Too ill to bathe but feel disgusting

[Danceinthenight]

I don’t have a shower. I asked for one because I get flare ups for at least 1-2 weeks of the month. That was in August last year and I haven’t heard anything back, but I will chase it up. I only have a bath. I haven’t had one in over a week, almost 2. I feel disgusting and my hair is oily. If I have a bath I risk fainting. I don’t have dry shampoo. I don’t know what to do.

@Danceinthenight You can buy dry shampoo stuff or shampoo that didn't wash out on the internet and wet wipes but for adults. Often found on Amazon or I think the age UK site (more expensive through them) not sure what else to say to help you, I'm unsure as to rented accommodation (I'm guessing here) works now

Would you be able to bring a chair into the bathroom and sit in it while doing a wash at the sink? As for your hair, I knows it sounds horrible but the truth is hair doesn't really need washing that often. It will get greasy after a couple of weeks but then starts to improve as the oils in your hair get used to not being stripped back so much. You can wash hair using just water and it won't really do any harm.
Could a friend or family member help you to do it? Definitely keep on at the HA/council/landlord about the shower. Is there enough space in your bathroom to fit a shower? Presuming you don't mind if you have to lose the bath?
I hope things improve for you soon.

Flare ups of of what? Who have you asked or a shower, are you in a council property or something?

In any case, you don't need a shower to wash your hair - get on of these to push over your bath/sink taps: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Croydex-Push-Fit-Push-Shower-Sprayer/dp/B0CZRQF5B6/ref=asc_df_B0CZRQF5B6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697300084552&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6580448344659885614&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046443&hvtargid=pla-2301427283260&psc=1&mcid=30d42751132d3ab8b0a1a54c44992d4a&gad_source=1

If it won;t fit your taps, you could use a sink fll of water and a jog.

Sit in the bath on a stool if necessary and have a bucket of warm water and a cup a flannel and some soap.

Yes, add a cheap shower attachment to your taps and add a bath board too if needed.

I lived without a shower for the first 25 years of my life. I used to wash using a flannel each day. I had a bath at weekends. I used to wash my hair nearly every day (when a teenager and older obviously) either down on my knees leaning over the bath, or over the sink. I used a jug for rinsing. Not ideal but you'll feel better feeling clean.

Can you get one of the shower attachments that goes on the bath taps and then sit in the bath and spray yourself with the shower attachment to get clean/ wash your hair? Or is it getting in and out of the bath that's a problem? (Unsure if it was the heat of sitting in a full bath of warm water that was causing you to faint or whether a mobility thing)

I strip wash when camping, a bowl of hot water and a flannel. Makes me feel much fresher. I wash my hair in the bowl, then use the soapy water to do my body (working from cleanest to grubbiest areas!).
I grew up without running water though, so I literally didn't have a bath or shower for years.

Get a bath board across the top and slosh yourself down with a plastic jug. You will feel better

Shallow cool bath?

Or ask friend/family member to have a shower at theirs, take a pk of biscuits as a thank you.

Local leisure centre/big train station.

You could get a handy person to attached a bracket and get a shower hose attached to taps

Fill a bath with a few inches as for a baby or sit in it with a jug and the taps on

and if you're that ill you need a doctor let alone a hair wash

Mobility and ability to get into the bath might be an issue. I'm sure OP knows that she can wash at the sink, even the kitchen sink (which often has higher taps for hair washing).

It depends on what the flare up is about.

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I'm a carer, and I started buying these (for my teenager, when he went through a phase of refusing to shower, after running around the park). They're adequate. You could get them, by tomorrow, from Amazon.

@MockneyReject that's the stuff I meant! I'm crap at links etc .

@halava

Well yes but if she had one two weeks ago and step over the side of the bath she could ask a plumber to fit a tap with over the bath shower. Yes you might have to pay for it yourself but if she has been waiting until last August it might be worth the expense

Sometimes you do, no matter what you are entitled to, just have to sort out a solution yourself. Or wait.

Or simply baby wipes. I find them really good for that.

Washing hair is harder imo.
@Danceinthenight can I ask if you know some of the triggers fir your fainting?
I wouldn’t be able to put my head down to wash it. That would make me very lightheaded/in danger of fainting.
I’m not sure what yours are.

I’ve not been able to bathe or shower for over a month (major surgery, limited movement, then an infected wound) but I have had mainly sitting down strip washes every (other, at the beginning) day, standing briefly as necessary. I bought a sponge on a long handle online so I could reach my back and legs/feet. I just sat wrapped in towels until I was dry. It was less than ideal, but it worked.

I couldn’t lean forward very well, so a friend came once a week to wash my hair with jugs of water while I sat and leant back a bit over the kitchen sink - it was messy but again, it worked. Do you maybe have a friend who could help you?

Not all mobility solutions are accessible when you have to source them yourself. Mainly because you are more likely to not have that sort of money to pay for it!!

It’s not a question of entitlement. Or not helping yourself.
Its a question of not being able to do it!

The hair washing caps mentioned above are really good, we used them when DH was very ill.

Can you flannel wash? I find if you use pretty hot water and a mint shower gel or soap you feel much fresher after
I use the Dr Bronners as it's mega concentrated or original source

Do you have mobility problems, OP?

If not, you could try putting a bowl/bucketful of water in the bath and pouring jugs of water over yourself, using just a little shampoo. It will help you feel refreshed. Another option, if it's your hair that's bothering you the most, is to lean over the kitchen sink (as it's a bit bigger than bathroom sink) and wash your hair like that.

I bought a cheap hose which attached to the taps to wash hair and also filled a bowl sat at the kitchen sink whilst waiting for my wet room to be installed
Also after cataract surgery I used a shampoo cap brand Nilaqua which worked well
If you are unable to sit over a sink, baby wipes do an acceptable job
If you have friends with a walk in shower, don't be afraid to ask if you can use theirs
Depending on your mobility of course and the duration of your illness

Get in the bath very slowly with someone with you