Question:
If you're already having a difficult time wiping your own behind before surgery......
How do you take care of things after an open RNY? This is so embarrassing but very necessary to know. I do not want anyone helping me with that. I am very independent but am becoming more and more physically challenged. Please help! — [Anonymous] (posted on May 11, 2001)
May 11, 2001
I took cheap dollar store BBQ tongs with me to the hospital that really
helped me reach to clean. Moist flushable wipes also made things clean off
with less work. Much luck to you and good luck on your surgery!
— Jo C.
May 11, 2001
Most of us took long handled wooden spoons to wrap the tissue around. That
helps with not having to bend your waist. Also, a squirt bottle comes in
handy at times. LOL ~Lots of luck!
— Amy K.
May 11, 2001
Geez, I thought I was the only one that had that problem! Before surgery I
could not clean myself so I would always hold it until I got home. Then, I
would get in the shower and use the shower massager to clean myself. It
was awful! My arms were not long enough to reach -- it was so frustrating
and embarrassing. A few weeks after surgery I was able to take care of
business without having to hop in the shower after every bathroom trip.
Boy, am I glad those days are over.
— [Anonymous]
May 12, 2001
I discovered Cottonelle wipes while pregnant with my daughter two years
ago. At the time, I wasn't fat enough on my own to have trouble reaching,
but my belly did get in my way. Now, I am fat enough to always need them.
:-( So at home, I have a box of those wipes in each bathroom and things are
pretty easy... wipe with normal tissue, then use 1 or 2 wipes as needed,
wait to air-dry. Away from home, at work or at other places, things are
trickier. I'm afraid that I usually wait until the restroom is empty, then
drop my jeans all the way down and contort wildly. I hate it! This kind of
thing is one of the serious quality of life issues that makes me want the
surgery! I will definitely take my wipes to the hospital with me, but I
will be asking for help from a nurse if I need it. I know from my mother's
cancer hospitalizations that they'd rather deal with helping you wipe your
butt than have you use a bedpan, so they should be pretty cooperative.
They've seen it all! HTH
— Julia Z.
May 12, 2001
I highly recommend this product:
http://www.medque.com/product/UNS/1184.htm
Economy toilet aid:
A short toilet aid with angled plastic ends that can be easily cleaned.
Total length 10-1/2" (27cm). $10.20
Its an **Angled Tong** just the right length... use it with Cottonelle
Wipes and you'll wonder what you ever did without them. I got one for home
and one for my purse.
Also go here and get thier catalog:
http://www.amplestuff.com/productindex.html
They have a very useful sponge on a stick device that helps with bath and
showering hygiene for the places you just cant reach.. they have other
stuff like extra large exam gowns and seat belt extenders...
— X X.
May 12, 2001
I just came back from a long car trip and was having a real hard time
keeping clean, (plus the stalls in the restrooms having been getting a lot
smaller in the last year) so, I had had enough and I went in to Target I
think and went to the kitchen supplies and found a pair of those tongs,(
like you pick up brats with etc,) and they just happened to be angled. I
bought some wipes that were wrapped in single pkgs. and WOW, I felt like
Christmas had come early this year. I don't know why I hadn't done it
earlier. They look real similar to the one on that med. supply web site.
but I don't think it cost more that 3 bucks. I wondered how everybody else
handled this, but until this web site, I had never seen it answered. Gotta
love this web site!!!!!
I hadn't told my hubby about this difficulty, (we talk about most
everything) but this was one I just had to much pride to talk about. So
It was in one of those pockets in my purse that's hard to find and when he
was getting the keys out he felt it through the other side and looked kind
of strange and asked what it was, and I looked at him and said tongs and he
never asked another word. I guess he either knew or it was too strange to
even go there. LOL.
CLean at last, Clean at last. Whew! Can't wait for that surgery.
— [Anonymous]
July 21, 2001
I think this problem is more common than you may think and not just for
people with obesity issues, it also effects pregnant women, people with
back problems or arthritis as well as post-surgical patients. I had the
problem originally because of back problems and now because of obesity. I
went to a medical supply store and they had what they call
"reachers" but you would not believe the cost (started at $41) so
I ended up at The Body Shop buying a wooden back scratcher which was
strong, just the right length easy to maneuver, easy to clean and the
toilet paper slides right off for $8.00. It has been a Godsend.
— Karen K.
February 21, 2002
I TOO LIKE SO MANY STRUGGLE WITH THIS PROBLEM EVERYDAY. I MYSELF HAVE A
PLASTIC HANGER AND A PACK OF BABY WIPES HANDY IN MY BATHROOM. I TIE THE
BABY WIPES AT EACH END AND THE HANGER JUST LONG ENOUGH TO REACH. IT MAY
SOUND CHEAP, BUT IT WORKS VERY WELL. I PLAN TO PACK IT FOR THE TRIP TO THE
HOSPITAL. CANT WAIT TILL I CAN REACH EASILY.
— CHRISSY H.
June 24, 2002
dynamic living i think is the name of the site and they sell a product
called the bathroom buddy. its a little over a foot long, and curved. it
has a rounded bulb like end that opens like a rubber claw and holds onto
the paper or wet wipe while you wipe, then you push the button to release
it into the tiolet. it is so cool.
— christina K.
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