may apply here, but I am a fool that will go where others will not even if I wonder if I should not.
A co-worker and I were bemoaning the pitiful and paltry bathroom tissue provided by our landlord. She described it as diaphanous, which is a much too pretty term for it. But she's right, when you reach for it, it's likely to fall apart into tiny pieces. And that's really useful, of course.
By day's end the ladies room at our end of our floor in this building, has little piles of toilet paper (a term that may no longer apply as it's nearly not paper, or anything) in the stalls. As one who has tried to assemble sufficient amount in my hands to do what one does with this type product, I can attest to the frustration of slowly pulling as gently as one can to produce multiple pieces and compile a stack that might suffice. I will spare all a discussion of what follows; it's too personal and too unpleasant.
Then there's the paper towel dispensed automatically from wall-mounted containers. The automatic faucet dispenses water; you pump some soap from reservoir provided at the sink. When you have washed and rinsed, you only need to move toward the towel dispenser and it issues forth a sheet of brown stuff that resembles brown package wrapping, with as smooth a finish but not as sturdy. And about as absorbent, which is to say not very.
No doubt these are cost cutting steps. But at what additional cost? One leaves the facility wondering if you've sufficiently cleaned and dried yourself. Then in addition to not feeling hygienic, I discovered while sneezing and blowing my nose into the toilet tissue (could it have been paper dust causing the problem?) the paper smells like an oil-based product.
So, now we use products that do not function well and prevent us from doing as one should and wishes to, but we also maybe subjected to toxins? Hello, OSHA? Would you examine our bathrooms, please!
Today I had an experience that will be difficult to describe, yet it begs to be addressed. Few weeks ago I visited a urologist to discuss the dysfunction of my bladder, which is as old as I am.
After discussion and examination during that first visit, she sent me home with a plastic bucket of sorts and instructions to use it every time I emptied my bladder for four days. Not four consecutive days, but four whole days when I could be at home and do this. Then, I looked at the amount of liquid in the little bucket and recorded the date, time and amount on a form provided.
That is an interesting experience, to pee in a bucket and then record the results. I thought that might be the whole process; however, today's visit was even more interesting.
The room was pretty typical medical examination setting, with various equipment. The first clue this might be somewhat different was the music playing softly. It reminded me of music played in my yoga classes, and was undoubtedly intended to help me relax. Sure.
I sat in a chair, of sorts, feet on separate little fold-out platforms, and on a seat that was only half a seat since the middle was carved away to allow for a (really) funnel directly under me that emptied into another bucket.
Yes, this is one of those medical things where one is not completely clothed since body functions are involved. So I sit in this chair and tried to empty my bladder as instructed.
Let me just say right now, it's hard to pee when you're told to pee. Especially sitting on a mechanical, strangely equipped chair. Pretty sure my head was interfering with my bladder.
Then the best part was having the chair reclined and having catheters that included sensors inserted in my bladder so the computer could get 'readings'. Yep, I was wired so they could determine if and when and how much I would pee.
This whole thing was so much fun it's hard to describe. Not that it was painful; no it was not really physically uncomfortable. It was just a strange experience with a procedure that was invasive by its nature. Apparently, however, we were successful in gathering data and I am being sent for physical therapy. So glad there's an alternative to surgery.
I like the doctor and the nurse that assists her; and I don't have any serious complaints. Now if people will leave me alone with my bladder, maybe I can do what the body requires. You know, performing such basic functions just shouldn't be so trying.
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