Re: My first solo shower - 6.5 weeks post-op -yeah!

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on your first solo shower!! The milestones will

continue to pile up. It sounds like you’ve really thought it out.

One tip I learned from this forum that I’ll probably use

the rest of my life is to put on a terry cloth robe while you’re still

wet & it will dry you off (all except for your lower legs) as well as keep

you warm. Many thanks to whoever suggested that one!

I found a nylon “scrubbie” on a long handle that’s

probably 15” long at Bed Bath & Beyond that was really inexpensive

& works great— it even reaches between my shoulder blades.

This group is awesome!!

Dorcas

St. Louis

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of beth.baier

Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 4:37 PM

Subject: [ ] My first " solo " shower - 6.5 weeks

post-op -yeah!

A regular towel is too heavy for me to

maneuver, especially once it starts taking on water, so I used four hand towels

and two wash cloths. I cut one wash cloth into quarters and washed my privates

with those quarters attached to my easywipe wand outside of the shower, because

the wand instructions say not to use it in the shower or immerse it in water. I

was able to push the shower chair into place by myself with my legs. I've got a

sponge on a stick (with a sting that loops over my wrist so I can't drop it)

and I've got a soap in the leg of an old stocking so I can't drop it. I also

have bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in plastic containers

suction-cupped to the walls within easy reach. One hand towel went on the chair

afterwards so I could dry my butt while sitting, another went on the floor

outside the shower to dry the bottom of my feet. Flapping one against the

fronts of my legs while sitting got them mostly dry. Therefore the only spots I

couldn't reach to dry were my ankles and the backs of my calves.

Full disclosure: When I redid my bathroom, I made sure to install a walk in

shower with the controls and hand-held shower head within reach of my shower

chair; I had already needed a shower chair at that point, and my husband

actually enjoys using it even though he doesn't need it. I also had my hair cut

short right before the operation so it would be easier to care for, whether in

the shower or using No Rinse shampoo. (The No Rinse shampoo works great; the

aerosol can spray versions didn't.)

[Guest guest]

Beth,

I tried twice to reply to this post last night and twice I hit some magic

keystroke that erased my whole email! I finally gave up. here's another go at

it.

Thinking back, I had VNA with a home health aid who came to the house for about

eight weeks after discharge from rehab. That said, I guess I really didn't get

the full effect of showering solo until eleven weeks post-op. Bath towels are

heavy when one is debilitated and recovering from surgery.

It is also difficult to reach all the places we used to with post-op

restrictions. I tried a braided scrunchie which I found at Walmart which worked

well until it unravelled and then I was left with a bunch of " o " rings. I also

tried a loofah on a stick with a string looped on the end so I wouldn't drop it

to reach my lower legs and feet. I also purchased a tub/shower chair with

backrest with adjustable legs. Even with the assistive devices, I found it

difficult to reach and do a good job scrubbing my heels/feet trying not to bend

or twist.

I am now at 20 weeks (wow) 5 months post-op. It gets easier as I try to find

new places to put/adjust things.We had professionals install steel grab bars and

installed a removable shower head which helps a lot.

It is hard to relearn how to do things when you can no longer do them as you

always had before. I am so used to getting dressed standing up. I have always

lifted my leg to put my pants on. Now my balance is now so good and my muscles

are very stiff. I can't lift my leg high like I used to. Now I have to hold on

to the bed knob for the first pant leg. For the second, I may have to use a

grabber or dressing stick or maybe sit on the bed also. Guess I am not getting

any younger and all the things we took for granted are not so simple or apparent

anymore. Sometimes I may need the help of a friend to show me another way of

doing the very things that I thought so simple...

It takes time to recover and I am grateful for everyone in this group who

shares. It is in sharing that we learn and get the help and support we need.

Robin

>

> A regular towel is too heavy for me to maneuver, especially once it starts

taking on water, so I used four hand towels and two wash cloths. I cut one wash

cloth into quarters and washed my privates with those quarters attached to my

easywipe wand outside of the shower, because the wand instructions say not to

use it in the shower or immerse it in water. I was able to push the shower

chair into place by myself with my legs. I've got a sponge on a stick (with a

sting that loops over my wrist so I can't drop it) and I've got a soap in the

leg of an old stocking so I can't drop it. I also have bottles of shampoo,

conditioner, and body wash in plastic containers suction-cupped to the walls

within easy reach. One hand towel went on the chair afterwards so I could dry

my butt while sitting, another went on the floor outside the shower to dry the

bottom of my feet. Flapping one against the fronts of my legs while sitting got

them mostly dry. Therefore the only spots I couldn't reach to dry were my

ankles and the backs of my calves.

>

> Full disclosure: When I redid my bathroom, I made sure to install a walk in

shower with the controls and hand-held shower head within reach of my shower

chair; I had already needed a shower chair at that point, and my husband

actually enjoys using it even though he doesn't need it. I also had my hair cut

short right before the operation so it would be easier to care for, whether in

the shower or using No Rinse shampoo. (The No Rinse shampoo works great; the

aerosol can spray versions didn't.)

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dorcas for reposting the bathrobe tip - I'll have to remember that for

the winter!

>

> Congratulations on your first solo shower!! The milestones will continue

> to pile up. It sounds like you've really thought it out.

>

>

>

> One tip I learned from this forum that I'll probably use the rest of my

> life is to put on a terry cloth robe while you're still wet & it will

> dry you off (all except for your lower legs) as well as keep you warm.

> Many thanks to whoever suggested that one!

>

>

>

> I found a nylon " scrubbie " on a long handle that's probably 15 " long at

> Bed Bath & Beyond that was really inexpensive & works great- it even

> reaches between my shoulder blades.

>

>

>

> This group is awesome!!

>

>

>

> Dorcas

>

> St. Louis

>

>

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of beth.baier

> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 4:37 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] My first " solo " shower - 6.5 weeks post-op

> -yeah!

>

>

>

>

>

> A regular towel is too heavy for me to maneuver, especially once it

> starts taking on water, so I used four hand towels and two wash cloths.

> I cut one wash cloth into quarters and washed my privates with those

> quarters attached to my easywipe wand outside of the shower, because the

> wand instructions say not to use it in the shower or immerse it in

> water. I was able to push the shower chair into place by myself with my

> legs. I've got a sponge on a stick (with a sting that loops over my

> wrist so I can't drop it) and I've got a soap in the leg of an old

> stocking so I can't drop it. I also have bottles of shampoo,

> conditioner, and body wash in plastic containers suction-cupped to the

> walls within easy reach. One hand towel went on the chair afterwards so

> I could dry my butt while sitting, another went on the floor outside the

> shower to dry the bottom of my feet. Flapping one against the fronts of

> my legs while sitting got them mostly dry. Therefore the only spots I

> couldn't reach to dry were my ankles and the backs of my calves.

>

> Full disclosure: When I redid my bathroom, I made sure to install a walk

> in shower with the controls and hand-held shower head within reach of my

> shower chair; I had already needed a shower chair at that point, and my

> husband actually enjoys using it even though he doesn't need it. I also

> had my hair cut short right before the operation so it would be easier

> to care for, whether in the shower or using No Rinse shampoo. (The No

> Rinse shampoo works great; the aerosol can spray versions didn't.)

>