Feeling So Dirty

No one would choose to be like this. It must have been out of her control that her weight got to the point where she could no longer stand. Even though she is as round as a ball, she can't even turn in bed. She is completely helpless and we have to call the lift team every time we need to move her in bed, which unfortunately, is often. She has severe watery diarrhea and naturally, is incontinent.

The folds are so deep that it takes one nurse to pry them apart and another nurse to do the washing. The folds that escape the river of liquid stool have their own special charm. Stuff is growing in them. The assortment of ointments we have been using don't work. The constant moisture in the folds has caused the skin to breakdown and split open.

Of course she's miserable. Who wouldn't be? She's bedbound, itchy and needs to take her anger out on someone. The nurses are the easiest target, so we get the bulk of the abuse. She doesn't know how to talk in a normal tone of voice. She just screams her demands and curses. She's called management so many times to complain that not even the wimpy, kowtowing managers care anymore. She's not even crazy or demented, just mean.

Her favorite demand is "Wash my vagina." This happens once or twice a shift. We have to stuff a wet wash cloth in her vagina, pull it out, rinse and repeat until she's satisfied. I'm beginning to think that her motive does not involve a desire for cleanliness. Her vagina couldn't possibly get dirty that fast. If we refuse, she screams and keeps the call light on until we can't stand it anymore. I wish that I could call in sick until she's gone.