How do you get out of the bath?

[KewMummy87]

Aibu to ask how you get out of the bath (if you are healthy with no disabilities)?

I’m not a weird bath perv. I let the water run out yesterday and couldn’t get out! I had to re-fill the bath. I can only get out by sitting sideways, getting onto my knees and climbing out from there.

I need to know if that’s normal or if it’s because I’m enormous at the moment. I can’t remember my slimmer days. They weren’t even that long ago!

Thank you. Sorry for odd aibu.

Thank all I just got into the bath. Im going to see if I can get out without the sideways rolling, all fours, huffing and puffing palaver. But will be in the bath for at least half an hour first so don’t panic if I don’t update straight away!

Pull the plug out with my foot and then stand up swearing because it's so cold. Never let the water drain because then you get even colder. For some reason, our bathroom has a different climate to the rest of the house.

We inherited a rail from the previous owner and it was a godsend in pregnancy (and for dh with his dodgy knees).

With grab rails. Would recommend, they've also saved me from a few nasty falls!

In my 50's, fucked knees (cannot kneel on them at all), overweight. Had an accident this year and have replace my body parts! Live alone. I was incredibly happy to be able to shower on my own again!! Shower is over the bath & it's very tempting!

But living alone I'm terrified of being unable to get out, so haven't tried.

FWB lives nearby so might have to do it when he's coming around, or at least when I know he's at home (so he could come & rescues me) but it might be the end of a lovely FWB situation if he has to haul me out of the bath! Hmm. Might perfect the art of getting up off the floor before attempting the bath.

Beware- it can all go wrong quickly!! Make the most if your youthful flexibility & functioning knees. Yep, I'd have laughed too! I used to be a gymnast & dancer!

I have a bit of a dodgy knee so pull plug turn over onto knees and get up so a bit of a 3 point turn

@KewMummy87

Aibu to ask how you get out of the bath (if you are healthy with no disabilities)?

I’m not a weird bath perv. I let the water run out yesterday and couldn’t get out! I had to re-fill the bath. I can only get out by sitting sideways, getting onto my knees and climbing out from there.

I need to know if that’s normal or if it’s because I’m enormous at the moment. I can’t remember my slimmer days. They weren’t even that long ago!

Thank you. Sorry for odd aibu.

I do this too. But it's because I'm fat

So glad I have a wet room and no bath !

I had that lightbulb moment too OP. One pre-lockdown day I was standing up and out of the bath without a thought. 4 stone later and it’s grab the taps and pull myself up, or onto my knees and up. If I do get up from a sitting position, a whole tidal wave of water rushes from behind my bum!

Leaving some water in is key. I pull the plug out first then start the ascent while the water begins to drain. I’m in a Premier Inn bath this week, solo trip, so will be considering my moves!

@butterpuffed

So glad I have a wet room and no bath !

Trouble is, I love baths and hate wet rooms though I know the day will come....

I have to flip myself over and get on my knees and stand up that way - my knees aren't great so can't stand straight up from sitting.

I always pull the plug before I do though, have a paranoia that I'll slip and bang my head and would rather avoid being under water!

STOP PRESS

I GOT OUT OF THE BATH WITHOUT HAVING TO GET ONTO ALL FOURS!!!

I just held the sides of the bath and pulled myself up! I’m SO proud! It wasn’t easy and the bath is very deep and was very full so that’s probably what made it possible. But still.

Sign my up for the bath exit race at the next Olympics!!!

I have to turn on to all fours and then stand up in the bath by pushing off on the hand rails either side and then step elegantly out of the bath. I'm 70 this year and leg muscles are a bit pathetic. Talking of being a hippo, you should have seen me being manhandled in and out of a hot-air balloon basket in Sedona a couple of years ago - I did suggest a set of kitchen steps for future use.

I have trouble getting out if the bath too and saw this today www.completecareshop.co.uk/bathroom-aids/bath-lifts/electric-bath-lifts/mangar-bathing-cushion?sku=M18217. Has anyone tried this?

I was looking for bath aids for my very elderly father but could be tempted myself!

Having the same problems as so many here now and thinking back cannot remember what I used to do before it became a problem. Before lockdown I was losing weight (4st in 4 years) but all my activity stopped so the combination of aging, weight gain, lack of activity, weak knees and arms meant My usual strategy of pushing up with one hand behind and one grsping the side with the water still in, then using the grab bar to sit on the side before standing and carefully stepping out became impossible last year. i live alone so when i also slipped over in the bathroom and could not push or pull myself up and cannot get on my knees because of my weight really brought it home how things had changed for me.

I do not have a shower so I got one of those plastic bath seats but that seems to defeat the purpose of wallowing in warm water. And I still could not push up enough to lift my body out of the water,have only tried a few times but had to let all the water out then throw an old bath towel on bottom of bath to give a grip for my feet. I am getting help now from the NHS technical rehabilitation team. So this thread is a good reminder that I really must do what I can re weight and fitness as it could get even worse. I am very aware as a previous poster said the bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in the home.

I am old fat and have a dodgy knee. I use my arms to push me into a sort of crab then put one leg over the side. I then sort of manouvere my second leg over and push myself out. Thank God for my upper arm strength.

I get to kneeling then stand up and step out. Always have. I'm surprised people bend their knees and launch right out! I would worry about slipping.

I pull the plug out then put my hands on either side of the bath and hoik myself up.
I remember that when I was at the back end of my pregnancies that I used to pull the plug and then turn over onto my knees to get up though.
I pull the plug out first because I once lost my balance as I was standing up and splashed back down into the bath full of water, which caused a tidal wave of tsunami proportions

I put my hands (usually just one) on the side of the bath, push and stand up then climb out. Even at my heaviest (size 18) this was how.

@KewMummy87

I have no physical problems and am (very) early 40’s. But apparently also very fat and unfit.

That's the problem, the unfitness part. There are athletes that will likely weigh the same, if not more than you. They wouldn't have issues getting out by doing what most do, hold the sides and push themselves up.

It's got very little to do with weight, and more to do with fitness, balance and flexibility. I'd have struggled to do that about 4 years ago, but now that I've exercises a lot more and gotten stronger I can do it. I weigh the exact same as I did 4 years ago, if not maybe a bit heavier.

Thanks for saying that Freedom Faith, it's good to hear that you/we can improve with exercise. I contributed earlier that I have the same problems getting out of bath and cannot use it now. Have realised I need to build up my strength as well as lose weight. You don't realise until it happens to your or someone close to you what a real problem this can be.

@tomorrowalready

Thanks for saying that Freedom Faith, it's good to hear that you/we can improve with exercise. I contributed earlier that I have the same problems getting out of bath and cannot use it now. Have realised I need to build up my strength as well as lose weight. You don't realise until it happens to your or someone close to you what a real problem this can be.

You definitely can improve your fitness and even if your weight doesn't go down, you're still helping your body bit by bit. I've been exercising for a couple of years now, definitely no olympian but I'm fitter than I was. That damn number on the scales won't go down though..

I sit up, legs bent, then use the side of the bath to balance myself while I pull myself to standing (because I like a long soak in hot water so sometimes get a little bit light headed and sometimes the bottom of the bath is slippy). I can't get out of bed that way, though, I roll onto my front then onto all fours or just slide off the bottom of the bed feet first.

I saw this thread and realised I didn't actually know how I get out of the bath - it's automatic and just happens. I set my phone up in the bathroom and recorded myself, it's kind of hand on either side to pull myself up a little then do the rest with my legs. I've also realise I have to step out of the bath left leg first.

I sometimes let the bath water drain away before I get out but it's a lot harder getting out of the bath that way. Not so much the lack of buoyancy but there always ends up being a patch of water on my back that seems to act as a vacuum and sticks me to the bath. (I know water isn't a vacuum but it's the only way I can describe it.)