Chronic pain/illness/disability related fatigue and showering habits.

[ChillingWithMySnowmies]

For those of you who suffer with any type of illness or disability that affects your energy levels, when do you shower?

I'm finding if i do in the morning, it's using up ALL my spoons and wiping me out for hours, so means if i have plans for the day, i have to shower the day before.

However, if i leave it until the evening, I'm often tired and struggle to get through even more, then have to wait for my hair to dry before i can sleep, or not wash my hair and do that separately the next morning... which feels like a PITA.

I'm struggling to find something that works for me and my available energy.

What positions/movements are you finding hard? Maybe we can help x

If you're in the UK contact the orthopaedic department OT. They put the grab rails in showers. I can descend and stand up safely now. They have other gadgets they'll advise you on as well.

Ah I can't use the shower over the bath but there is a shower shelf that might do you. At least until you bite the bullet on the new bathroom.

I have been in touch with OT.
I've got toilet frames, stair rails, steps at the doors, and they provided the bench seat thing for the bath. They wouldn't put rails in the bathroom though. Something to do with how its been set up and it not being possible to fix them to our walls? I use the loo frame to hold onto while getting in and out atm.

You can get a swivel bath seat from Adult Social Care on a long-term loan (no charge). You might have to wait a while for it though, or you could buy one yourself. It makes showering over the bath so much easier!

I had my bath removed five years ago and had it replaced with a walk-in shower that doesn't have a door. My bathroom guy said they are the best as you don't have to worry about hinges wearing etc.

Knees down mostly!

Im restricted by the width of the bath.. it makes me feel like I have more leg than I ought trying to figure out how to get to everywhere while sat down on a bench. 😂😂

I shower and wash my hair once a week, usually around lunchtime. I have a grab rail and seat in the shower so I can rest afterwards without having to dry and get out straight away.

It's shower day in the morning. I'm awake with pain atm and am already dreading having to deal with the faff.

Not sure if it will help you, but I have a speaker in my bathroom that I can play my audio books on. Also ridiculously expensive toiletries to encourage me in (they last flipping ages because I only use them once a week so probably no more expensive than supermarket stuff used every day iyswim).