This probably has been addressed before my joining this group, but humor me, please. Anyone else have a hard time getting in the shower? I mean, most of the time, the thought of getting myself into the shower is absolutely overwhelming. Hard to explain to others, and I end up feeling like a lazy, dirty person if I DON'T manage to bathe. Know what I mean?
Haven’t had this problem. Pray that God will give you the strength. I will also pray for you. Things do get better. Have the faith to believe this.
I know what you mean. I seem to get disoriented and have lean against what I think is the wall, but it is the shower curtain. I have fallen out several times and just missed hitting the toilet. I don't know if it is the lupus/RA or one of my other health issues, but it scares me because I live alone and if I get hurt it might be quite awhile before someone finds me. I have taken up call someone to let me know that I am going to take a shower and if they don't hear back from me to call and if no answer to come check on me. It's trouble to live like that, but I have to do what I have to to be able to stay on my own. Good luck to you and I will think of you when I take my shower.
I know what you are saying. Sometimes its every other day because im just too fatigued and it seems like such a job to do so. My son was just telling me yesterday that I need a shower! Lol! It hard on the self-esteem…it doesn’t make us very attractive to those around us. So this morning, I got up, took a nice hot shower, and put lotion and makeup on. Does that self-esteem good! I just wish I felt like doing that everyday.
I have the same expireance. Found out it was related to my depression as I was not motivated to do anything else as well.
You are not alone, Anastasia! Showers and hair washing takes up sooo many spoons for me. I shower every couple of days and wash at the sink on other days. My skin is so dry that big flakes come off me and me skin is actually scaly. For me to stand in a bath tub and shower kills my back too. Something about the slope I think. I have been told by doctors that I had to stop showering everyday and hair stylists for years told me to stop shampooing everyday like I was. I keep clean but not in a shower everyday.
I would suggest a simple shower seat. I used one after my foot surgery and it was so helpful. The next house I get will have a built in shower seat so I can rest if I need to....
I hate taking showers I prefer baths but I can’t be around chemicals and I can’t bend over an just the thought of a shower is stressful!!
I know exactly what you mean! It takes a huge amount of energy to shower, wash hair, moisturize your body, put on light makeup---like I did almost every day for about 30 years. As someone said in response to your post, washing your hair every day is not a good thing---especially as we age the oil dries up in our scalp, and our skin dries as well. My hair stylist says don't wash hair but every 2-3 days. The only problem with bathing is I have been told by physicians that it makes you more prone to urinary tract infections...but do a fact check on this or ask your physician. For sure don't use any bubble bath. If I don't shower every day--every two days is the goal, I use the "flushable" adult wipes to freshen up on the non-shower days---but I don't flush them as I understand they can eventually clog a sewer line. It does make you feel better on several levels to get clean and look your best...even when you don't have any place special to go. Even if you just put clean PJs on your clean body and rest. I go to the nearby dog park with my boyfriend and his blue heeler mix, and people there say I dress casual better than anyone in the park. I laugh and tell them I get dressed up to go there! All the regulars know I have lupus. I met a lady there who is young and has lupus that causes her to use oxygen 24/7. It was great to talk with her while my boyfriend listened. She said for her, Lupus makes her feel like she is walking in a huge vat of honey, which I thought was a good analogy. She has a huge dog, and I don't know how she manages to take care of him. I think she lives alone but I never ask questions like that.... OK, I'm rambling here. I think you have many good responses/answers! All the best, LupanCatwoman
Thank you for posting this, I was beginning to think I was crazy. Taking a shower is absolutely exhausting to me. When I get out I feel like I’ve run a marathon. I’m weak, shaky, and out of breath. My arms ache from washing my hair (getting it cut short soon) and I sweat even if I take a cold shower. I’ve taken to washing with a washcloth by the sink. The thing that really scares me is how dizzy and light-headed I get. I try to shower only when someone else is home just in case I pass out. I also itch all over afterwards and have actually torn my skin trying to stop the itch. My doc just blows me off when I talk about it, it’s really frustrating. If anyone has a solution, please let me know. Thank you, Annemarie
Thank god for u guys I thought I was the only one although I just stopped working on 2/21 it was a chore taking a shower every morning at 6 a but I do know I feel better when the sun is shining. I get up sometimes I shower and sometimes I don’t who cares I’m 62 with lupus (smile) stop worrying yourself
Annemarie, This is exactly how I am. I am going to get a shower chair for after my surgery. I am going to ask for a doctors order for it.
Annemarie said:
Thank you for posting this, I was beginning to think I was crazy. Taking a shower is absolutely exhausting to me. When I get out I feel like I've run a marathon. I'm weak, shaky, and out of breath. My arms ache from washing my hair (getting it cut short soon) and I sweat even if I take a cold shower. I've taken to washing with a washcloth by the sink. The thing that really scares me is how dizzy and light-headed I get. I try to shower only when someone else is home just in case I pass out. I also itch all over afterwards and have actually torn my skin trying to stop the itch. My doc just blows me off when I talk about it, it's really frustrating. If anyone has a solution, please let me know. Thank you, Annemarie
I been and am in your shoes...just not all time right now. Comes and goes for me plus i now only take baths since epsom salts help so much with pain.
Some items to help you ...chair or bench in the shower so you can sit in the shower instead of standing. Save a lot of energy plus chances of falling go way down. When soaping up....body and hair turn water off...you can see much easier and again it is not slippery without water running fast or even slowly.
Have another Chair or bench outside your shower so you can dry off sitting down. If money is not a big issue buying towel warming rack is nice treat when you come out...also have heater going if you tend to get chilled in showers either while in or afterwards.
If you are trying to clean you shower...i suggest buying a squeegee to wipe it down immediately while still in the chair..plus you can do your stretch exercises for your arms that are great for keeping them mobile as shoulder joint is the fastest to stop working. Other wise you can use your towel you dry off with but means going back into shower.
IF you are as tired as i think...you just might not care about cleaning it period.
You can do as lonely suggest calling someone so you have a buddy to check on you. you can buy wrist cell phone carrier ...Sahalie carries them for sure..about $ 12 dollars. Just do not wear cell phone into shower!! Or lastly you can have someone either train a dog you now have or get a smaller dog or size you want...that can fetch phone to you if you ask for it or if it sees you laying down for a certain amount of time...it can dial 911 on large pad house phone. Both of these are not hard to train a dog....take a few weeks at most plus you reinforcing it every few days to keep it trained.
OH or you can wear bracelet or necklace that has button you push and call a person or dials 911...it is monthly service ..seen the ads, i fallen and cannot get up. lastly you might consider a roommate just for company as well as safety.
It might be a beginning of really great friendship with the right women friend!!
I know how scary it can be...i was so worried and then something did happen to me. I handled it, though i did have to call neighbors to come get me at ER since i could not drive with the drugs they gave me...but my point is it worked out well. Actually much better than i always thought it would..so we need to over worry i think but it can prepare us ahead of time in a way as well. I hope some or at least one of my options you will consider and follow through so you can rest and stop wasting time on worrying rather than healing yourself.
I hope you heal quickly..so try to find a solution follow through so you can calm down and heal yourself!! very quickly i hope...or at least get better..and i hope you share this with your doctor as well because they can send out home help staff to help you shower as they did my mom after her by pass surgery...maybe not for ever but time to help you get better..also if weak please tell him this so he can set you up with possibly same person teaching you some exercises or send you to PT work...and go if he does. Please...i wish you the best!!
OMG Ann! I have been wondering where to get something like this or if they have nicer ones then the ones they gave us centuries ago after we gave birth!! Now I know! Thank you!
I am going to get a bench and I sit on the stool or a folding chair after my shower and to do my hair or put on make up which I never do unless I am going out now. I am going to get a Jamie Lee Curtis hair cut this coming week and I won't look near as cute as she does but I can't be fixing my hair after surgery. I am lucky that my hubby is around to help me and I don't take showers normally unless he is home. Thanks for starting this discussion. The answers have helped me too!
I completely know where you are coming from! I have to have a shower chair anytime I take a shower as I get so wiped out I can hardly get out. I also have to have my mom over when I take one just in case I cant get out as I often cant feel my body. There have been several times where I have had to have my wheel chair in the bathroom so i could get from the bathroom to my bed.
Taking a shower wipes me out to the point of having to go to bed to recover! A bath is pointless because I can't wash my hair in the bathtub.....I need something in the middle.
Lori
Loriken, have you tried a spray nozzle attachment for the tub faucet? You can take a bath and then use the attachment to rinse out your hair. Our tub has one but it’s been broken forever or I would use it. I think I might have to go the chair route in the shower. Thank goodness we have a large walk-in shower…lol
Gentle hugs, Annemarie
loriken214 said:
Taking a shower wipes me out to the point of having to go to bed to recover! A bath is pointless because I can't wash my hair in the bathtub.....I need something in the middle.
Lori
Ann, have you seen the big whirlpool tubs thst have a door in them? You get in and sit down, then fill it with water. The only downside I could see was you have to wait for the water to drain before you can open the door. Could be chilly in the winter, brrr…lol
Ann A. said:
A large walk in show with a bench would be my idea of heaven. I do love to soak in the tub. But for when I want a shower, whether I try to stand up or use my transfer bench, I use a handheld shower attachment. And that is how I wash my hair. I soak in the tub often using epsom salts and baking soda. I can soap up my hair sitting down. Once I am done soaking and soaping I need to rinse and I use the hand held shower attachment for that. Hey, we lupies have got to be inventive and adaptive. We each have to do what is best for us given the resources that we have at hand. I really miss my hot tub. But when I got sick in 2009 I could no longer handle the maintenance on it. But (and it is okay to laugh) —when my ship comes in I am getting myself both a walk in shower and safe soaking tub. I want the best of both worlds.
Yes, I absolutely relate to that! And, I have no solution. In addition to Lupus, I have other autoimmune diseases and a colostomy bag. So, for me, showering takes more steps that just getting undressed and stepping into the shower. My tolerance for not showering has grown and I, too, feel like a lazy, dirty, smelly person. Susan