Thursday, October 22, 2009

A Snickers Story

With the ALS one of the many luxuries you kiss good-bye is being able to wipe your own ass. Now, I have spoken too many of my PALS with ALS about their first “Operation Tush Cleaning” and they described it as embarrassing, humiliating, and saddening experience, because they lost one more bit of independence. I was so not looking forward to my first “Operation Tush Cleaning”. Before I describe my first ass-wiping, I want to tell you about the list. When I was first diagnosed almost a year ago I knew “Operation Tush Cleaning” was in my future and I wanted to make sure every nut job care taker did not have full access to my beloved booty. So, I told my mom that I had a small very prestigious list of persons allowed to perform the tasks involved in “Operation Tush Cleaning”, called the butt wiping list. I didn’t realize how honored people would be to have their name on this list until I told my aunt Mary her name was on it and she expressed her utmost gratitude. One of the crappy things about the ALS is it gives your bowels a mind of their own. Sometimes things move with ease and sometimes you are doing lamaze breathing while you struggle to drop some kids off. Sometimes when the turtle head is poking out and you are using all your might to keep it in its shell, it creates a little nugget of love. When I visited Southern California I was hanging out at my boyfriend’s house in Fullerton, watching the fish sticks episode of Southpark while Jason was outside decorating for his sister’s, my bestie’s, 30th birthday bash. Then it happened. I felt a rumble in my gut and before I knew it, I was holding on for dear life. I needed to take the Browns to the super bowl and Jason was not in yelling distance. I clenched and squirmed, my face turned shades of blue and purple, when my ALS weakened butt couldn’t contain the turtle and I birthed my first nugget. Ahh! 25 years old and I made a dookoo in my pants. When Jason finally made his way into the house I explained our circumstance with shame and he carried me to the bathroom. Once I was positioned on the pot and Jason handed me the TP, I had a problem. Now believe it or not the embarrassing part was not telling my boyfriend I made a little nugget , but I no longer had the luxury of cleaning my own butt mess. He needed to perform my first “Operation Tush Cleaning”. To lighten up the mood and being the jokester that I am, while he was performing a task no boyfriend should ever have to do, I asked, “Is it like a little Hershey Kiss?” (I know... gross, but we were in a kinda gross situation). And without skipping a beat or turning in disgust he responded, “Nope it’s more like a melted Snickers bar.” All embarrassment was flushed down the toilet as I let out a giggle and knew that was why he was number one on my butt wiping list. It takes a real man to wipe their girlfriend’s ass.

8 comments:

  1. LOVE it and more importantly you for sharing the story. Thank you Megan.

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  2. Word up sister. Been there done that. It does take a real man. Kudos to him and all involved in operation butt cleaning. Stay strong.
    B.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Megan. My father had this illness for 4 years, and I can certainly relate to your boyfriend. However, I cannot lie and say that I can relate to you. Please keep posting; this means the world to me. Best wishes and hugs,

    Matt

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  4. 2 words: travel bidet
    http://www.sanicare.com/product_p/tb.htm?gclid=CN61la-W1p0CFSReagodv3zLsA

    you are spectacular

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  5. I always knew your man would be number one on that list . Want to come up the 22nd let me know muahhhh i love you

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  6. It was so great to see you in Irvine at your walk! You are still the same old Megan. Thank you for this blog. I plan on stalking it regularly.

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  7. ALS makes a lot of embarrassing moments but we need to laugh and get past them. You are doing good and helping others deal with their moments! Thanks! Victoria in year 5 of ALS!

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