I use an electric razor. It was too dangerous for me to try to shave with an actual razor. I'd miss half the hair on my legs anyways. But, trying to soap my legs, and then lift them up to shave in the shower. That wasn't happening anymore.

My legs are varying sensations of numb. I might not know if I've sliced open my femoral artery until the hypovolemic shock kicks in. So, when I want to my legs to look less like Sasquatch's, I get out the electric razor.

What I do really miss...that feeling of freshly shaved legs against the insides of freshly washed sweatpants. That always felt good, but I don't get that anymore when I shave my legs. Not feeling that is not totally the fault of not shaving, or not shaving with a real razor. It's probably the change in sensation.

The electric razor works faster at least. It allegedly can be used in the shower, but I haven't been brave enough to take a battery powered razor in there with me.

ROFL, you gals made my day. I hear ya loud and clear. My favorite line is that come spring or a visit to the gyn whichever comes first I need to drag DH's weedwacker our of the shed. I usually use one of the more expensive disposable name brand razors whatever is on sale at Target but have to say lately I'm not so happy with them, especially the impressive looking kind with a bazillion blades that seem to do little more than knick me up.

When I did a women's health rotation several years ago the trend was nothing at all. Is that still the way a majority are doing it? Imo unless it was just shaved or waxed 5 minutes ago always looked kind of raw and stubbly to me but whatever. Do be careful because cuts or ingrown hairs down there can get nasty infected. Arrrgh the things women have to go through. I swear if I'm ever reincarnated I want to come back as a dude, with a big wanker of course, lol.

I use a light weight electric razor, though it's not waterproof. FinalTouch Yes. It is light weight and does what I need it to do. It was priced reasonably. My skin has become the most sensitive it has ever been and with the tremors I have developed, any other razor is better off not in my hand...lol It is all about personal preference and I prefer that my skin remain intact.

I don't even know why I bother with it anymore. I was shaving the back of my calf when I knicked my leg. Now, I didn't even feel it and was continuing with shaving when I noticed blood splattered all over the floor underneath where I was sitting. I had knicked a place where there was a varicose vein right beneath the surface. A line of blood was spewing out and it was going all the way across the bathroom! It was like a faucet had been turned on. I kept applying pressure but every time I'd release the pressure the stream of blood would launch itself across the bathroom. It was beginning to look like a crime scene!

At this point I had lost what appeared to be a significant amount of blood. I called my DIL and explained what had happened. She loaded the babies in the car and came right over. She had a first aid kit and, if I could have gotten to the kitchen without spewing blood everywhere I could have gotten a bandaid. But I couldn't. She put a large bandaid over the knicked area. It was still bleeding so she called 911 because I was beginning to get a little lightheaded.

This is the part where I thought of Sally!! She would have been so proud.....I had five....yes, five handsome EMT's in my bedroom!! That was the first time I've EVER had five men in my bedroom!! Why so many responded I have no idea but my poor son drove up not knowing the whole story and there was an ambulance and a fire truck parked in front of my house. He bolted inside and found us all chatting in my bedroom. I used to work for the Fire Department in the 80's and the EMT's were asking me if I knew certain people who had worked there for years. I recognized several names and we had fun talking about how much things had changed in the department since I was there. I have always wished I had stayed at that job because I loved it (it was an office job). I had my single bandaid on my leg and everyone packed up and left. Before the EMT who seemed to be in charge left he told me that this would be at no charge since I didn't go to the ER. Wow!! I was thinking it was going to be a couple hundred dollars. Nice surprise.

What was so funny was that the whole time I was thinking "boy am I glad I shaved my legs"!!
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Dear Starznight,

Thanks for this tread. I am so happy to have stumbled upon it and the reply posts you have received. I don't have MS, but would like to chime in, too.

I was very glad to hear that I am not the only one that tends to ignore the hair growing on my lower legs until it finally gets to us. I have blonde hair so it does not show much unless the light hits it a certain way. I try to shave my legs (from the knees down) before my doc appts., especially since they are always checking my legs for edema.

My story is a little like Kitty's. I was trying to shave me legs before my doc appt. and I took a huge chunk out of my leg just above my ankle. Blood was everywhere and just kept flowing. (I am on blood thinners, several, for cardiac issues.) Like Kitty, pressure was not stopping it. Also, like Kitty, my bandage materials were not nearby. (I keep them in the kitchen since that is where MOST need seems to arise.) I, too, did not want to bleed all over the house in an attempt to get to them. Ever try to walk while holding compression on your ankle? NOT an easy task to say the least.

I was also trying to beat the clock to get to my appt. on time. Good thing I allow HOURS for getting ready as I am very slow in getting around these days and need very frequent rest breaks. After a LONG time of compression, I finally put a washcloth over the wound and tied a bath towel around it to hold it in place in order to get to my bandage supplies without leaving a trail of blood. I also put another towel on the floor and slide the towel with one foot to catch any blood that flowed from beneath my make shift temporary bandage. Once I finally got it properly bandaged, I got ready and off to the doctor I went.

Once in the exam room, my doc immediately noticed the bandage wrapped around my ankle area. He asked what happened. Well, I told him, I did not want to come see him with hairy legs and I cut it shaving. His response was immediate and he said, "So, you came to see me with a bloody mess instead?" We both had a good laugh. He has a super sense of humor and is so funny. Of course, his curiosity as to the damage I had done, required him to remove my bandage and it WAS a bloody mess. He "doctored" me up (pun intended) and placed a new bandage on it. He also said I had done a REALLY good job of carving out a chunk from my leg.

I no longer shave on the day I go see him. I try to shave the day before, just in case.

I have tried using an electric razor but it is just not the same clean shave. I do use that sometimes between doc visits just for me.

I just ordered an electric shaver.......it says wet/dry shaver but I can't use it (or anything) in the shower.

I also ordered a step stool with a handle (see picture). I used one when I went for my MRI on Thursday and knew it was something I HAD to have. I just put a memory foam mattress topper on my mattress and now it's almost too high for me! This step stool is exactly what I need. I can't use a regular step stool but his one with the handle is perfect. I might even be able to get into my son's Jeep now!!

I'm acquiring more and more things to make my daily life easier.

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Body Hair does go through style phases. As a girl (you know, way back in the thick of feminism) some liked to say "Only French whores shave in Europe." some young nannies from Europe we knew decided to shave here in America and unused to it, shaved dry. Ouch!! Everyone makes their own decision and I know mine gets influenced by my age and body hair type. Also being married for 38 years (!) influences it. Leg shaving doesn't concern me, but underarm does.

Hi Kitty,

To keep from hijacking this thread and changing the topic, I found your post regarding mattresses and made a post there. Hope you will read it and reply.