Bathroom Bathos

     A sleepless night so, Blog, I might as well reflect on the depths to which I've sunk.   

     As assistance for Dave, one of the home adaptations we utilized was the installation of a raised toilet seat.The unit came with attached arm supports which were not needed in our bathroom  because the cabinet is close to the toilet on one side, the edge of the wall is  on the other side and grab bars, both horizontal and vertical are directly in front, at easy arm's reach. This was a very useful and worthwhile addition, a  much easier and more comfortable transition.

   Time goes on and I'm left alone in the house, with the disability toilet. I never wanted the armrests or handlifts because the area is tight and the space, made even narrower, was difficult to clean. As was the space between the rim of the toilet and the added riser. So, earlier in the summer, I ordered a new toilet seat from Amazon, hoping I ordered the right size and shape. If not, I'll  return it; it cost $49.  

   Being Amazon, the seat arrived promptly. I put the unopened box in the bathroom, with thoughts of replacing the old grime-collecting unit. But the more I thought about it, the more I  realized I liked the elevated seat. I  don't need the leverage, either descending or rising; it's just more comfortable. So I let things ride.

  Then, a week or so ago, the plastic fasteners attaching seat to rim broke, guess you shouldn't lean back too far. Don't cut your toenails on the john. So I said the time has come to make the switch. I've installed seats several times before. But this one posed a problem. The master builder who  installed it had used massive bolts to avoid any risk of slippage for the intended user. The bolts were rusty, and would not move. I sprayed them with WD-40, and Success!After a while I was able to loosen them. But not so fast. They were also screwed on underneath, in a most inaccessible location. I could not reach the wingnut or whatever without bodily risk. I figured I'd have to cut the long screws or bolts or whatever they were. A hacksaw would not fit , so I used just a hacksaw blade to try to sever the metal, but I found it slow going --it would probably take weeks, or months or never.So I had to rely on the master builder to remove the offending and now broken seat. Even that was far from easy,

Now the toilet has a nice new sanitary seat. I miss the elevation. It is amazing how over a period of 4 or 5 years, your body accommodates to certain positioning, and an unexpected drop is not without its downside, so to speak. Zounds!

 And the toilet seat I ordered was wrong. With the disability fittings, I couldn't be sure of the shape of the bowl.  And, in case you didn't realize it, Amazon has altered its formerly generous return policy---now it's  only 30 days. So anyone  in the market for an exquisitely crafted ergonomic toilet seat & cover, hit me up.