Summer Showers
One of the great joys of the
season is surely that little
thrill of anticipation at the
end of a long hot day when
all you can think about is
a refreshing shower. Newer
larys might have been warned
about the perils of showering,
but provided you take the right
precautions, there’s no reason
why you should deny yourself
one of life’s simple pleasures.
Common sense is the watchword here. It doesn’t
necessarily mean rigging yourself up with all the
latest protective wear – some larys shower without
any sort of covering – it just means building up to it
gradually and finding ways that work for you.
Some larys find that a well angled mirror helps them
keep an eye on things from all angles. Particularly
in the early days when locating your stoma isn’t
necessarily second nature. It can help you to get
a better sense of how exposed your stoma is and
help you develop the best position to take up when
showering.
At first though, you’ll probably feel a lot happier if
you’ve got a little added protection – and there is a
wide range of options open to you: from the humble
flannel, through to homemade innovations and
professionally manufactured showering devices. You
might have to experiment a little bit before you find
the best tool for the job.
Some larys favour flannels and baby bibs – just
something soft, clean and dry to apply to the area
as and when needed. Others use the foam stoma
cover which soaks up moisture, then remove it when
it begins to get too damp. We’ve heard about people
using adjustable foam caps, self-made stoma screens
and other ingenious ideas.
If you’re looking for a professional product – and that
can be reassuring, particularly in the early days, try
one of the items in our selection. You can find out
all about them here: http://bit.ly/summershowers.
They’re all very easy to use – with simple Velcro
straps, and afford excellent protection in that critical
area. Now, what about the shower itself?
Of course, a good adjustable shower head is a musthave. Adjusting the height and angle of the water
means you can direct the flow below your stoma at
the front, or over your shoulders at the back. Some
users also recommend a shower extension enabling
you to direct the water considerably lower. Do be
careful with washing your hair – it does require some
bending over, either in the shower, or else leaning
over the bath if that is easier – so watch your back!
In fact some suggest that kneeling by the bath is the
more comfortable option.
Got any more ideas? Let us know – and remember,
with care, you can go on enjoying those wonderful
summer showers! ?
Summer 2010 | THE VOICE
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