Getting into bath

Hi Joan!

I shower ONLY! Haven't gotten down into the bathtub for YEARS!

It was suggested to need to have shower bard installed.  However after 7 months I can't get up after having trouble getting down. Not easy be careful

Hi Joan, like you I was desperate to get into a bath.  I had been going over it in my mind for some time.  I ran a beautiful bath, added some healing Epsom salts, i was ready to go!   Stepped in on my good leg, awkwardly swung the opposite leg in and found myself standing completely upright in the middle of the beautiful warm water when it dawned on me I had no idea how I could sit down!!   I can laugh now but at the time I just wanted to cry.  There was no way I was not going to get in that water.   Bearing my weight on the good leg I stood at the head of the bath and then with both arms supporting me on the sides slid the bad leg first and then the good into the water - I thought the ensuing tidal wave might go over the top and flood the bathroom😂When it came to getting out I got into a proper pickle and actually got quite worried.  Please try and Bath when someone else is around to help just in case and take extra care.  I had to let the water out first and it was still difficult.   I now have a method which is  very ungainly but is working for me me.  I lean towards  the un operated side, roll up onto that knee and then swing the operated leg up onto the edge of the bath and push myself up so I am sitting on the edge and can safely get the leg onto the floor. You have to have a reasonable amount of strength in your arms which I guess most people develop after knee replacement.  I hope you manage to bath soon , it's worth it but please take care. happy healing. 

Oh Joan! Yes I also decided to have a bath one day. My husband was outside doing something & I thought I would have a bath!! I ran the bath, put in Joint & Muscle Epsom Salts. It was so inviting! I got in with very little trouble, but when I decided to get out I realised it wasn't going to be easy! Long story short, I ended up sitting in the empty bath, after having tried several ways to get out & couldn't, cold & wet & miserable (it was winter). I could not bend my knee enough to get out!! Called my husband, no answer, banged on the window, no answer. Luckily our daughter called in on her way to work & called my husband in to rescue me!

I now get into & out of the bath quite easily. In is always easy. Getting out not so much,a friend gave me some cheap dishcloths from Savers. What you do is put one on either side of the edge of the bath, they must be wet, you can also use one on the bottom of the bath if there isn't a non slip mat inside. You can then hold onto the edge of the bath without fear of slipping & push yourself up to bring your legs under yourself to stand! My friend is in her 70s & has back, knee& ankle problems & this is what she does. This works if you have a 'proper' bath tub, mine is a corner bath, so I have to lever myself onto the seat bit, then stand, but I do use the dishcloths to aid my grip! Not pretty or graceful but then bathing isn't a spectator sport!! Thank Heavens!!

The moral of this story is, by all means have a bath if you have someone there to come to your aid should you need it! If you are alone, don't even think it! When I sat in that empty bath the only option I could come up with was refill the bath! Coming out looking like a prune was a better idea, than getting double pneumonia!

Good luck

Marilyn

XX

Joan, you've echoed my feelings  Having just read all the replies to your post, I can't say I'm any more confident to try LOL!  I've not had a bath for way over ten years because of the knees and it just sits there - never used, but tempting.....  Let us know if you try and how it goes:-))))

Have good upper body strength. Have small step ladder with handle on top

Which I use to hold onto for support when getting in and out. Did this from about week four, kept operated leg out of water though

Until six weeks.