Now I’m sorry to be so crude with my blog title but it’s true. There’s a lot to be said for being able to wipe your own ass! While in the hospital, I lost the ability to be able to do many things for myself. I was no longer able to eat on my own, so I had a feeding tube placed in my stomach. Let me tell ya, it is so weird to have a tube coming out of your belly. It’s gross, annoying, and uncomfortable. But it has kept me alive and nourished for a while now. So PEG tube, I officially salute you. I still have this PEG in but it’s hopefully coming out very soon since I’m now able to swallow again and eating on my own.
I was unable to bathe myself, obviously, and still am, so every morning a nurse or two would come in and give me the scrub down. Bathing in a bed, it’s a weird concept. Much like pottying in a bed pan.
I was unable to get up to go to the bathroom because of my orthostatic hypotension, which can induce fainting. In the hospital, I was practically bed ridden for just over two weeks. So each and every time I had to use the restroom, I had to not only ring the nurse to come assist me to the bedside commode while I’d make my best attempt to go. I was lucky enough to have my mom there majority of the time to help. Bottom line is though, I have always been a pretty modest girl and being in the hospital like I was literally means all that goes STRAIGHT out the window. I would use the restroom and somebody would have to wipe for me. How humiliating at first, but I found comfort in the fact that my nurses and care takers were very professional and had seen it all before.
So seriously, next time you’re on the pot and it’s time to wipe, you’ll probably think of me and how lucky you are that you are able to function on your own. Be grateful for these little things because they are everything.
Loosing your independence at 24 like I have (hopefully, temporarily, though) gives you a new found respect for the elderly and the ill because this is a reality each and every day for them. It is so frustrating to not be able to take care of yourself the way that you always have.
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