Showering: The joy of simple things

There was once a time I did not think about the effort and preparation it took to take a shower. But since I have entered the world of chronic illness, there is always something which makes showering a challenge. I used the have an intestinal feeding tube. The tube extended from my abdomen to the outside of my body. It rubbed and irritated the insertion site (stoma) if it was not secure. The cloth bandage I used to secure the tube was not ideal to use in the shower. I had to invent my own waterproof device to secure the tube while showering.

Now, I have had peripheral catheters. These IV lines extend about two inches from the insertion point in my upper arm. Moreover, the insertion site is covered with a plastic adhesive dressing which cannot get wet. To take a shower, I had to cover the dressing with a cloth sleeve. Over the cloth sleeve, I wrapped my arm in plastic cling wrap. (Plastic wrap is always a challenge. Now imagine trying to use just one hand to wrap your opposite arm in the plastic wrap. Yes, it was a Herculean feat!)

Once my arm was wrapped, I then used rubber bands to secure the top and bottom of the plastic wrap to ensure water did not drip down my arm into my dressing. When showering, I tried not to use the arm with the IV line; I would hold my arm out of the water and try to use just one arm and hand to wash. Although I am very grateful for the peripheral IV lines, showering was something I did as little as possible due to the tremendous effort it took to keep my IV line dry.

Tonight is the first time in three months, I have not had a line to cover. Oh, to just be able to shower and only have to worry about keeping water away from my tracheostomy, what bliss! (I do have a sponge cover for my tracheostomy tube. This helps absorb water and prevents water from entering my trachea. But since it is only a sponge, I have to be very careful to not get a lot of water draining down the front of my neck, or the sponge will become saturated and leak the water down my trachea and into my lungs. There is nothing quite like drowning when taking a shower!)

I am often not happy God has placed so many medical maladies in my life, but without all these obstacles, I would not be grateful for many things in life. God has blessed us in many, many ways. We are often blind to these kindnesses until they are taken away. May we rejoice in all that we say and do.

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Colossians 3:17).