Guest guest Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 Jane -- I'm sure many of us can empathize with your problem. You wrote: > In my daily life the most difficult thing - so far - is wiping my > butt! It is the one thing I'm not going to ask for help with - but > it certainly isn't easy! I think this is a kind of " learned skill " after fusion to S-1. If some of us do better than others, it is probably because we just happen to have longer arms, shorter waists, or some anatomical advantage like that. You might want to try standing up (after the first " swipe, " at least) -- for some reason this works best for me. I also keep wet- wipes on hand for that old insecure feeling that can persist after you have done your utmost series of long-arm stretches with the toilet paper. One member once told me that her revision surgeon had made sure she was equipped with some sort of assistive " tongs " in which to grasp the toilet paper. She thought she would have to use these tongs for the rest of her life -- kind of a bummer. I never heard whether she eventually figured out some alternative way of managing. She said it was especially embarrassing to think about packing her toilet paper tongs on a visit to someone else's house. Oh, the things we go through in this group! I wonder if people outside our elite little cadre of " bent Boomers " can even imagine half of the stuff we have to put up with . . . . Best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 > > Oh, the things we go through in this group! I wonder if people > outside our elite little cadre of " bent Boomers " can even imagine > half of the stuff we have to put up with . . . . > > Best, > > I know that I get slightly annoyed when others don't even stop to think about what it takes for me to get my shoes on. Not that it is a huge deal but it is because I have adapted that it seems easier than it is. Here in New England we frequently take shoes off when visiting somewhere to keep from tacking in the winter sludge. I look for a seat to do this and people give me a look like I am rude when I am just trying not to tip over. People think because I am not missing a leg or something that there is no difference in what it takes for me to accomplish a simple task compared to some one who can bend. This ignorance only bothers me when it is someone who has watched what I have gone through and think that I should be normal by now. They just don't get that I wont ever be able to bend and that everything below the waist is all about the art of balance and reach. Jolynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 I live in California, and many people take their shoes off (I guess to save on cleaning carpets?) even though we have no snow in my area! I run into the same problem. Sometimes I sit down on their stairs to do it. Sometimes I just explain that I am disabled, and ask for a chair. I resist saying I'm disabled, but it works to say it. If I can't reach something I've dropped, I just say, " Can you pick that up for me? I have trouble bending. " NB At 11:53 AM 4/25/2007, luqueback wrote: >I know that I get slightly annoyed when others don't even stop to >think about what it takes for me to get my shoes on. Not that it is a >huge deal but it is because I have adapted that it seems easier than >it is. Here in New England we frequently take shoes off when visiting >somewhere to keep from tacking in the winter sludge. I look for a >seat to do this and people give me a look like I am rude when I am >just trying not to tip over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 25, 2007 Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 I have to stand and put my right leg on the loo seat and stretch all so I used baby wipes as a back up just to make sure I now have a little pack of wipes in my bag all the time just in case. I do have major problems when my pain is really bad and I get shooting pains down my left leg which means i cannot stand on it to raise my left leg. I am blessed with a wonder full hubby who after finding me in floods of tears one day in the bathroom helped me out and the only thing he said was I marred you in sickness and in health and you would do the same for me. I don't want him doing it really and its not very often I need him to but I know if I really need help hes there. I wonder if he really new when we got marred what he was letting himself in for with my scoliosis. Dutka Dislexsic not stuped Rescue a sighthound today Living with scoliosis and winning. most days ___________________________________________________________ Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 My wonderful husband said " It's OK, I knew you weren't perfect when I married you " Jolynn --- In , wendy dutka I am > blessed with a wonder full hubby who after finding me > in floods of tears one day in the bathroom helped me > out and the only thing he said was I marred you in > sickness and in health and you would do the same for > me. > > > Dutka > Dislexsic not stuped > Rescue a sighthound today > Living with scoliosis and winning. most days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 I know JUST what you mean, Jolynn. In some sense you might say we are like people with " invisible disabilities. " And yes, I have experienced this even with people who saw me through the whole process of revision, graduating from my walker, etc. I guess they think I'm supposed to have recaptured my pre-scoliotic flexibility or something impossible like that. When people look at you as if you were being rude to sit down and balance yourself so as to take off your shoes -- or otherwise subject you to their unthinking incomprehension -- don't you feel like whipping out a jumbo x-ray of your spine? But then, they might not even " get it " then. We need to educate people more widely on this whole flatback catastrophe, in my opinion. We somehow need to get our story told. Best, > > > > > > Oh, the things we go through in this group! I wonder if people > > outside our elite little cadre of " bent Boomers " can even imagine > > half of the stuff we have to put up with . . . . > > > > Best, > > > > > > I know that I get slightly annoyed when others don't even stop to > think about what it takes for me to get my shoes on. Not that it is a > huge deal but it is because I have adapted that it seems easier than > it is. Here in New England we frequently take shoes off when visiting > somewhere to keep from tacking in the winter sludge. I look for a > seat to do this and people give me a look like I am rude when I am > just trying not to tip over. > > People think because I am not missing a leg or something that there > is no difference in what it takes for me to accomplish a simple task > compared to some one who can bend. This ignorance only bothers me > when it is someone who has watched what I have gone through and think > that I should be normal by now. They just don't get that I wont ever > be able to bend and that everything below the waist is all about the > art of balance and reach. > > Jolynn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 , You married a good guy. You undoubtedly know that you would do the same for him, so I wouldn't have any qualms about letting him do things for you when you have no alternative. This is one thing I think is very good and comforting about growing old together. Bad as my marriage was, I miss the feeling of having someone there who would always be able-bodied for me when I could not quite do something for myself -- someone for whom I would always be there as well, after gall bladder surgery and other health problems. I am sure you reciprocate in any number of ways through loving and caring things you do for your spouse. Best, > > I have to stand and put my right leg on the loo seat > and stretch all so I used baby wipes as a back up > just to make sure I now have a little pack of wipes in > my bag all the time just in case. > I do have major problems when my pain is really bad > and I get shooting pains down my left leg which means > i cannot stand on it to raise my left leg. I am > blessed with a wonder full hubby who after finding me > in floods of tears one day in the bathroom helped me > out and the only thing he said was I marred you in > sickness and in health and you would do the same for > me. > I don't want him doing it really and its not very > often I need him to but I know if I really need help > hes there. > I wonder if he really new when we got marred what he > was letting himself in for with my scoliosis. > > > Dutka > Dislexsic not stuped > Rescue a sighthound today > Living with scoliosis and winning. most days > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it > now. > http://uk.answers./ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 I am going to make t-shirts with my x-rays on it. Just like the ones that you get at cheesey touristy shops on the beach. > > > > > > > > > > Oh, the things we go through in this group! I wonder if people > > > outside our elite little cadre of " bent Boomers " can even imagine > > > half of the stuff we have to put up with . . . . > > > > > > Best, > > > > > > > > > > I know that I get slightly annoyed when others don't even stop to > > think about what it takes for me to get my shoes on. Not that it is > a > > huge deal but it is because I have adapted that it seems easier > than > > it is. Here in New England we frequently take shoes off when > visiting > > somewhere to keep from tacking in the winter sludge. I look for a > > seat to do this and people give me a look like I am rude when I am > > just trying not to tip over. > > > > People think because I am not missing a leg or something that there > > is no difference in what it takes for me to accomplish a simple > task > > compared to some one who can bend. This ignorance only bothers me > > when it is someone who has watched what I have gone through and > think > > that I should be normal by now. They just don't get that I wont > ever > > be able to bend and that everything below the waist is all about > the > > art of balance and reach. > > > > Jolynn > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 What a fantastic idea! I am wondering if you could send your x-rays to one of these outfits that prints stuff, and if (assuming you could convert the film into a jpeg file) they could do it for you? I would love to do this myself. Best, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Oh, the things we go through in this group! I wonder if people > > > > outside our elite little cadre of " bent Boomers " can even > imagine > > > > half of the stuff we have to put up with . . . . > > > > > > > > Best, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I know that I get slightly annoyed when others don't even stop to > > > think about what it takes for me to get my shoes on. Not that it > is > > a > > > huge deal but it is because I have adapted that it seems easier > > than > > > it is. Here in New England we frequently take shoes off when > > visiting > > > somewhere to keep from tacking in the winter sludge. I look for a > > > seat to do this and people give me a look like I am rude when I > am > > > just trying not to tip over. > > > > > > People think because I am not missing a leg or something that > there > > > is no difference in what it takes for me to accomplish a simple > > task > > > compared to some one who can bend. This ignorance only bothers me > > > when it is someone who has watched what I have gone through and > > think > > > that I should be normal by now. They just don't get that I wont > > ever > > > be able to bend and that everything below the waist is all about > > the > > > art of balance and reach. > > > > > > Jolynn > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 You can always print it on an iron on transfer that alows you to print with any printer on paper avaliable at 's. I have done that with pictures. I don't know if it would be to scale. Jolynn > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Oh, the things we go through in this group! I wonder if > people > > > > > outside our elite little cadre of " bent Boomers " can even > > imagine > > > > > half of the stuff we have to put up with . . . . > > > > > > > > > > Best, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I know that I get slightly annoyed when others don't even stop > to > > > > think about what it takes for me to get my shoes on. Not that > it > > is > > > a > > > > huge deal but it is because I have adapted that it seems easier > > > than > > > > it is. Here in New England we frequently take shoes off when > > > visiting > > > > somewhere to keep from tacking in the winter sludge. I look for > a > > > > seat to do this and people give me a look like I am rude when I > > am > > > > just trying not to tip over. > > > > > > > > People think because I am not missing a leg or something that > > there > > > > is no difference in what it takes for me to accomplish a simple > > > task > > > > compared to some one who can bend. This ignorance only bothers > me > > > > when it is someone who has watched what I have gone through and > > > think > > > > that I should be normal by now. They just don't get that I wont > > > ever > > > > be able to bend and that everything below the waist is all > about > > > the > > > > art of balance and reach. > > > > > > > > Jolynn > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 cafepress.com You might shock a few people. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Oh, the things we go through in this group! I wonder if > people > > > > > outside our elite little cadre of " bent Boomers " can even > > imagine > > > > > half of the stuff we have to put up with . . . . > > > > > > > > > > Best, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I know that I get slightly annoyed when others don't even stop > to > > > > think about what it takes for me to get my shoes on. Not that > it > > is > > > a > > > > huge deal but it is because I have adapted that it seems easier > > > than > > > > it is. Here in New England we frequently take shoes off when > > > visiting > > > > somewhere to keep from tacking in the winter sludge. I look for > a > > > > seat to do this and people give me a look like I am rude when I > > am > > > > just trying not to tip over. > > > > > > > > People think because I am not missing a leg or something that > > there > > > > is no difference in what it takes for me to accomplish a simple > > > task > > > > compared to some one who can bend. This ignorance only bothers > me > > > > when it is someone who has watched what I have gone through and > > > think > > > > that I should be normal by now. They just don't get that I wont > > > ever > > > > be able to bend and that everything below the waist is all > about > > > the > > > > art of balance and reach. > > > > > > > > Jolynn > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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