April 24, 2024
I have been hesitant, too embarrassed to share my favorite treasured household item, a lifesaver. A must in my life today. The revelation was that we all have to do it and, at some point, may require one, so it is my “dare to share” moment coming at the end of this awareness month.
The necessity came in preparation for my wrist surgery on my injured left arm—a month after my right arm amputation. The detailed story is in my previous blog posts. The post-surgery healing instructions were a cast and no use for two weeks, then a weight restriction of a pencil for three months to a gradual increase of a couple of pounds for another three months. It was not only that I would have no hands, but Jeff was recovering from his neck surgery with his restrictions. The determination and creativity started flowing on how we were going to manage. We had been together for over 38 years, and I still required complete privacy in the bathroom. It was a must, a number one priority, to figure out how to do THAT duty myself. In my search, the bidet was the solution. But all the controls were mounted right-handed! I found only one. It was easy to install by hooking up to the current plumbing. We lived in Florida, so the water temperature was lukewarm. It had a lever you lifted to spray and push down to stop, precisely the type needed for my situation. So, I rigged the lever with a loop string to lift during the weight restriction, making it easy to manage while in a cast.
When we started renovating our forever retirement home, having a bidet was an absolute requirement. A bonus would be warm water. I had the same issue as in Florida. The only bidet for warm water hook-up was a model with a remote; all others were mounted for right-hand use. I had left the bidet in the Florida condo for the new buyers. FYI, they are available now. It is a great option, and it worked great. My neighbor got one for her shoulder surgery recovery and still uses it. I convinced myself. The one-hand amputee with a bad remaining wrist has an excellent excuse to upgrade. I splurged and am happy with the choice, especially a permanent daily-use household item, my forever commode. I highly recommend a bidet for any disabilities, shoulder or back injuries, etc. My only regret, I wish I had thought about it earlier. Besides the extraordinary benefits for my disabilities, I save on toilet paper, too.
Candidly, It is fantastic. I can select the seat to be warm, the water temperature, and different spray modes with a touch of a button.
Enjoy your day and bidet mates.
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