There are so many things I took for granted before the chronic fatigue set in. Showering was one of them.
I’m lucky to have access to a shower. I have clean running water any time I want it. The
Wish mine was this fancy!
thing is, I don’t always have the energy to utilize it.
Baths aren’t an option for me. Getting in out and out of the tub is too hard, too painful, and too likely to lead to a fall. Besides, with my low blood pressure, I’ve been warned away from hot baths.
I keep a stool in my shower, and helps that I can sit when I need to. Still, some days even sitting in the shower takes too much energy.
It’s exhausted for my body to try and adjust to different water temperatures. It’s tiring to dry off afterwards. Then there’s the shower itself.
Thankfully we’ve gotten some cooler weather, and I’ve skipped showers several times this week. Showering every other day has been fantastic! But I haven’t showered in 2 days now, and I’m stinky. It’s cooler out, but it’s still summer, and I’m sweating.
I know I need to take a shower. I need to wash my hair for the first time in over a week. I need to wash my body. If I’m ambitious, I might even shave.
Then I’ll need to lie down to rest a bit, because I have to take the subway and a bus to my doctor appointment in a couple hours and that’s going to be exhausting.
There was a time when I didn’t think twice about taking a shower. None of my friends do. Most people don’t understand what the big deal is. But I know. And I’m guessing you do, too. Sometimes taking a shower is exhausting.
Which is why I so often wish I didn’t have to do it.
Chronic Rants 
I never knew how much having a shower hurt or how exhausting it could be. Fortunately we have a wet room so I can sit on a chair if I wish. I still have to rest afterwards though. It is an easy thing to overlook if you are well. I always say to my hairdresser that if I won the lottery I would come every week and have my hair washed and head massaged. HUgs xx
The wet room sounds nice! I’m sorry to hear showering is so hard for you, too. I guess we all need to win the lottery 😉
Its definitely one of those things I regret taking for granted in my earlier years. I used to love taking my time washing my hair, conditioning, lathering body washes, shaving, exfoliating, moisturizing etc. It wasn’t just about making sure to be clean and smell decent, it was relaxing and enjoyable. Now its a rushed endeavor that I’m lucky if it happens every second day. It just doesn’t seem worth the energy and time.
You’re right, it’s often not worth the energy and time. I’m lucky that it can still be enjoyable for me, even though I never know which days that will be or how often. Maybe tomorrow it will be pleasant. Or maybe it won’t be until next month. But I try to appreciate it when it happens, and to sit on a stool more in the shower, which helps.
I’ve come to the conclusion that showering every other day is acceptable any time of the year. And when I’m really tired, that extra half-day or day happens, too. Living in California with the drought, this is also great water-saving behavior. So the environment thanks you for saving water. Taking it easy on yourself and helping the environment is a win-win!!
Thanks Jeanne. I’m all for saving water, too. I just get so stinky in this hot, humid weather. I never used to sweat this much, but in recent years it’s gotten pretty bad. I look forward to winter, when it’ll be much easier to skip days 🙂
[…] is inspired by a blog I read by Chronic Rants about showering it must have taken some guts to write and put it out there but I loved the honesty in it and so in […]
I could relate to this very well. I have a LOT of very thick hair, and after a year or into developing fibromyalgia, I was unable to wash it properly. Holding my arms up and holding them there as I wash the heavy bunch that is my hair became harder and harder. Now I have to have my husband wash it for me. On the rare days when I am able to do it myself now, I never take all those washing actions for granted!
Oh wow, Fibronacci (awesome name, by the way!) I hadn’t thought of that! I’m constantly cursing my thin hair, and wishing I had hair thick enough that my scalp didn’t show (and I don’t just mean at the part!) but I hadn’t thought about the extra effort to wash it. I guess it’s just another case of the grass is always greener…. I’m glad you have help with all that heavy hair of yours. Good luck!
Lovely bblog you have here