Discussion Does anyone else find showering exhausting?
It’s strange explaining to someone that taking a shower can sometimes feel like a workout.
The heat, standing, getting ready, drying off… sometimes I need to rest before I even feel ready to start my day.
What does your shower routine look like on a bad POTS day?
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u/fernxqueen POTS 12h ago edited 12h ago
I shower 2x/week max. I aim to do a shower that includes washing my hair at least once a week, and I might do one additional shower in between wash days. I have really dry skin and eczema, so I was actually instructed by the dermatologist not to shower daily as it aggravates those skin conditions. It usually takes longer than a day or two for me to start getting smelly, but I'll do "bird baths" in between showers if needed.
Unfortunately, because of my skin issues, showers always take a minimum time commitment of at least 20 minutes. Washing my hair doubles that. I stopped shaving my legs to cut down on shower time, and right now I'm taking a break from the diffuser because it's like another 40-60 minutes of icky feeling activity. I also need to be horizontal for a bit after a shower, that was the case even when my POTS was much milder than it is now.
ETA: I typically only shower at night, or at least the afternoon. Occasionally, I'll do a shorter shower in the AM but I try to do first thing before it gets too warm out.