care givers how to make the best use of available equipment.

Dix's (and your) comments about the shower chair were right on the

money. The seat Dix was trying to describe is called a tub transfer

bench. You sit down on it before you get into the tub and then just

wiggle across. It's much safer and easier than trying to step in and

out of the tub.

Here is a Canadian site with my choice of Invacare brand bench. The

price is in Canadian dollars, so you don't have to start calculating.

This particular style is ideal, because it has no movable parts and it

is reversible. (it doesn't matter which end of the tub your taps are on

-- the back can be switched so you can point the bench the right

direction. They are light weight, very sturdy, hold up to 400 lbs, have

a built in arm rail, are comfortable to sit on, easy to clean, and easy

to assemble. All you need is a screw driver.

I know it's highly unlikely that the stores in Genelle would sell

them:-), but you can phone in an order, order one off the web, or pick

one up the next time you head to a bigger community. I've dealt with

many different medical companies and Invacare products tend to be the

best value for the money. (I guess that why they've been in business

for so long).

Here's the exact bench I think would help you and should last you for

many years.

http://www.medicalproductsdirect.com/trbeun.html

If you prefer one with a commode opening, they also have one on that

site. Avoid benches with slider mechanisms. They tend to break or

bend, and if they get soap scum in the mechanism, they don't slide worth

a darn. They are best for fairly lightweight people who are either very

fragile and being assisted, or people who are paraplegic.

You should also have at least one quality grab bar properly installed in

your bathtub. Another good grab bar to have is one running from floor

to ceiling at the end of the tub you face when you are bathing. Add a

hand held shower unit and you'll be in business. You should be able to

retrofit you bathroom for about $250 CDN.

If you cannot lift your legs over the tub even with the bench, that is

something hubby could continue to help you with. If you have the money,

a step-in or roll-in shower can be installed that will fit the existing

tub opening. Then you would still use the same sturdy bench to sit on

while enjoying a comforting shower. If money is tight, then skip the

step-in shower idea and if need be, get hubby to give your tootsies a

boost.

Hope this info helps.

--

Lyndi

(in work mode)

[Guest guest]

Hi Norma

There is nothing trivial about wanting to feel clean and smell good. A

shower can make you feel physically and mentally better.

I have one thing to add to all the excellent advice you have been given. Buy

a hand held showerhead and you can wash your hair and private areas easier.

Good luck and happy bathing.

Kaylene

>This might sound trivial, but I have great trouble taking showers like

>today. When I try to get into the tub I can't swing my leg over the edge

>without my husband lifting my leg over. Norma in Genelle, B.C. Canada

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[Guest guest]

> Norma wrote:

>

> > This might sound trivial, <snip>

No, it's not trivial. Being able to get through the bathroom safely and

painlessly did wonders for my self respect.

Lyndi wrote: <snip>

> Part of what I do for a living is match people up to the type of durable

> medical equipment that will be most useful to them. I also redesign

> bathrooms, kitchens etc to make them " disability friendly " and teach

> care givers how to make the best use of available equipment. <snip>

> You sit down on it before you get into the tub and then just

> wiggle across. It's much safer and easier than trying to step in and

> out of the tub.

I use a similar technique to this. It does feel wierd weird to begin with,

but knowing I'm safe is *very* good. It's really handy having somewhere to

put my sponge that doesn't involve bending, all of my " things " are beside me

on the bench.

Lyndi wrote: <snip>

> You should also have at least one quality grab bar properly installed in

> your bathtub. Another good grab bar to have is one running from floor

> to ceiling at the end of the tub you face when you are bathing. Add a

> hand held shower unit and you'll be in business.

I agree! I have a horizontal and a vertical grab rail. The horizontal is

handy for shuffling about on my " bench " . The vertical if I need to stand up

when I'm showering, or am too weedy to get into a shower running cold water.

(Mine is fed from the mains, so starts cold. :~( )

I live in Britain here some adaptations are paid for and assessed via social

work departments. Is there anything like that in Canada? I hope there is.

Sorry if there isn't - it's just that your healthcare system is sortof like

ours here.

Regards,

Siel