Does anyone have tips for showering with COPD?
Share your suggestions for easing the burden of bathing & showering.
I have problems also showing, so exhausting. My husband got me a seat and it made a difference. I'm sure people have already told you that. Take your time, go slow, take deep breaths of your 02. That should help a little. š 
, those are great suggestions and I am glad you have found some things to help make showering easier on you! Thanks for sharing. All the best, 
Hi Bonnie, and thanks for joining in the conversation here. We appreciate you sharing the success you're having showering using the seat (from your husband), while in the shower. As well, understanding that going slowly, and using one's oxygen, while showering, can also be a big help.
Others in our community have mentioned what helps them in the shower as well. I thought you might want to look over some of their comments. For your convenience, here is a link to an article that shares our members' ideas: https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-tips-for-showering.
I do hope you find it to be helpful, in a practical way.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
For me taking a shower is exhausting, and it used to be scary, but I have found a combination of solutions that make it much less so. One is music. My shower is only a few feet from my computer desk where I have a sound system, so I put on some music first. This gives my mind something to focus on that relieves other, fear-causing issues during the process. I use my sliding glass shower door to balance the cool air flow against the hot water, both of which feel good. The shower chair, hand-held shower head hose, and pumps in my body wash and shampoo bottles plus the long handled back brush all help make the process easier. And the last thing I do is take my time. There is no rush, no hurry. I focus on the music, the soothing aspects of the hot water and the cool air, and the luxurious clean feeling along with smooth deep breathing to make it something worth doing. It is still tiring, but much less unpleasant. Just my .02.
listening to music is such a great suggestion! Thanks for chiming in here. All the best, Sam S. (COPD.Net, Team Member).
How do you wash your face while showering with the oxygenon
Hi Sandi, I leave my hose on and try to rinse my face just a little quicker but not enough that it discomforts me. Anyone that stone, tile in the shower close the curtains as soon as your able. These hold the steam and might add more anxiety. Open windows, keep doors open. Unfortunately all of these suggestions come from experimenting and what works for you. It's so much more helpful having someone working with you.
I was wondering how do you wash your face with the oxygen on while showering
Hi sandie, and thanks for both of your posts, above.
We have a wealth of material, published right here on COPD.net, which focuses on every aspect of showering with this condition. While I'm hopeful others will see your inquiries and respond with answers of their own, I thought you might want to review the material we have published here. For your convenience, here is a link to several of those articles: https://copd.net/search?s=showering%20oxygen. I do hope you find the information is helpful in a practical way.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)I always shave (scrape my face!) before the shower, and I wash my face then. I have to take the cannula off while doing those things, and it only takes a few minutes and not a problem. Then I put the cannula back on and go get in the shower. Also, I saw where someone said they use a washcloth tucked around the cannula to keep water out. I would strongly advise against this as you could wind up choking on the water. There is no reason to do it anyway. Water cannot get in the cannula as it has positive oxygen pressure inside pushing out. It only takes a minute to prove this to yourself and then you can relax and never worry about it again. The water from the shower head is coming downwards and the cannula is inside your nose, so the water is just going to run off downwards as long as you don't intentionally squirt it up into your nose. And if there is a washcloth there it will just wick the water into it until it is soaked and then there is danger of you breathing the water in. I hope I explained that right. The point is the washcloth is not a good idea.
