Dignity after stroke
When you have a stroke you may fall. When you fall you may struggle to get back up.
When you are taken to hospital you will be subject to every possible indignity. Being bed bound means needing to pee in a bottle or even use a bedpan. This is possibly the lowest you will feel.
The nurses and care staff will reassure you they have seen it all before and much worse. It doesn’t make it any easier. Having your backside wiped clean is down there with low dignity. Washing, showering and dressing all have dignity issues.
Having people watch you as you use the toilet, then clean you, comes with probing questions. You wonder if it was worth pressing that buzzer to ask to go to the toilet.
If you make a mistake expect to be told about it and have it talked about among present staff and handover staff. Once a Chinese whisper starts that you are unsteady or have some other issue, challenge any whisper. Do not stop using the buzzer.
Use the buzzer until you regain confidence that you actually need help. Fight for your mobility and regain dignity as you gain access to walking and moving aids. Fight, fight, fight.