Hygiene, Warning, graphic

Since a friend here in blog town, wrote about this on her post: 

https://robertapimentel.com/2016/10/10/personal-hygiene-a-corporate-social-responsibility/

I thought I would chime in. I wrote about this in my introductory blog posts because it is of utmost importance when you have the result of bladder cancer, a urostomy. Before I was living with this day to day, I wondered if people could tell. I wondered if I would smell like urine. Don’t be grossed out, please. It’s a very real concern. I must admit, after the first few weeks, with constant leaks and finding no solutions, it was foremost on my mind. I remember once telling my mom “you always smell so good”. So I always tried to emulate that quality. And it is a quality, as I soon realized, with leaking for three months after the operation. Luckily I never did any socializing, only doctor appointments, etc. But it wasn’t a huge problem because I could tell immediately and fix it. That’s why I recommended in the first posts to be prepared. I still carry everything with me, just in case. Murphy’s law and I are old friends…..

I also wrote about not taking a full shower everyday, which is an irritating circumstance, but you can’t soak these appliances (bags) without having to take them off. The surrounding skin can’t take that treatment every day, because the “glue” to adhere it in the first place is too strong. So you’re thinking, no leaks, or glue-ripped skin? I make my choice every day. I can’t take baths in a tub because my legs won’t cooperate to get in and out, so showers suffice. I’m lucky to live in a new apartment where a hand held shower head is provided. I very much enjoy it, but impossible every day.  

So this is my explanation. I’m not excusing my position, it’s just the facts, ma’am.

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