The first two days were the worst. Now, it’s WIP.

At various times, my long term ailments have felt debilitating, but not quite like this. This is a different kind of debilitation. A kind of forced limitation that hit home almost immediately. I couldn’t do the everyday stuff. The non-thinking, just get on and do things. Like tying up my hair before a shower or opening bottles/containers.

I’m not oblivious to people who are less able or mobile. Before the full cast on my forearm to correct my wrist hairline fracture, my husband and I have discussed and continue to speak about older people, like my mum and relatives, who have had and have restricted movements. And, about people with disabilities like brother-in-law number 3, my friends and my neighbour’s driver who manoeuvre life, with its many obstacles, every day. Surely, it cannot be easy.

Hence, I’m aways grateful for being able to get out of bed, and for being able to do most activities without too much difficulty. While I didn’t take these things for granted, I also, admittedly, didn’t think too much about them.

I do now. I have to. And, it has been challenging and humbling. I think through my day. Which by the way, is much the same like before the pickleball tumble. But now, each action is more deliberate, and requires more time. A few involve collaboration with my other body parts.

Brushing my teeth, for instance, means squeezing and slurping a small amount of paste directly into my mouth. I cannot hold my electric toothbrush and squirt paste on it. It’s a two hands job. Yes, I can place the toothbrush on a flat surface or on the edge of the wash basin but the mouth-way is quicker/cleaner. I know… but it’s not yuck. Why? I use a different toothpaste from my husband. His is for the gums and mine is for rapid protection, whatever that means. I cannot floss. Another two hands job. Luckily, I’ve my husband’s hand-me-down water flosser, which works quite well.

Showering is a mini production. I use a small-size bin bag to cover my forearm, clasped together with a hair clip. My customised bin bag works better than the Temu-bought waterproof hand protector. Why? The store bought one requires pushing my wrist/arm through a rather tight elastic band. Never mind. I hold my left arm high above my head. This keeps the cast dry, and me cleaner.

Washing my hair is a bigger production. I did well with my first hair wash. I got a little too confident, and added some hair oil on my second attempt. The hair clumped together, and it was a fight between my shampoo and my good right arm. Like the shampoo, I poured the conditioner onto the top of the glass of the corner bathroom basket. I then scooped it and did my best to lather it on my hair. Both my left and right arms were so tired after the hair wash. Left from holding it high up and right from trying to clean the scalp and matted hair. No hair oil until I’m cast free.

Clothes. Only elasticised skirts and pants that I can climb into and pull up, ungracefully. As for bras and tops/blouses. Hmm. I fasten my bra in the loosest hook. Slowly inch my casted-arm into the left strap, head in the middle, right arm into the right strap. And, wiggle, tug, pull, adjust, adjust to get the bra in place. It’s a challenge that seems to work if I follow the sequence patiently. Short cuts have resulted in getting unceremoniously stuck. After that, wearing my t-shirt always seems like a cinch. 

Pony tailing my hair is a WIP. I have not been able to gather my hair together and tie it up, yet. Even hair clips are not easy. My go-to is hair bands. At least, they keep my hair off my face.

Applying face cream. I’ve had a few sans moisturiser days due to uncooperative twisty lids on pots and jars. It’s annoyingly frustrating how impossible these containers are to open with one hand. As for the squirty ones, I squirt it directly on my forehead, cheek, and neck. Too much squirt and it runs off my face. My squirt-pressure is another WIP.  Body lotion. My over used right arm feels and looks neglected and parched.

Drawing curtains and tie-backs. The latter is a little tricky especially when I try to hold the folds of the curtain and tie it back with one hand. After dropping the tie-back loopy thing a few times, I now use my knee to hold the curtain and my good arm to drape the loopy thing around the curtain. It mostly works. Yay.

I’ve another four weeks of these, and working out a comfortable sleeping position, using cutlery, etc. Hmm.