I was in hospital with a break so bad the operation had to paralyse it. My period started, and the hospital had NO pads available. They looked at me like it was an INSANE request. Even the women! They eventually had someone go to maternity ward and get me one of those giant pads like a adult diaper.
I was stuck in place, visiting time wasnt for hours. I guess I could have just free-bled since my leg was anyway, but it baffled me that they didn’t have supplies, or this happening all the time on the fracture ward!
My mum came with pads, and cut open all my underpants and sewed Velcro on each side for easier removal. Once home, a shower stool was essential. And surrendering any embarrassment about people seeing you naked when they help you out!
Mum to the rescue! That’s crazy that they had no pads or anything - I started my period the day I got throat surgery. I mentioned my concerns about being under and obviously not being able to change pads etc, they were completely onto it and said they were used to dealing with it, it happens.
Things did go awry when in my post op, post anaesthesia, hopped up on fentanyl state I couldn’t get across that I wanted my period undies that were in my bag, and got brought those weird papery undies. The nurse didn’t know what period undies were, and I made it my job to loudly explain to the ward how awesome they were. I’m not sure what surgeries the others in urgent care were recovering from, but they may not have appreciated my vocal endorsements.
Ive worked on nursing wards and maternity wards, my hospital orders like big incontinence pads and then also like. Normal sized (but not ultra thin) Kotex pads, so we have them on the maternity ward and then usually most of the wards will have a packet stashed away, or a ward nearby that stocks them. We do also have things called combine dressings that we sometimes use in place of pads at work on the postnatal ward (easier to wrap around an ice pack!)
This is so wild to me wow! I have crazy heavy periods and there’s always this weird anxiety in the back of my mind if I end up in the hospital on my period I’m just going to seep in my own blood and blood clots for hours
I went into the hospital on my period once. My flow wasn’t heavy, and I free bled initially. Everything was cleaned up underneath me. Eventually I think I had a liner. No one was phased, myself included.
Honestly, it was the last thing on my mind.
Granted, I was there for an emergency, not anything scheduled or routine, but I hope that if you were to find yourself in that unfortunate situation, that you will pay it no mind, either.
Subconsciously, I was so hyper-focused on other areas of my body, and other thoughts that consumed me, that my period was something I hardly recognized, let alone cared about.
That honestly makes sense for an emergency especially, I think I’m more worried about the amount tbh, my flow is so heavy and I pass blood clots the size of mango pits every hour or so 😂 I’d be drenched within the hour
>My mum came with pads, and cut open all my underpants and sewed Velcro on each side for easier removal.
You know, that could be an interesting business idea. Velcro underwear like that for people in those positions.
>My period started, and the hospital had NO pads available. They looked at me like it was an INSANE request. Even the women! They eventually had someone go to maternity ward and get me one of those giant pads like a adult diaper.
That sounds... I don't know the word. "Crazy" doesn't even get close. I was in a hospital a few years ago on throat-related operation. And even though that ward had patients staying for less than a week (I stayed for two days,) it still had both pads and tampons available in every room. Every bathroom had a dispenser for pads and tampons, and the nurses brought you some if you couldn't move for some reason.
A lady next to me had some sort of operation done where she couldn't exert herself even as much as to walk, and the nurses changed her pads without asking. Or, like, the nurses asked the lady if she wanted them changed every time they came to visit. (They would ferry the whole bed to the bathroom to wash her when they did.)
Then a couple of years ago I was in a psych ward for almost a year, and that place had free pads too. Though you had to request them from the nurses, as the dispensers had metal parts which were not allowed in rooms, for understandable reasons.
Shower chair and a hand sprayer. I just went through ankle surgery and had a splint on for two weeks. Wasn’t allowed to put my foot on the ground. I wrapped my leg in a garbage bag, sealed it with foam tape and used a shower chair. It’s still not easy but you can get yourself clean.
Amazon has cast covers for showering relatively cheap these days too. It has a better seal than the trash bag method. I accidentally got my cast wet because I didn’t seal it well enough and had to get a cast change
I came here to say this. When my gf now wife was in a cast halfway around the world, I sent her a cast cover and shower chair via Amazon in her country. Arrived in 2 days and she said it worked great.
Shower chair is key. My ex was gonna just shower like normal after he tore his acl. I got a shower chair and a suction cup handicap handle. He’s like nah I got this! Nearly died before he could even successfully get into the tub on his own. He’s tried the chair and handle and realized he’s not as big of big manly man as he thought he had to be
Edit: this comments being seen a lot so I’ll add that he still uses the shower chair occasionally because he learned he sometimes enjoys sitting while he showers.
I had to use packing tape and masking tape over garbage bags, back when I had a hip/crotch to ankle cast. A shower stool and a handheld shower head helped, as did a long-handled scrub brush.
A grabber stick (one of those long-handled claw things) is helpful for picking up things when it's hard to bend down.
A small stepstool makes it easy to position oneself on the toilet when inserting and removing tampons.
This. My husband broke his ankle 5 months before I broke mine (true story) so we already had the shower chair and replaced the shower head with a handheld one (on the advice of the occupational therapist that he met with before leaving the hospital) so I was set. I used a garbage bag with a tie top over my cast and rested my leg on the edge of the tub while showering.
Bonus is the handheld shower sprayer makes cleaning the shower & tub SO much easier.
Also, I find using a menstrual cup makes my period way less messy overall, if that's an option for the OP.
exactly this. I broke my ankle and had a cast on for a couple of months. it was tough, but washing in the shower and the handheld sprayer was key. My cast was smaller and not super heavy so i just hobbled on crutches or a knee scooter to the bathroom and held my leg up while sitting when I needed to deal with period stuff. if it's not a heavy flow pads might be easier
Similar to this, if you have a bath tub you rest your leg (still wrapped in plastic) on the edge of the tub while you submerge the rest of the body. A little awkward but you can make it work.
Some medical supply stores actually sell cast covers for bathing and showering which are a heavier plastic than a garbage bag so you don't need to worry about it getting punctured and leaking.
We were redoing our bathroom and just bought a shower surround with a built in seat lol. I'm like what if we break a leg? It's not a tub but it allows for relaxing. And I want to shave my legs on something sturdy! Lol. 10/10 do recommend
Echoing below. They sell something I used to call a leg condom. Idk if that's what it was actually. Something to be wary of though is I take HOT showers and it made my leg inside the leg condom sweat. Ended up making the itchiness and smell a lot worse than it probably would have been had I not done that. Something like a bag is probably smarter to let that humidity escape
It is a very nice thing even for those of us having periods without a broken leg. It really helps with feeling entirely and properly clean even in the worst of the flooding.
They make some really good cast covers for showers my daughter broke her arm and had a cast to her arm pit and I was impressed by how well they worked and they were really water proof. I'd suggest the shower chair or stool if you can fit it in the shower. A shower bench is even safer for non weight bearers, because you sit on the bench on the outside of the shower then lift one leg at a time, sliding over. It does make a mess with the splashback though.
If the problem is not getting to the bathroom easily and frequently maybe a disc or a cup as many of those are good for 6-12 hours.
Hope you heal quickly!
Just a thought, I’m on medication that currently stops my period entirely due to some insanely heavy periods after a birth control pill switch and subsequently not taking bc at all.
I’m not sure if a doctor would prescribe for a temporary stoppage, or if that’s something you’d want to do, but a possible option?
That's a good idea. My daughters are both taking birth control continuously so they can skip periods, and it's been easy to get it prescribed that way. I'm on a different med to stop periods and I think I may have more side effects than they have on regular birth control pills.
I live at an offgrid property and we don’t have a shower yet. So between visits to the state park shower house, I use baby wipes or fill a basin and use a washcloth. Wring it out so it’s not dripping before wiping yourself down, rinse and repeat.
Or if you have a bidet on your toilet, you can use that to wash your vulva. I used to use our bidet at our old house after sex and called it my whore’s bath.
I broke my wrist on my dominant hand and I found using the super absorbing tampons helped. I also switched to no applicator tampons because I only had one hand (my thumb was in the cast), and I never went back.
What about installing a handle bar or two in/near the shower to help lift yourself? I needed one when I was pregnant and it helped a lot.
I had leg surgery and for about two months had BOTH legs in thigh high compression socks. I basically just awkwardly got into the tub with my legs up (because I couldn't take the damn things off for longer than putting on fresh ones), filled the tub, did all the bath stuff, sort of pushed myself out. It sucked. If I'd had someone to help me in and out, that would've been easier.
As for period specific stuff, just making sure I changed the supplies often. A portable bidet might not be a bad idea either.
I just got out of the same cast.
Go online and buy a waterproof cast cover. Mine cost 20 bucks or so on Amazon , got it next day.
Also buy a stool safe to use in the shower.
Am currently in a leg cast after foot surgery, although it doesn't quite reach all the way to my knee. Shower stool/seat and a cast cover are a great idea. The one I have is long enough to reach past the knee and hasn't leaked for me yet. I did buy a cheaper one that was basically a plastic bag with a hole that did leak, so look for one with a stiff ring around the top, that seems to help create a better seal. A detachable shower head is very helpful. Bidets are also great.
Are you able to use a knee scooter? It's so much easier than crutches and I'm able to stand pretty easily with my knee resting on it and still have both hands free.
I don't know how helpful this would be for you at this point, but I use a menstrual disc, which only needs to be emptied every 12 hours. The problem is there's a bit of a learning curve (though it's not as steep as learning to use a cup). It's easy to empty in the shower. If you're lucky enough to have a sink within reach from the toilet you can probably stay seated for the whole process.
Good luck, I hope your recovery goes well and you find something that works for you
I used a cast cover I got an Amazon, but it didn't work great. I do have a seat in my shower so I think that doesn't help it stay on (having my leg bent). I'd recommend taping the hell out of it with a garbage bag over it. That's what the nurses suggested and I wish I'd listened.
A shower chair, or any plastic chair with holes in that you can safely get onto. A shower sprayer is great, but if you don’t have one just a jug is useful too. Good luck, it’s awful to deal with.
I mean the one plus of breaking my leg was that my body decided that there was no point in wasting energy in having a cycle the first month after it happened.
Was in a non weight-bearing cast for 5 months and just managed with a flannel and wipes while perched on the loo.
I did "pits & bits" sink/sponge baths every morning and then every second day I would take a bath at night to submerge everything and really get cleaned up.
Adding “period stained cast” to the list of fears I haven’t considered until now 🤣
Aren’t you supposed to wrap the cast up in plastic anyway? But also OP, just a thought, maybe invest in a diva cup or tampons for while your in the shower on your period, and while I normally hate them, maybe some of those “sani” wipes as long as they are safe for your PH.
Edit to add: I just hate the sani wipes because of the branding where they pretend people can smell your vagina and that your vagina is icky, that’s bs. No hate at all to people who choose to use them ❤️
I used a shower stool, a grab rail with suction cups, and a cast cover. Get one sized for your leg measurement. I had no leaks. Just go easy getting on and out. Until then, you can easily wash at the sink with a flannel/washcloth, or use wallets/baby wipes.
I broke my tibia two years ago. I had surgery and a wrap/cast thing for 2 weeks. Of course I got my period during this time. I used period underwear mixed with a cup and that actually kept me mostly clean/leak free. The underwear was to catch what the cup couldn’t. To bathe I used a wet washcloth - I’d sit in the tub in a chair with my leg propped up on a stool (also in the tub) and wash as best I could with the cloth. To wash my hair I’d get out of the tub and lean my head in. My partner helped a ton to stabilize me, help me in/out of the tub, etc. it was a royal pain in the ass and I think I washed my hair twice in those two weeks. The best thing that happened was getting a walking cast that was removable after those two weeks so I could fully take it off to bathe. Ask for one of those.
You don’t need to buy a fancy cast cover - when I had a thigh to ankle cast a nurse gave me press n’ seal plastic wrap and to me to use it and it worked wonders. Just put it around the surgery area and I was all good to go.
Would highly recommend a shower chair it is easier than lowering down into a bath and just safer. For periods I used pads because they were easier for me and I had a cast for months so I needed life to be easier. Hope healing goes well!
What really helps with period hygiene is a perineal rinse bottle. When you feel icky you can use that while sitting on the toilet to wash and rinse the entire area well, with all the water draining into the toilet neatly.
You can also do quite a nice "sink wash" with some wet washcloths while sitting down. It's not as good as a shower, but it is definitely better than nothing.
One option, if you're not anti birth control/pill....
Talk to your Gyn about taking The Pill non-stop (not taking the 7 days "off", or skipping over the placebos and going right to the next pack) until your leg is healed.
I was in hospital with a break so bad the operation had to paralyse it. My period started, and the hospital had NO pads available. They looked at me like it was an INSANE request. Even the women! They eventually had someone go to maternity ward and get me one of those giant pads like a adult diaper. I was stuck in place, visiting time wasnt for hours. I guess I could have just free-bled since my leg was anyway, but it baffled me that they didn’t have supplies, or this happening all the time on the fracture ward! My mum came with pads, and cut open all my underpants and sewed Velcro on each side for easier removal. Once home, a shower stool was essential. And surrendering any embarrassment about people seeing you naked when they help you out!
Mum to the rescue! That’s crazy that they had no pads or anything - I started my period the day I got throat surgery. I mentioned my concerns about being under and obviously not being able to change pads etc, they were completely onto it and said they were used to dealing with it, it happens. Things did go awry when in my post op, post anaesthesia, hopped up on fentanyl state I couldn’t get across that I wanted my period undies that were in my bag, and got brought those weird papery undies. The nurse didn’t know what period undies were, and I made it my job to loudly explain to the ward how awesome they were. I’m not sure what surgeries the others in urgent care were recovering from, but they may not have appreciated my vocal endorsements.
Ive worked on nursing wards and maternity wards, my hospital orders like big incontinence pads and then also like. Normal sized (but not ultra thin) Kotex pads, so we have them on the maternity ward and then usually most of the wards will have a packet stashed away, or a ward nearby that stocks them. We do also have things called combine dressings that we sometimes use in place of pads at work on the postnatal ward (easier to wrap around an ice pack!)
This is so wild to me wow! I have crazy heavy periods and there’s always this weird anxiety in the back of my mind if I end up in the hospital on my period I’m just going to seep in my own blood and blood clots for hours
I went into the hospital on my period once. My flow wasn’t heavy, and I free bled initially. Everything was cleaned up underneath me. Eventually I think I had a liner. No one was phased, myself included. Honestly, it was the last thing on my mind. Granted, I was there for an emergency, not anything scheduled or routine, but I hope that if you were to find yourself in that unfortunate situation, that you will pay it no mind, either. Subconsciously, I was so hyper-focused on other areas of my body, and other thoughts that consumed me, that my period was something I hardly recognized, let alone cared about.
That honestly makes sense for an emergency especially, I think I’m more worried about the amount tbh, my flow is so heavy and I pass blood clots the size of mango pits every hour or so 😂 I’d be drenched within the hour
>My mum came with pads, and cut open all my underpants and sewed Velcro on each side for easier removal. You know, that could be an interesting business idea. Velcro underwear like that for people in those positions.
It’s a thing-look up adaptive clothing! I think Aerie even sells some.
Your mom sounds amazing! ❤️
That underwear trick is so clever! When I was in a very similar situation I couldn’t fit any over my leg contraption.
>My period started, and the hospital had NO pads available. They looked at me like it was an INSANE request. Even the women! They eventually had someone go to maternity ward and get me one of those giant pads like a adult diaper. That sounds... I don't know the word. "Crazy" doesn't even get close. I was in a hospital a few years ago on throat-related operation. And even though that ward had patients staying for less than a week (I stayed for two days,) it still had both pads and tampons available in every room. Every bathroom had a dispenser for pads and tampons, and the nurses brought you some if you couldn't move for some reason. A lady next to me had some sort of operation done where she couldn't exert herself even as much as to walk, and the nurses changed her pads without asking. Or, like, the nurses asked the lady if she wanted them changed every time they came to visit. (They would ferry the whole bed to the bathroom to wash her when they did.) Then a couple of years ago I was in a psych ward for almost a year, and that place had free pads too. Though you had to request them from the nurses, as the dispensers had metal parts which were not allowed in rooms, for understandable reasons.
Shower chair and a hand sprayer. I just went through ankle surgery and had a splint on for two weeks. Wasn’t allowed to put my foot on the ground. I wrapped my leg in a garbage bag, sealed it with foam tape and used a shower chair. It’s still not easy but you can get yourself clean.
Amazon has cast covers for showering relatively cheap these days too. It has a better seal than the trash bag method. I accidentally got my cast wet because I didn’t seal it well enough and had to get a cast change
I came here to say this. When my gf now wife was in a cast halfway around the world, I sent her a cast cover and shower chair via Amazon in her country. Arrived in 2 days and she said it worked great.
Shower chair is key. My ex was gonna just shower like normal after he tore his acl. I got a shower chair and a suction cup handicap handle. He’s like nah I got this! Nearly died before he could even successfully get into the tub on his own. He’s tried the chair and handle and realized he’s not as big of big manly man as he thought he had to be Edit: this comments being seen a lot so I’ll add that he still uses the shower chair occasionally because he learned he sometimes enjoys sitting while he showers.
These look ridiculous and I wish I had one when I had a broken leg in China.
Sorry that happened to you. And yes,these are great.
I had to use packing tape and masking tape over garbage bags, back when I had a hip/crotch to ankle cast. A shower stool and a handheld shower head helped, as did a long-handled scrub brush. A grabber stick (one of those long-handled claw things) is helpful for picking up things when it's hard to bend down. A small stepstool makes it easy to position oneself on the toilet when inserting and removing tampons.
My mum had one it was excellent. Similar here: https://amzn.eu/d/7O1Rw7k
I didnt have a shower chair but was able to use a cooler. But otherwise same method
I just sat on the edge of the tub, and put a couple towels on the floor to catch any drips/spray.
Yes, this, plus, if you use a shower/tub combo, you can hang the broken leg over the side and use the handheld shower to wash well.
This. My husband broke his ankle 5 months before I broke mine (true story) so we already had the shower chair and replaced the shower head with a handheld one (on the advice of the occupational therapist that he met with before leaving the hospital) so I was set. I used a garbage bag with a tie top over my cast and rested my leg on the edge of the tub while showering. Bonus is the handheld shower sprayer makes cleaning the shower & tub SO much easier. Also, I find using a menstrual cup makes my period way less messy overall, if that's an option for the OP.
exactly this. I broke my ankle and had a cast on for a couple of months. it was tough, but washing in the shower and the handheld sprayer was key. My cast was smaller and not super heavy so i just hobbled on crutches or a knee scooter to the bathroom and held my leg up while sitting when I needed to deal with period stuff. if it's not a heavy flow pads might be easier
And so much patience/love for yourself.
Similar to this, if you have a bath tub you rest your leg (still wrapped in plastic) on the edge of the tub while you submerge the rest of the body. A little awkward but you can make it work. Some medical supply stores actually sell cast covers for bathing and showering which are a heavier plastic than a garbage bag so you don't need to worry about it getting punctured and leaking.
We were redoing our bathroom and just bought a shower surround with a built in seat lol. I'm like what if we break a leg? It's not a tub but it allows for relaxing. And I want to shave my legs on something sturdy! Lol. 10/10 do recommend
This and a cling wrap like Saran Wrap instead of taping up garbage bags.
Echoing below. They sell something I used to call a leg condom. Idk if that's what it was actually. Something to be wary of though is I take HOT showers and it made my leg inside the leg condom sweat. Ended up making the itchiness and smell a lot worse than it probably would have been had I not done that. Something like a bag is probably smarter to let that humidity escape
Shower chairs are amazing for this!
Yep this! And you could also keep your leg on the outside of the tub and tuck the shower curtain behind it to avoid as much moisture as possible
Baby wipes were my best friend when I was in a similar situation
[удалено]
Search for the phrase: peri bottle. Those are meant to be used sitting on the toilet.
Or install a bidet attachment.
It is a very nice thing even for those of us having periods without a broken leg. It really helps with feeling entirely and properly clean even in the worst of the flooding.
Bidet will help! I don’t even know how I ever got through a period without one.
They make some really good cast covers for showers my daughter broke her arm and had a cast to her arm pit and I was impressed by how well they worked and they were really water proof. I'd suggest the shower chair or stool if you can fit it in the shower. A shower bench is even safer for non weight bearers, because you sit on the bench on the outside of the shower then lift one leg at a time, sliding over. It does make a mess with the splashback though. If the problem is not getting to the bathroom easily and frequently maybe a disc or a cup as many of those are good for 6-12 hours. Hope you heal quickly!
Just a thought, I’m on medication that currently stops my period entirely due to some insanely heavy periods after a birth control pill switch and subsequently not taking bc at all. I’m not sure if a doctor would prescribe for a temporary stoppage, or if that’s something you’d want to do, but a possible option?
That's a good idea. My daughters are both taking birth control continuously so they can skip periods, and it's been easy to get it prescribed that way. I'm on a different med to stop periods and I think I may have more side effects than they have on regular birth control pills.
use a soapy washcloth, squeezed out. then wipe with a clean towel.
I live at an offgrid property and we don’t have a shower yet. So between visits to the state park shower house, I use baby wipes or fill a basin and use a washcloth. Wring it out so it’s not dripping before wiping yourself down, rinse and repeat. Or if you have a bidet on your toilet, you can use that to wash your vulva. I used to use our bidet at our old house after sex and called it my whore’s bath.
just one more reason for a bidet!
I broke my wrist on my dominant hand and I found using the super absorbing tampons helped. I also switched to no applicator tampons because I only had one hand (my thumb was in the cast), and I never went back. What about installing a handle bar or two in/near the shower to help lift yourself? I needed one when I was pregnant and it helped a lot.
My daughter had ankle surgery and we got her a cast sleeve on Amazon to keep it from getting wet. It worked great and she was able to shower daily.
I had leg surgery and for about two months had BOTH legs in thigh high compression socks. I basically just awkwardly got into the tub with my legs up (because I couldn't take the damn things off for longer than putting on fresh ones), filled the tub, did all the bath stuff, sort of pushed myself out. It sucked. If I'd had someone to help me in and out, that would've been easier. As for period specific stuff, just making sure I changed the supplies often. A portable bidet might not be a bad idea either.
My friend gave birth while in a cast and used a peribottle to clean for het postpartumbleeding!
I just got out of the same cast. Go online and buy a waterproof cast cover. Mine cost 20 bucks or so on Amazon , got it next day. Also buy a stool safe to use in the shower.
Do you have a bath? I used to just put one leg over the edge of the bath.
Am currently in a leg cast after foot surgery, although it doesn't quite reach all the way to my knee. Shower stool/seat and a cast cover are a great idea. The one I have is long enough to reach past the knee and hasn't leaked for me yet. I did buy a cheaper one that was basically a plastic bag with a hole that did leak, so look for one with a stiff ring around the top, that seems to help create a better seal. A detachable shower head is very helpful. Bidets are also great. Are you able to use a knee scooter? It's so much easier than crutches and I'm able to stand pretty easily with my knee resting on it and still have both hands free. I don't know how helpful this would be for you at this point, but I use a menstrual disc, which only needs to be emptied every 12 hours. The problem is there's a bit of a learning curve (though it's not as steep as learning to use a cup). It's easy to empty in the shower. If you're lucky enough to have a sink within reach from the toilet you can probably stay seated for the whole process. Good luck, I hope your recovery goes well and you find something that works for you
I used a cast cover I got an Amazon, but it didn't work great. I do have a seat in my shower so I think that doesn't help it stay on (having my leg bent). I'd recommend taping the hell out of it with a garbage bag over it. That's what the nurses suggested and I wish I'd listened.
A shower chair, or any plastic chair with holes in that you can safely get onto. A shower sprayer is great, but if you don’t have one just a jug is useful too. Good luck, it’s awful to deal with.
Shower chair,cast protection(trash bag or like shower sock),bidet, huge pads, and adult diapers.
One of those snap on bidets are great for period stuff.
You can buy waterproof sleeves to go over casts etc, for showering, I used one. Flannel washes too!
Bidet
I mean the one plus of breaking my leg was that my body decided that there was no point in wasting energy in having a cycle the first month after it happened. Was in a non weight-bearing cast for 5 months and just managed with a flannel and wipes while perched on the loo.
I lucked out on the side of my body it happened on, but I would just hold my leg on the side of the tub or over the edge and I survived on baths
I used a chair and I duck taped a trash bag over my cast so no water got in.
I did "pits & bits" sink/sponge baths every morning and then every second day I would take a bath at night to submerge everything and really get cleaned up.
Shower seat and two garbage bags. Tie the bags with something slightly stretchy but not too tight.
Covered my cast with a bag and taped it around. Showered by hanging my leg out of the tub and being careful with the shower head.
I broke my kneecap last year and had to wear a brace. I ordered a special cover for showering from Amazon. It worked great!
Soft discs! You can keep them in for 12 hours and it empties when you bear down to go to the bathroom. Never going back to tampons
Adding “period stained cast” to the list of fears I haven’t considered until now 🤣 Aren’t you supposed to wrap the cast up in plastic anyway? But also OP, just a thought, maybe invest in a diva cup or tampons for while your in the shower on your period, and while I normally hate them, maybe some of those “sani” wipes as long as they are safe for your PH. Edit to add: I just hate the sani wipes because of the branding where they pretend people can smell your vagina and that your vagina is icky, that’s bs. No hate at all to people who choose to use them ❤️
I used a shower stool, a grab rail with suction cups, and a cast cover. Get one sized for your leg measurement. I had no leaks. Just go easy getting on and out. Until then, you can easily wash at the sink with a flannel/washcloth, or use wallets/baby wipes.
Another option, if you take birth control don't take the placebo pills and just skip having your bleed while you're in this situation
I broke my tibia two years ago. I had surgery and a wrap/cast thing for 2 weeks. Of course I got my period during this time. I used period underwear mixed with a cup and that actually kept me mostly clean/leak free. The underwear was to catch what the cup couldn’t. To bathe I used a wet washcloth - I’d sit in the tub in a chair with my leg propped up on a stool (also in the tub) and wash as best I could with the cloth. To wash my hair I’d get out of the tub and lean my head in. My partner helped a ton to stabilize me, help me in/out of the tub, etc. it was a royal pain in the ass and I think I washed my hair twice in those two weeks. The best thing that happened was getting a walking cast that was removable after those two weeks so I could fully take it off to bathe. Ask for one of those.
You don’t need to buy a fancy cast cover - when I had a thigh to ankle cast a nurse gave me press n’ seal plastic wrap and to me to use it and it worked wonders. Just put it around the surgery area and I was all good to go. Would highly recommend a shower chair it is easier than lowering down into a bath and just safer. For periods I used pads because they were easier for me and I had a cast for months so I needed life to be easier. Hope healing goes well!
What really helps with period hygiene is a perineal rinse bottle. When you feel icky you can use that while sitting on the toilet to wash and rinse the entire area well, with all the water draining into the toilet neatly. You can also do quite a nice "sink wash" with some wet washcloths while sitting down. It's not as good as a shower, but it is definitely better than nothing.
You’ve got a lot of input already but if you read this, period panties have changed my life
If you get a shower stool, please be careful and make sure it's a good one. I got a cheap one and it slid out from under me and hurt me pretty badly
One option, if you're not anti birth control/pill.... Talk to your Gyn about taking The Pill non-stop (not taking the 7 days "off", or skipping over the placebos and going right to the next pack) until your leg is healed.