I'm 21 days post op and feeling ok, doing exercises, sleeping ok on my back, taking paracetamol when I need it. I have showers but yesterday I asked a friend to try to get in and out of the bath tub without breaking the 90 degree rule - it was impossible.
Have you managed to find a way?
Hi Sally. I was told no baths for 12 weeks! I'm 6 weeks post op so not tried yet. Can't wait to soak in a nice warm bubble bath.
Hi
I too have tried with help to get in bath, I don,t think there is a way.
I was scared that if I did manage to sit down then how was I going to get up
again. So unless someone does have an idea, then I dont have a clue, so will
have to cotinue with shower.!!
I will follow this in case someone does know how.
Glyn
Hi Sally,
Me too, tho my usual gripe here again is that I've been told SIX weeks b4 a bath....and everyone is getting told different things!
I think at six weeks and with strong arms i should be able to sit on rear end of bath and gentle lower me down, and hopefully reverse this to exit - or I'll be stuck in bath for ever!
Mic
x
________________
Hi sally
I was told 6 weeks too. Can't wait, but also as Mic said it's the worry of getting stuck x
Hi sally I had a bath at 7 weeks, had a chair strategically placed beside bath to hold on to when getting out and in, so could then sit on it to rest and dry myself. I tried to keep that leg straight so not to damage.
I'm 8 1/2 weeks now so don't appear to have done any damage.
I took it very slowly and was in the bath for a long time lol.
I was told I could have a bath after 6 weeks. The physio said if we had aids to get in and out that was helpful, also if you have handles each side of the bath that was helpful too. She said the best way to get in was to hold onto the handles or sides of the bath, lean forward and lift your leg in doggy fashion as though peeing up a lamp post. We have handles on ours but decided to wait a while longer than 6 weeks in case I couldn't get out again. The standing up bit to get out is more difficult. If you are not sure, best stick to showers for a while!
I was told NOT TO GET IN BATH for 3 months ..
have wondered if I could do it now at 9 weeks if someone helped me . .
Mary
What if we could sit on our knees in the tub? I would love to buy one of those walk in-sit in molded chair tubs they show on commercials. Or a hot tub that has chairs molded into it. I want a hot bath soak so bad!!!
Hi Sally,
My view is to wait until the 90 degree rule is lifted. We only have once to heal right. I have the same restriction right now and would love a soak, but do not dare.
At the rehab facility I was in before I came home they had a tub that would lower me down into the tub and then lift me out. It was fabulous! I know there are nice walk in tubs that can be installed in homes.
Hope you get a long soak soon! I know that creature comfort desire.
Take care,
💛 Dawn, USA
We were told no bath for prob 12 weeks as not to soak wound area because warm and moist breeds infection. Plus the 90 deg rule. So be careful all of u who are pushing for bathing
dont know where you are from but i used a little fold up stool my hubby pussed it under my bum i sat on it and found i could get up from there some times there was a lot of laughts
Hi Sally,
Me longing for a bath too, tho a week or so ago longing for a shower which I've just had - after DN removed bandage and said fine to shower.
I do plan to have first bath at 6 weeks, as recommended by thr Exeter crew, but yes tis confusing different hospitals say different things on this, on DVT, lying on ones' side, etc: also we oursleves are more or less cautious in life about things like how much to push ourselves, or not!
Take care
Mic
x
Hi Dene,
That sounds wonderfully inventive! Awesome!
💛 Dawn, USA
Hi , could you lend your stool and hubbie to me please , I could do with a bath . Ha ha
MaryMary
Hi Mary
I would give you my stool, but never my hubby hes to special to me , he cleans, hoovers, now makes dinner, the only thing i will not let him do is the ironing , i have the best man in the world, do know were you are living if in uk and you got a B&M store that is were i got my fold up stool from ,,,,,good for getting in and out of car ,
Thought you were going to say you had hubbie from B&M store .ha ha x
Mic, you mustn't be too far from me. I work in Exeter and live in Torbay. I had mine done at Torbay District Hospital. The dressing I had meant I have been able to shower everyday. In fact, the first morning in the hospital they wheel you down to a wet room and the carers practically shower you, day two I walked with my zimmer to the shower and had slightly more dignity as in I showered alone but was dried in the hard to reach places by caring staff and day three I was walking with crutches and showering and drying alone aside from those pesky toes... I never realised how easy it used to be to dry my feet! I do find it surprising all the differences in after care and do's and don'ts. Emma x
Hi Emma,
Good to chat! Yes...I live in St Thomas, Exeter, and got done at the RDE Hospital. Strange even within Devon you were allowed to shower and i had to wait 10 days for the DN to say ok. Hopefully you had the ankle pumps /asprin for anti dvt and not the awful stockings others here have had to put up with.
Tomorrow marks 4 weeks post op. Feeling pretty good mostly tho some folk here say I'm pushing a bit too much and should slow down! Rest quite a bit too....
Good luck with your recovery and hope crutches fade away...am buying some walking poles to get me onto dartmoor ASAP.
Mic
X
Mic, I would say I was forced to shower, literally pushed in a wheelchair under the water! Haha. Not that I minded getting rid of the iodine and theatre smells. Nope I have been given the awful stockings and asprin! They are bloody horrific! They actually make my legs burn to the point I woke up the other night mid dream thinking my legs were on fire and ripped the one on my good leg off and then woke my other half up who begrudgingly at 3am took the other one off. I have refused to wear them since. The nurse said it was only at night to wear them but I cannot deal with the heat. It may be an elastic thing as I'm allergic to Elastoplast so might be along the same line. I've been having, rightly or wrongly, double asprin instead.Tomorrow marks 2 weeks post op. Yes a walk on Dartmoor is up there on my summer hopes. Emma x