Not a stupid question at all, lovebaby and one I'm also asking. I would love to have a bath but I stick to showers because I know I'd be stuck in the bathtub, like you.
I hope someone will have a brilliant idea.

Why won't he do it? What a a$$. Try a solid kitchen chair that won't slide at the side of the tub. Use a couple of those rubber grippy things (technical term you see), put one on the tub floor, one on the side of the tub and one on the chair. Try emtying the water, getting on your hands and knees and leveraging yourself up on the side of the tub with your forearm and using the chair as a resting point. Just a thought.
Fight with him, find some info from the American's with Disabilities Act, it seems like he should be required or atleast let you do it.
Good luck

My parents installed a clamp-on grab bar on the side of the tub when my grandmother was staying with them. That was a long time ago, but I'm sure you can still find a clamp-on bar that won't upset your landlord.

I take two baths a day and couldn't take them without my bathrod. Mine is metal and attaches to the tub with 2 clamps which are attached. I have seen at Bed Bath and Beyond a plastic handle ( shown on tv) with suctions and don't know if that works or not. It also helps to put a skid mat in the tub. That way when you pull yourself up your feet don't slip. If all fails, possibly consider a bath chair. Your landlord is an ***. You have legit disabilities and I don't think he is being responable. However, as I said the rail I have was attached without marring the tub in any way. marcia

Wow. I wonder how the landlord would feel about a lawsuit if you fell and injured yourself. What a jerk. I feel pretty sure the American's with Disabilities Act might address the issue. Good luck.

I am sorry to hear that you can not get some relief in a bathtub because a landlord will not install a bar. I am pretty sure law is on your side. I remember when my brother had a head injury due to a fall from a 3 story roof he was working on somehow my father had a lot of accommodations installed in his apt. I'm not sure who he went thru and both my dad and brother have passed on...
I really feel for people who have no help and have simple needs that can't be met.
All the best to you in finding a resolution.

I am lile you. I love taking baths, and the last time I took one was quite awhile ago, b/c I have a hard time getting out of it. What I did though was, I turned around onto my belly and then pushe myself up onto my Knees and held on to the tub edge with both hands and then straightened myself up. I have no other problems exept that when I get on the floor my Legs just do not have the strength to pull myself up. I do Yoga and exercise, but I think the muscles are weakening anyway, I don't know. Hope that helped.
bigi

I have a bit of trouble with taking a bath too but still do so occasionally. I have trouble gripping hard and am afraid of slipping. I put bath mats in the bath and outside. I get on to my knees and lever myself up using the taps and a towelling strip round them to pull on a bit. I have a chair outside which is jammed steady on the outside bathmat (the kind with grippy suckers underneath and non slip top) and against the basin which is next to my bath but the wall would be good if the basin wasnt there. I then step very carefully from the bath with the chair as a support. I usually have a towel really handy and mop off any water on the bath edge in case I grip it and slip. ( I wondered if I should get in my bath and recheck I havent left any of my processes out here!). I dont know your weight - I am about 155 lbs (hope I got that right from kilos which we use here) but find balancing is hard as cant rely on hands, feet or ankles at times in this kind of situation. The awful fear in your situation would be falling or getting stuck with the door locked. Hope you can work something out as a hot bath is really comforting when feeling under RA attack....

is it that the landlord doesn't want to actually do it or that he doesn't want a bar on there period?

When I was really bad, I couldn't get out of the tub, even with the special bars I had installed. My husband had to lift me out. Since I was near the size of a whale in those days, I finally gave up and learned to like showers.

Still, if it makes you feel better (esp. soothing the stiffness), you need to look on line at disability aids, or go to a speciality store and find something. I don't think it is worthwhile suing the landlord. It is minor item, and there are ways to work around it. I have been in and out of a wheelchair, esp. after my surgery. I always have to laugh at handicapped access. The toilet stalls are supposed to be handicapped, but you can't get the wheelchair around the corner, or into the stall. The parking stalls are supposed to be handicapped, but there is always a lip to jump over. When I am bad, my arms are bad, too, so I don't have the strength to lift myself over.

I think the world is making progress in dealing with disabilities, but not quite there yet. Making people angry and suing them isn't the answer, I don't think. But usually there is a way to remediate these things yourself, with a little creativity.

I've been afraid to take a bath for at least the past ten years - just showers. Now, I'm going to try it again with a friend in the next room in case I have problems. I'm still a little scared, but I miss my baths so much!

Lynne

ok, I just wanted to say the only dumb question is the one not asked. if we all keep asking questions then we will get some answers.

:)

My hubby installed a walk-in and sit-down-on-the-ledge bathtub several years ago when our master bathroom was being remodeled. I'm grateful I can get in there and out some of the times. When I have a bad flare, as I have had lately, my husband has been helping and drying off my feet/legs to put on my shoes so I get a better grip on the bathtub floor before I get up to walk out to dry off the rest of myself.

{{{hugs}}} :-)