I'm back in the land of the hand held shower -- Greece, for 3 months, where I am working in the Archives of the American Farm School.
Most times, back home, I forget I have an injury. I have adapted to my surroundings there and just carry on as usual. But when one is thrust into a new set of surroundings and has to learn new adaptations, the arm becomes noticeable once again.
The plane ride wasn't too bad, as I have learned the best seat for me is the one by the window, so the bpi arm has some support -- I can wedge a pillow or blanket on the arm rest against the side of the plane and all is well.
But this hand held shower defeats me every time. I never feel that I get my hair cleaned or rinsed properly. Any ideas? I'm out of them and I've been coming here for over two decades. You'd think I would have figured out something by now.
Nancy
Update
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brandonsmom
- Posts: 1401
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:43 pm
Re: Update
Nancy,
You mean that they don't have a suction cup on the wall to hold it in place. That would drive me crazy and I am NOT OBPI. Good luck in resolving your problem, maybe next time you go you can go to the hardware store and buy your own suction cup holder and take it with you !!! LOL GAYLE
You mean that they don't have a suction cup on the wall to hold it in place. That would drive me crazy and I am NOT OBPI. Good luck in resolving your problem, maybe next time you go you can go to the hardware store and buy your own suction cup holder and take it with you !!! LOL GAYLE
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rachelcasa
- Posts: 729
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2003 11:45 pm
Re: Update
Nancy,
Geez, that must be so frustrating. I am not sure how you could handle that situation. Is there anyway you can ask your hotel(or wherever youare staying) to put up some sort of hook or something in the shower where the hand held can hook onto so you don't have to hold onto it?
I'm sure you don't feel as if you are getting your hair completely cleaned....
Have a good time in Greece. *HUGS*
Geez, that must be so frustrating. I am not sure how you could handle that situation. Is there anyway you can ask your hotel(or wherever youare staying) to put up some sort of hook or something in the shower where the hand held can hook onto so you don't have to hold onto it?
I'm sure you don't feel as if you are getting your hair completely cleaned....
Have a good time in Greece. *HUGS*
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Carolyn J
- Posts: 3424
- Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.
My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!
I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too. - Location: Tacoma WA
- Contact:
Re: Update
Nancy,
If you can't get a suction cup hook for your shower wall, you may just have to wash your hair in the kitchen
sink using a pitcher or something similar to rinse a final rinse like we used to do in the "Olden days" when there was only 1 BR for 4 of us kids and being the youngest of 3 girls I never got enough time in the BR...lol so I did the kitchen thingy in high school.
I am glad you got safely to Greece. Watch those late night meals,kiddo, but do have fun there too. life is a Balance act when you are heading toward my age.
Lotsa HUGS,
Carolyn J
Message was edited by: Carolyn J
If you can't get a suction cup hook for your shower wall, you may just have to wash your hair in the kitchen
sink using a pitcher or something similar to rinse a final rinse like we used to do in the "Olden days" when there was only 1 BR for 4 of us kids and being the youngest of 3 girls I never got enough time in the BR...lol so I did the kitchen thingy in high school.
I am glad you got safely to Greece. Watch those late night meals,kiddo, but do have fun there too. life is a Balance act when you are heading toward my age.
Lotsa HUGS,
Carolyn J
Message was edited by: Carolyn J
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
Adult LOBPI
Re: Update
Nancy,
Could you bend over at the waist and wash and rinse your hair from that upside-down position? Maybe that way, gravity could help your affected arm scrub your hair?
Could you bend over at the waist and wash and rinse your hair from that upside-down position? Maybe that way, gravity could help your affected arm scrub your hair?
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marieke
- Posts: 1627
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:00 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI
no external rotation against gravity, can only go to 90 degree fwd flexion, no hand-to-mouth
1 surgery at age 14 (latissimus dorsi transfer). In 2004, at age 28 I was struck with Transverse Myelitis which paralyzed me from the chest down. I recovered movement to my right leg, but need a KAFO to walk on my left leg. I became an RN in 2008. - Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Update
Nancy,
I'm not sure I understand what you mean... I use a hand held shower and only use my good arm... I don't have it suctioned to the wall either.. Hmm..
Good luck!! Miss you!
Marieke (31, LOBPI)
I'm not sure I understand what you mean... I use a hand held shower and only use my good arm... I don't have it suctioned to the wall either.. Hmm..
Good luck!! Miss you!
Marieke (31, LOBPI)
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hope16_05
- Posts: 1670
- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 11:33 am
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 28 years old with a right obstetrical brachial plexus injury. 5 surgeries to date with pretty decent results. Last surgery resolved years of pain in my right arm however, I am beginning my journey with overuse in my left arm
- Location: Minnesota
- Contact:
Re: Update
Nancy,
I am glad that you made the trip and I wish I had some amazing answer to give you about the shower situation but I dont think I am of much help. I will think on it and let you know if I come up with some amazing idea. In the mean time I hope you are able to find something that works well. I hate not feeling clean. Good luck!
Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN
I am glad that you made the trip and I wish I had some amazing answer to give you about the shower situation but I dont think I am of much help. I will think on it and let you know if I come up with some amazing idea. In the mean time I hope you are able to find something that works well. I hate not feeling clean. Good luck!
Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN
Amy 28 years old ROBPI from MN
Re: Update
Thanks for all your responses.
There actually is a hook to hang it on but then the shower head points directly at the wall and that is not much help. A suction thingie won't work because it would have to be designed specifically for this use and I have not seen one.
The difficulty, of couse, is that you can rinse your hair, then put the thing down (and you have to turn it off or water will go everywhere), then lather up with one hand, then turn it on again and rinse, repeat, but without running at least a hand through my hair with the water coming down at the same time, it just doesn't feel clean.
Oh well, it is a small problem and not one that really bothers me all that much. It is just that, as I mentioned in the first post, it made me aware that I had a limitation in a new way.
Luckily I keep my hair short!
Yiasas from sunny Greece,
Nancy
There actually is a hook to hang it on but then the shower head points directly at the wall and that is not much help. A suction thingie won't work because it would have to be designed specifically for this use and I have not seen one.
The difficulty, of couse, is that you can rinse your hair, then put the thing down (and you have to turn it off or water will go everywhere), then lather up with one hand, then turn it on again and rinse, repeat, but without running at least a hand through my hair with the water coming down at the same time, it just doesn't feel clean.
Oh well, it is a small problem and not one that really bothers me all that much. It is just that, as I mentioned in the first post, it made me aware that I had a limitation in a new way.
Luckily I keep my hair short!
Yiasas from sunny Greece,
Nancy
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richinma2005
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:00 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Daughter Kailyn ROBPI, June 14, 1997.
Surgery with Dr Waters (BCH), April 1999 and in February 2012
2 more daughters, Julia (1999), Sarah(2002) born Cesarean.
Re: Update
http://www.shuc.com/
seems like the hand helds are an issue in europe, they even made a device to deal with it!
-rich
seems like the hand helds are an issue in europe, they even made a device to deal with it!
-rich
Re: Update
Perfect!
Thank you Rich!
I can even order it and pay in Euros.
Nancy
Thank you Rich!
I can even order it and pay in Euros.
Nancy