Why does taking a shower feel like I ran a marathon?
 

I normally take baths. I check the temp carefully, and sit in the warmish water, and soak, and relax my muscles. I normally spend some time in grooming and relaxing.

We are having company, and time is short. I decided (after spilling much prep food upon me) that I should shower. I jump in and my thera spa is waiting. Zoom! this thing has water pressure that will rip your skin off! nice! the water was a bit warmer than I am used to but, I was rushing. zoom, zoom.

Got out, dried off, brushed my hair, and I am completely spent. I feel like a prepped all week, and ran a triathalon today. I am beyond spent. I have no spoons. I have company coming! I need more energy! DH took one look and said I am "pale as a ghost" crap crap crap!

Anyone else get spent on a shower?

Me. Once again, the WMP's (well-meaning people) say, "Take a nice envigorating shower, you'll feel better." I reply, "Good idea, maybe I will." How could they possibly know how much energy it takes sometimes to get the stuff ready, climb in and out, hold my arms up to wash and rinse my hair, climb out, towel off, and so on.

Last night I looked at the hair-blower and said, "No way in Henniker am I going to stand there waving that blow torch at my head." I let it air dry. Who cares. It's not as if I'm going to be in a beauty pageant any time soon.

yep, me three, especially if i wash my hair. it's not only the time in the shower but the energy spent once out finishing up. i can't take baths because i can't get in and out. i have a shower stool but don't like to use it.

i suspect dej, that the combination of the jets on your muscles, giving them a workout, and the heat did you in. i hope you were able to enjoy your company.

I have less energy after a shower. I eat fruit to get a sugar high. Maybe it can help you?

But no matter what, hope tonight is a good one.

I do the warm shower thing, but just before I get out, I switch over to cold water, rinse myself off in the cold, and slowly turn the water back up to warm, but nowhere near really hot. Just warm enough to keep me from getting really chilled.

I also got my hair cut earlier this summer. It's a heck of a lot shorter and easier to deal with now. Altho, I do need to get it cut again.

Sorry about your 'therapeutic' shower as many people call it. My solution is to take a shower with the bathroom door open. Of course this is while I am here by myself. I don't have the water as hot as I would have had pre MS but at least it is hotter than if I had the door closed like if am at my daughters house. After my shower I go in my office, turn on the ceiling fan and play a game of cards on the Internet.

Goood luck

Just wanted to say, I totally agree with you,Dej. I used to think nothing of getting a shower before a long day of work, making dinner, doing laundry, going grocery shopping, etc. Unknowing people who comment that it shouldn't make me so tired to do simple things, I tell, " Trust me I've been on both sides of this fence and it's like day and night".

What I do is shower just before bed. When I get out and towel off, I do some of my stretching exercises and balance ones, while in the warmed bathroom, while my muscles are still warm also. This tires me out so much, that I go straight to bed and I sleep like a baby.

I can't wash my hair in the shower, with my eyes closed from shampoo or water, I will fall over. I need my eyes for balance. In the shower I use a shower cap so my hair does not get wet.

I wash my hair in the morning in the kitchen sink where I can close my eyes and yet hold on the sink by leaning against in. Or I use one hand and hold the sink.

I have the shower bars in the bathroom, but after my shower, I am too tired to blow dry and fluff my hair.

So I use the shower as a sleep aid. It does knock me out.

Sometimes, not all the time, when I close my eyes to wash my hair, I do start feeling like I'm going to fall. I started to wash my hair with at least one eye open or both open. I keep a towel hanging over the shower door so that if I get soap in my eyes I can wipe it off easier.

When I rinse my hair, I close my eyes and keep one hand either on the handle on the shower door, or on the wall next to me. So far that's kept me from sliding down the drain.