showering

[mcclane]

Since dealing with dialysis (besides the short transplant), I finally took a decent and hot shower.

The central line for hemo came out last week, I let the hole heal for 3 days after, then I just took the dressing off (I was told to leave it on for 24 hours after the line came out), and went for it.  Man, something as simple as showering felt sooooo good, I didn't have to worry about getting any catheters wet or anything. 

Yeah I know it isn't much, but when dealing with dialysis, I look for anything (even small) that is a positive. 

[willowtreewren]

Oh, I so agree. Finding the positive in any situation can make all the difference!

For ten years when I was growing up, I couldn't get my head wet (left ear canal went straight to my lungs). Swimming and showers were OUT!

When I was sixteen that little problem was cleared up.  Now, you can hardly keep me out of the water. I think I'm still making up for last time after all these years!

 

I'm still deaf in that ear, but hey! That means I can put it down on my pillow at night and not be bothered by noises.

 

Aleta

[Kayholio]

I know how you feel. It felt so good to finally get a shower after about a month of nothing but standing baths. Glad you got the line out.

[Whamo]

I have one of those point and shoot showers so I still shower, from the waist down.  I do miss full showers, and I'm looking forward to getting a fistula so I can have one.  I also want to surf again, now that I'm feeling stronger, even if it's only in small surf.   I've heard, though, that an arm fistula stops one from playing the guitar.

[lmunchkin]

Oh, it was like Christmas everyday when husband was able to get shower (without worring). Like a kid in a candy store!!!

lmunch

[lmunchkin]

Never heard that before Whamo!  I don't know why that is.  I don't see where the pressure would be, if you play guitar.  I quess it would possibly be the placement of the guitar!  IDK, maybe someone can answer that.

lmunch

[Smeggy]

Had my line out 2 weeks ago, they put a waterproof cover on and yeah, feel better than I have in 2 years.

Yay for hygiene!

[Cordelia]

         Mcclane     

[Desert Dancer]

I have one of those point and shoot showers so I still shower, from the waist down.  I do miss full showers, and I'm looking forward to getting a fistula so I can have one.  I also want to surf again, now that I'm feeling stronger, even if it's only in small surf.   I've heard, though, that an arm fistula stops one from playing the guitar.

I wouldn't put much stock in this; my dad had a left wrist fistula and played guitar for hours every day of his life.

[Restorer]

At my current center, the default dressing over my catheter site is a waterproof dressing. I have a pack of the same type at home that I use to cover up all the rest of the catheter, and then I shower carefully. It's still hard to shower more than twice a week, though (and I've been known to go up to two weeks without a shower, but then my hair gets really greasy).

[boswife]

Yeah for showering    I wasnt the one with the cath, but i was the one worrying about it..lol  It was heavenly when hubby could step into that shower w/0 MY fussing at him..    Yea, i fuss, and worry..      

[Rain]

I had my catheter in for 1 year, and i installed a removeable shower head so I could take standing baths.

But when I got my catheter out   I stood in the shower for 45 minutes, scrubbing every area.

And then I took up swimming and now i got a few times week.   I love my fistula and i get nervous every transonic day..

I also protect my fistula arm in my sleep, if my boyfriend gets too near it, apparently I tell him to be careful in my sleep.

[JScott1753]

  I can relate to all of this. Due to having a catheter for eleven(!) months, which got infected the last couple of weeks, plus a sore on my right foot(foot sores and diabetics don't mix!), I have been having wash cloth baths at my bathroom sink for *way* too long. Fortunately, this last week my foot doctor said my foot is healed enough that I can get my foot wet--this means showers again! 
  Jon

[tbarrett2533]

last year all I wanted for Christmas was a shower, turns out that my new fistula did not agree and well I got a three day after New Year shower instead and I took 3 of them in 1 day........... 

It really is the small things in life that matter 

[Riki]

I had my central line removed in June of 2010, and after years with a PD cath, then a year and a half with the line, the novelty of a shower without needing to change a dressing or worry about getting certain body parts wet has yet to wear off.  I still do tend to shower with my back to the water stream.  Some habits die hard, I guess.