posted
I have always had difficulty with showers. At age 11, my first symptom of lyme was collapsing as I got out of the shower and being paralyzed for about half an hour afterward.
As I got older I always just thought I "disliked" showers, but with my lyme diagnosis have come to see that it is more than that. They are just very hard for me to handle. And, now that I am so sick, this is more pronounced.
I know that at my current level of functioning, if I shower I won't be able to do much else that day, and I plan for that. I know I've heard others say this as well, so I must not be alone. It just takes SO much energy, and afterwards I feel short of breath, exhausted, palpitations, dizzy, weak, etc.
Right now I shower about once a week, and even that is a strain. So, I wonder how all of you do it. In coming up with a strategy, I've considered getting a shower stool, and perhaps a heavy terry cloth robe to step into afterwards so I don't have to dry myself off (saving that step of the process).
Ideas? Tips? Thoughts on why this is such a strain? Thanks in advance.
Posts: 232 | From Oregon | Registered: May 2010
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Not sure where to start.
What is working for me now is a built in shower chair.
I sit in the corner so my back and body are better supported.
There are also handicap rails in the shower.
This has helped so much.
Like you, I showered about once a week before moving to the handicap apartment.
I had a shower chair and a nozzle that I could remove from the wall and use...but it was still too much.
I had to sit upright in the shower chair which is difficult on the body and brain.
Also holding the shower was difficult..weak arms and weak brain.
But, I did have a chenille robe handy that I use to just put on to save the step of drying off.
Things are much better now and I usually am able to dry off and get dressed without having to lie down, rest, air dry and then try and get dressed.
I think it is because of the built in shelf in the shower that I leave down all the time now for the sit down showers.
I also still have to limit how much I do each day. Taking a shower and getting dressed and meals that are simple are still the main goal of the day.
And I am not able to take a shower every day. Guessing I am averaging about 3 a week now.
not sure if this makes sense as the brain is struggling.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I use a shower chair, which allows me to have the warm water on my back, which is often in pain. I have my clothes laid out on my bed prior to the shower.
I get out and dress on the bed. I've been doing that for the past 8 1/2 years and even when I am feeling better, I still do it out of habit.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
When I was bedridden from an injury that I couldn't get wet, and I couldn't stand up, I would get someone to bring me a jug or bucket of warm water, wash cloth and soap (go light on the soap) and a towel. I would just take a sponge bath in the bed. It wasn't ideal, but felt better than going days without washing at all.
I would beg someone to wash my hair over a bucket, but they didn't like to do it because it was messy and annoying. Eventually I got someone to take me to a beauty parlor to get my hair washed every once in a while. That's probably not a good option for someone with bad symptoms who can't get out, but it might work if you just have trouble standing up long enough to shower or have balance issues.
I know now that they have "dry shampoo" that you just rub in your hair and don't rinse out. They use it in nursing homes and on camping trips. I haven't tried that, but it might be preferable to living with it dirty.
For many centuries some cultures held that bathing was dangerous and/or immoral, and would only do it maybe once a year. I like to smell better than that, myself, but it's probably not as negative to our health to go without bathing for a while as we tend to think, if people could survive such long times without it. At least let that thought comfort you if it's a long time between showers.
Good luck!
-------------------- Don't forget to laugh! And when you're going through hell, keep going!
Bitten 5/25/2009 in Perry County, Indiana. Diagnosed by LLMD 12/2/2009. Posts: 756 | From Inside the tunnel | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
I have a MUCH harder time if the showers are hot. If they're luke warm I do much better. But I too have had the shaky and dizzy reaction to them. Not really sure why?
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- HOT showers are definitely zappers. I'm with Joyful on that. Many lyme patients do very poorly with heat - during and afterward even for days.
A slightly warm shower works so much better.
A thick robe sounds lovely but it would take a long time to dry out.
I wish the shower was not so LOUD - even through ear plugs. If anyone ever plans to build, be sure to insulate and secure the pipes. Apartments - and some houses - don't have the pipe insulation that they should.
So, if your shower is loud, that is also very exhausting.
The quietest shower head I've found is RAIN SPA but, still, if the pipes are a rattling system of tin cans, changing the shower head may not help a lot. But every little bit helps. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i can do showers but i love my bath. unfortunately with my knees, i can barely get up out of the tub.
with showers tho, the water gets in my eyes, especially when i shampoo my hair. i come out looking like dracula on a binge.
my eyes get so red they're almost black. seriously, i got so scared i went to the eye doc since i had an appt anyway. he said to try and keep my eyes completely shut, rinse with cool water after a shower and use eye drops.
so i'm better off just washing my hair in the kitchen sink.
i do take real warm baths with epsom salts tho. sometimes i get really really weak afterward so i drink a lot of water.
i have to use a very mild soap like dove or something.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Haven't had a shower for 10 years. I do an epsom salt bath. The thought of a stream of water hiting me gives me chills.
Plus standing in a shower is not safe for ones who don't have good balance. I wash my hair in the sink.
I find that having my bath the night before a day I going out helps with the energy loss.
I also use Dove...only soap that doesn't irratate, and I have a handrail to lift my body up...very necessary!
-------------------- SEREN WEED Posts: 116 | From LOS ANGELES | Registered: May 2005
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I found that having a plain, light colored shower curtain helps. One with no pattern- especially lines or dots.
Also, like the others, I can't do hot water at all. Lukewarm at best.
I break up the bathing chores whenever possible to reserve some energy.
I go out on the porch with a razor and garden hose to shave my legs in the sunlight as often as possible. It cuts down on the cuts too- since I can't see well. Then later I can take a quick shower.
Washing hair I do about every other day. Now that I've cut most of it off, it doesn't take as long to wash and saves my energy.
I do the nails at night usually, while resting... or while watching my NASCAR race.
I also do the "stop everything right now and take a 3 minute shower" trick when I have energy at any given time.
For example- I can be up and doing dishes or whatever.. and I will just walk to the bathroom, strip, get in and out and re-dressed in about 5 minutes. I keep clean under clothes in the bathroom for that reason.
That allows for a daily shower.. and sometimes two a day.
I am not at all good in a tub. Knees hurt, slipping, etc. Plus it takes too much time.
posted
I wash my hair in the sink..less time i have to stand in the shower. I shower twice a week..its an energy thing. Im finding that my energy levels increase slightly at night so im showering later and later. Im hoping it will allow me to shower more often. I used to take nothing but tub baths..thats now out of the question. I do miss them.
Posts: 624 | From Oklahoma | Registered: Jun 2010
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