SunCat

A delicate subject...

Posted on 03/20/09, 08:32 am

With regard to personal hygiene... does anyone have any tips on how to make showering easier? I know it's something of a delicate subject that most people would not choose to talk about, but being overweight puts me in a double pickle - the need to shower more often, but at the same time, dreading it as it's so difficult to reach certain areas. I find taking a shower to be almost equivalent to an exercise workout! Any tips?

• Reply #1 03/20/09  10:30am
  
  caruTH
  I got a shower head that can change the spray and comes off so you can use it as a hand sprayer. That helps me reach those not so easy places to reach and I do still have to get in certain positions so that I can spray those areas, but at least I can spray myself clean. Another thing that I do is use spray deodorant in those areas, like the creases of my legs and stomach, so that I don't sweat so much and it also helps with me not getting smelly. I know this is a topic that is very embarrassing to talk about and I haven't talked to anyone about but my sister. She's actually the one who gave me the idea about the deodorant. It's even embarrassing to talk to the doctor about it. I hope this helps and thanks for trusting us enough to ask. We are all in the same boat.
• Reply #2 03/22/09  12:55pm
  
  Ziporah
  I so know what you mean! Like Caru my shower head can be taken off and I use it aiming it at the difficult to reach spots full blast. I use a anti-bacterial soap (Dettol) and make sure I am really really dry afterwards. Something else I use is thin panty pads, not the liners as I find they just disintegrate and are so small, I use the very thin panty pads every day as they just make me feel secure and they are thin enough to wear and not be aware of the whole time and I use one during the day and one at night.
• Reply #3 03/22/09  9:51pm
  
  caruTH
  Zip, I never thought of using the thin pads everyday, but it's a really good idea. I think I may start doing that. Especially using freshly scented ones.
• Reply #4 07/31/09  10:29pm
  
  savedk
  Hi all mew member,
  Know this is a touchy subject and a strange one to use my intro point, but to be honest, this is excatly why I got on the internet today to search out a forum/group for obese people
  
  
  I just found out I am Morbidly obese....at least just really figured it out in this last couple of years...guess I am a slow learner
  
  I have always been bigger than most of my peers....but have stayed healthy...no blood pressure problems and still none...no sugar problems, got around well, pretty full life, so I guess I ignored the mirror and scale, well not completely I have always tried to loose, but it was same old story loose 60 gain 80. But I was OK med stats were good.
  
  Several Years ago started having to use brush to help with bathing because I couldn't reach areas just one from Walmart can't find that style anymore. Started needing help with other hygiene tasks. Reach issues.
  About two years ago or so it started to slowly sneak up on me, first found out couldn't do a certain thing anymore...fat had taken over ....started having stamina problems walking and standing.
  
  Now to the last couple of months...really started having problems breathing.
  So for the last month I have been on oxygen 24/7 and am temporarily on alternate duty at work and waiting for my Dr to give me his findings so I can see were my life is going.
  Just for the record I am 51, 5'11" and about 475.
  I guess why I chose today to join is that I am really struggling with the hygiene issue, tired of needing help . As my temp assignment, it has taken me from the field to an office and could have a chance of staying there if I don't offend anyone.
  Looking for your advice and recommendation on aides and products mostly for bathing under my rolls and the bottom area duties. I have seen items on the web but don't have a lot of money to waste on things that don't work.
  I have read some of the related posts on here and like the spray deorderant and the powder don you use any thing to apply it with? Have had the removeable shower head before just not where I live now, that changes tomorrow kind of forgot how nice they are.
  
  Wow really did not plan on getting that indepth, if it is TMI sorry.
  
  Thanks for your time
  
  
  
• Reply #5 08/05/09  7:26am
  
  Mars
  Hi, see all great advice above... I couldn't live without my hand-held shower with adjustable sprays, especially since the DDD limits flexibility.
  
  I've seen some of those reach products being sold on websites and they look weird and cost too much. It's hard to even find a long handled bath tool that isn't a brush or a scratchy loafah. I want a soft natural sea sponge on a long handle to soap up with. Necessity is the mother of invention... hummm... I wonder if I cut a hole in the side of a sea sponge and hot glue a wooden spoon inside like a lollipop?
• Reply #6 09/19/09  1:33pm
  
  sparky82
  I know this is a really old topic but I have a question related to the deoderant spray. I use stick deoderant to put under my skin folds including my breasts because of smell and because I get yeast infections. Does anyone else have this problem? It doesn't matter how much I dry under there I sweat so much that bacteria grows. But the deoderant stops that and helps the smell. the only thing is, is that it feels so slimy. If you use the spray does it prevent that and does it prevent the yeast from growing?
• Reply #7 10/06/09  8:49pm
  
  Mars
  I don't know if the spray prevents yeast growth... guess just try it and find out. I image that stick deoderant would feel funny.
• Reply #8 10/07/09  9:51am
  
  sparky82
  Yeah the stick deoderant definatly feels funny it gets slimy (sorry if I gave you a visual) but it prevents the yeast growth but I'll give the spray a try.
  
  Thanks Mars
• Reply #9 10/23/09  11:33am
  
  LyndaC1947
  I use a soapy hand towel in the shower. It's easy to straddle and reach those intimate places. (one hand hold on in front, the other holds on in back). I know I'm soap-clean ... then rinse with the hand held shower massage. Works for me.

For people who are CURRENTLY morbidly obese by definition. 100 + lbs overweight. If you want to talk about things without being judged or pressured by skinny people telling us how to lose weight, then you will be welcome here. Not meant to be an angry group, but a emotional support group. Please no harassing or bullying. Thank you.