Unleash Your Energy: A Spoonie's Guide to Bathing and Dressing

I have a diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as ME. The mechanism behind this disease is that the powerhouse of the cell known as mitochondria is damaged; therefore, all the cells in the body have a faulty power source. It's much like plugging your phone in when you go to bed and charging it for the whole night, but it will never get above 20% if you're lucky. This is what people with chronic fatigue must live with daily. We go to sleep, often early, sleep the whole night through, and wake up with very little energy. We are often referred to as spoonies. This is because of the spoon theory, which was coined by writer and blogger Christine Miserandino in 2003. She used it as a way to express how it felt to have lupus. She explained the viewpoint in a diner; she gave her friend a handful of spoons and described them as units of energy to be spent performing everyday actions, representing how chronic illness forced her to plan out days and actions in advance to not run out of energy. This is where the spoon theory got its name and, therefore, 'spoonie.' 

Many people, because of chronic illness, neurodivergent conditions, and mental health conditions, experience fatigue. In this blog, I will be suggesting some hints and tips to help with energy conservation when washing and dressing.  

If you are showering or bathing prior to getting dressed, then the energy conservation should start there. I personally do not wash every day; I find the whole experience really exhausting, and I probably wash every 2-3 days, depending on the level of activity and what I am doing. When my daughter was a baby, I would use her baby wipes to have a freshen up between washing properly. This generally was not very satisfactory, and recently, I have found a brand that is amazing and honestly makes me feel as fresh as when I have had a shower but without being quite as exhausting. They have chlorohexidine in them, and therefore, any bacteria associated with body odors are eliminated. These are a great idea and are a real alternative to expending energy showering or bathing.  

In my home, I have a set up in my bathroom where I have the option to sit down when I am showering. I have a bathboard, which I got from my local equipment services. This board sits on the top of the bath, and I have had a second riser rail lower down on the wall to sit where I need it to for effective showering and keeping me warm. I find that I need to keep warm as spending energy shivering is not only unpleasant but also a waste of energy. I utilize a long loofah so that I am able to wash my back by myself; I also use a sponge so that it lathers up well without needing to use my hands. Rubbing them together will expend more energy than is necessary.  

I don't have the energy to wash and dry my hair. I have long hair, too, so the workaround I have for this is to either ask my partner to do it for me (which, as you can imagine, is no spa experience) or I go to my local hairdressers once a week and have a wash and blow dry. I am able to wear my hair down for 3-4 days and then wear it up for three days, and then I go and get it blow-dried again at the hairdresser. This won't work for everyone as some people won't be able to get out of the house or even into the bathroom. There is always the option of air drying, which is a perfectly good alternative.  

After I've finished my bath or shower, I will make sure I have a towel close by so that I can immediately wrap up against the cold. As mentioned previously, you do not want to be getting cold. I like to essentially drip dry as far as possible. I would try to keep the bathroom as warm as possible to avoid draughts. This time also allows me to rest after the exertion of the washing in the shower. If it's the summer, sometimes, after overheating in the heat and shower, I will need to lie down for a bit, elevating my legs. The heat can drop my blood pressure, so I need somewhere where I can sit and put my head between my knees. Take your time, and make sure you have allowed for recovery time after washing.  

When it comes to getting dressed, I will have all the clothing ready prior to getting in the shower/bath, therefore reducing the time and being able to get warm quickly. I always sit down on a chair or on my bed. This can stop problems with balance fainting and will conserve energy.  

As a woman, I struggle with comfortable underwear. There are products available that can make this easier. These include magnetic clasps on bras instead of the traditional hook and eye, which can be very difficult for those with dexterity problems. These will generally do up at the front and be easier to get dressed. I struggle with dislocations and subluxations in my shoulders, so either putting on a bra, clasping it together at the front, and then turning it around to the back. There are aids that can help with putting socks on, and these are easily available on sites such as Amazon or mobility websites. You may be able to have these prescribed by occupational therapy services in your area, too.  

I find that clothing that has an expandable waistline or clothing with some stretch is more comfortable to wear but also easier to put on. You can find fashionable clothing from designers such as Unhidden and Even Adaptive, which have hidden zips and seams that open in order to access ports, stomas, and other medical devices. So functional does not have to mean unfashionable. I am still young, so I am interested in looking good as well as feeling comfortable.  

To summarise, I would recommend preparing properly and getting a towel and clothing ready prior to washing. Sit down to wash if you can; keep yourself warm and prevent shivering to conserve energy. Always sit to get dressed, and wear clothing that is easy to put on. Always use aids if appropriate to you. I hope that this can be of some use.