"You don't shower when you're sick?"

[Micca]

DW works with a woman with two children, both of whom are sick with a bug.
The woman came into work yesterday morning to vent to DW about being miffed at her DH because he allowed their DS to take a shower! DW was surprised to learn that this woman believes that people who are ill should not bathe. DW says she thinks that is a real old school idea from what people used to believe. The co-worker is very bright and this really shocked to hear that she believed this(the kid is 8 years old and hadn't showered since Friday!).

In our house either you a) are literally too sick to get out of bed to take a shower, or b) You get up and shower and you'll might feel a little better after.
Thoughts?

 

[Galahad]

That's pretty odd. I'm fighting a cold right now, and a few extra minutes in a hot shower sure helps clear my congestion.

 

[ducklite]

I agree with you! Unless we're so sick that we can barely crawl to the bathroom, we shower every day, sick or not. When I had a very bad case of influenza a few years back, on day three of being bedridden--I needed DH's help to get me to the toilet I was so ill--I couldn't stand it anymore and had him bring the plastic step stool from the kitchen to sit on while I was in the shower. Then I sat in a chair while he changed the sheets.

DS was really sick last week and the one day he didn't shower, but then again he didn't really get out of bed all day. But the next day he got up and showered, and then went right back to bed.

Anne

 

[kdibattista]

Showering always makes me feel better when I'm sick... I've never heard of the not bathing thing.

 

[Cantw8]

I have to have a shower every morning, I don't care if my legs fell off during the night I will be in that shower. When I don't feel well, nothing feels more comforting to me than a nice hot shower. How could you not want to get all clean and soapy when you're ill?

 

[cinmell]

Count us in as another family who showers every day, even when sick. Shower makes me feel better sometimes and definitely less icky.

 

[kbkids]

Sounds like my Mom - she always felt like you shouldn't bathe during that time of the month. Always grossed me out. I think you ESPECIALLY need to bathe then.

 

[SC Minnie]

Sounds like my Mom - she always felt like you shouldn't bathe during that time of the month. Always grossed me out. I think you ESPECIALLY need to bathe then.

My next door neighbor growing up was told the same thing by her Mom. She was never allowed to bathe during 'that time of the month'. I always thought it was weird but her parents we older and they had other odd reasons for things.

 

[MareQ]

We shower - I'd have to be PRETTY darn sick to not take a shower.

In fact after all 3 times of giving birth - I was in the shower within 2 hours max - IV's and all if I was still hooked up.

There's not much in this world that will get between me and clean.

 

[dodukes]

Yeah I have to say that if I'm really sick I may not shower one day but thats about it, nothing like feeling cleaner and better than showering at least for me, even if 10 minutes afterward i feel miserable again...lol...

and the part about not showering during that timeof the month....gross!!!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I could see being mad if he made a very sick kid get up and shower, but if the kid felt well enough and wanted to, what is the big deal?

 

[clarabelle]

I always feel like in addition to opening the sinuses up a bit the shower washes away those germs. I encourage my kids to shower when they are sick.
Now if they were too sick to get up -I wouldn't make them.

 

[daisyduck123]

What's worse than having a sick person in the house?
A sick person who smells bad!

We shower here.

 

[CathrynRose]

Oh, thats nice.... just let all the germs build up all over you.

YUCK!

And not during "that time" too??? Super yuck!

When Im sick I take more than normal *baths* actually.... my whole body is aching, and I wanna feel better, hence - baths.... and if Im super sick, like flu sick, Im talking baths like every hour!!!!

Thats gross.... next time you see that kid outside, grab your hose.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well....it depends. I do try and get them into the shower of they are able.
It always makes you feel better.

 

[sunlver]

We all shower here sick or not...Granted with the kids, if they have tummy thing going in and really are mostly laying in bed, I will give them a day pass for no shower...Only one day...then next morning showers for them..

Iam the same way, I feel better if I shower even when sick. I cant remember the last time I didnt take a shower . Ive always taken showers within 24 hrs of having a baby as well. Cant remember the exact number of hours, but always within that time frame. Being clean is good for the emotional health LOL

 

[juligrl]

I need to shower most when I'm sick. I just feel a little cleaner if nothing else.

 

[sugarpie]

Sounds like my Mom - she always felt like you shouldn't bathe during that time of the month. Always grossed me out. I think you ESPECIALLY need to bathe then.

I think it's fine to shower during that time of the month. You just need to sacrifice a goat first.

 

[Sherri]

Sometimes when my dd is not feeling well she prefers to take a bath instead of a shower. How old school is it? WHat is the thought behind it? I'm just curious because I have never heard of anything like that before.

 

[frndofpooh]

I think this idea comes from the old notion that you don't put a person with a fever in bath water or a shower, as that will stress the body further to maintain body temperature. People used to think that lowering your body temp in a bath would cause the fever to spike afterward to reestablish the "feverish" temperature. Totally untrue and outdated, of course, but these ideas take a long time to die!!!

I used to have public health clients that thought this, but I would tell them to "clean up - you'll feel better!".