Re: sip-n-spoon-straws- other tips for daily life

[Guest guest]

Doug, your post gave me am idea for a thread. Listers could share

their ideas for improving or easing their daily life or products they've come

across that help them do that.

Here's my tip: I struggled for some time to slide out of the shower

to my wheelchair on my sticky wet butt while using a transfer board. There had

to be a better way.

Well, now I drape one towel over my wheelchair prior to my shower. I leave

myself wet getting out and put a small amount of soap on my bottom. I zip right

across the board with almost no effort. Comical,

I know, but it works great. Almost too easy.

>

> This was mean't as a joke on one of my gadget sites, but I think it would be

downright handy for us. I actually dumped my cereal milk into my lap yesterday

morning trying to transfer my coffee straw to the cereal bowl, geez would've

saved a messLOL!

>

> http://www.perpetualkid.com/sip-n-spoon-straws.aspx

>

>

[Guest guest]

Excellent idea, yes lets all share daily living tips, especially those we've

invented ourselves. Their the best! Being on my own now I really need them lol.

Doug

[Guest guest]

Okay, I will get the ball rolling. Behind my stove I have installed a mirror at

an angle. This allows me to sit in my wheelchair and see down into my pots &

pans. I like to direct the exact preparation of my food and this makes it a lot

easier. It might sound ridiculous, but the first time that I boiled corn, I was

completely amazed how the corn moved around in the pot. My PA at the time

thought I was a lunatic and couldn't understand my exhilaration!

T.K. Small

>

> Excellent idea, yes lets all share daily living tips, especially those we've

invented ourselves. Their the best! Being on my own now I really need them lol.

Doug

>

>

[Guest guest]

I make my own longer transfer boards (40-44 " ) so I can get into vans, boats,

canoes, kayaks, etc., all sorts of stuff I couldn't normally get into.

I tried a Beasy Board but it just didn't work for me. Expensive mistake. I'm

also very particlar about bed height. If it's right, I can tranfer myself

without any help or transfer board.

> >

> > This was mean't as a joke on one of my gadget sites, but I think it would be

downright handy for us. I actually dumped my cereal milk into my lap yesterday

morning trying to transfer my coffee straw to the cereal bowl, geez would've

saved a messLOL!

> >

> > http://www.perpetualkid.com/sip-n-spoon-straws.aspx

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I think it's a great idea to share solutions to every day problems. As a 64 year

old mom and care giver to our 26 year old son, along with his 69 year old

father, this could be a big help to learn how others are managing their daily

challenges. And perhaps we have solved situations that may help someone. For

instance:

1. Satin sheets in order to turn him. This is so much easier!

2. Hanes Boxer briefs. I take out the hem so he isn't sitting on double fabric

and stitching.

3. A hoyer lift to get him in and out of bed with a modified hand control, since

his hands and fingers have gotten a lot weaker.

4. Memory foam on top of his deep contour gel cushion for added comfort.

5. Q-restraint system for locking down his wheelchair in the van.

6. A plexiglass tray mounted on one side of his wheelchair (Permobil) when we

travel, so he can eat and have his cell phone close. My husband attached some

type of edging material to create a barrier, so things wouldn't roll off the

edge.

Cheryl Pruitt

> >

> > Excellent idea, yes lets all share daily living tips, especially those we've

invented ourselves. Their the best! Being on my own now I really need them lol.

Doug

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Q'Straint is a company that sells easy-to-operate wheelchair tie-down systems.

http://www.qstraint.com/

> > >

> > > Excellent idea, yes lets all share daily living tips, especially those

we've

> >invented ourselves. Their the best! Being on my own now I really need them

lol.

> >Doug

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Are there any kind of rubber tips that can be attached to the end of dowel rods?

Most I find are too big like for furniture legs or crutch tips. I might be

moving to a new building and it has an elevator. Any suggestion, how do you all

do elevator buttons? Hopefully some clever things will come from you brilliant

guys! Doug

[Guest guest]

I use a bamboo stick with an pencil eraser on the end to control my trackball

mouse when I am lying down.

T.K. Small

>

> Are there any kind of rubber tips that can be attached to the end of dowel

rods? Most I find are too big like for furniture legs or crutch tips. I might be

moving to a new building and it has an elevator. Any suggestion, how do you all

do elevator buttons? Hopefully some clever things will come from you brilliant

guys! Doug

>

>

[Guest guest]

I've never heard of Dycem before. After a quick search, I found this:

http://www.activeforever.com/p-24951-dycem-pad.aspx

T.K. Small

>

> i attach Dycem to the end of my dowel with two rubber bands.  It works

great!

> You can do a google search for it or if you know an OT, they could probably

give you a small piece. 

>

>

>

> Lori

>

[Guest guest]

I never heard of Dycem before. After a quick search, here is what I found.

http://www.activeforever.com/p-24951-dycem-pad.aspx

T.K. Small

>

> i attach Dycem to the end of my dowel with two rubber bands.  It works

great!

> You can do a google search for it or if you know an OT, they could probably

give you a small piece. 

>

>

>

> Lori

>

>

[Guest guest]

It seems that in addition to having SMA, I also have a very pronounced digital

stutter.

T.K. Small

>

> I never heard of Dycem before. After a quick search, here is what I found.

http://www.activeforever.com/p-24951-dycem-pad.aspx

>

> T.K. Small

>

[Guest guest]

I just posted two pictures of a couple of my inventions. They were both pretty

easy to make and didn't cost all that much. The shower platform is made from a

couple of nylon mesh laundry bags, canvas strapping & PVC pipes. The portable

bathroom chair is a folding beach chair with a patented circular hole.

T.K. Small

>

> Excellent idea, yes lets all share daily living tips, especially those we've

invented ourselves. Their the best! Being on my own now I really need them lol.

Doug

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have a public folder here:

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=ea45327a6d5728ce#!/?cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA453\

27A6D5728CE%21178!cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA45327A6D5728CE%21174

which contains some of our apparatus and inventions over the years.

They include an invention for eucalyptus inhalations when my daughter has a cold

to loosen the junk, a wooden home-made stander to get her on her feet, a wooden

book-stand for reading in bed and a ramp to get her outside on the terrace.

[Guest guest]

,

Interesting pictures. I used to wear a hard corset like brace until about six

years ago. It was incredibly painful and difficult to get comfortable.

Finally, in a moment of desperation, I switched to an elastic abdominal support

system. After more than 30 years of wearing a turtle shell, it felt strange,

but is infinitely better!

T.K. Small

>

> I have a public folder here:

>

>

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=ea45327a6d5728ce#!/?cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA453\

27A6D5728CE%21178!cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA45327A6D5728CE%21174

>

> which contains some of our apparatus and inventions over the years.

>

> They include an invention for eucalyptus inhalations when my daughter has a

cold to loosen the junk, a wooden home-made stander to get her on her feet, a

wooden book-stand for reading in bed and a ramp to get her outside on the

terrace.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , you're right, the hard corset brace was really uncomfortable for her

- especially during our long hot summer - but she discarded that after her

spinal fusion at 8 yrs old (now she's 26) and hasn't used any support after that

though the lordosis-scoliosis has worsened and she leans to one side. Though

basically I think she's comfortable I try to buy her elasticated trousers which

she says provide some support for her lumbar region but now you mention your

elastic abdominal support system you've got me thinking about an elastic girdle

.... though that would be hot too in summer I imagine.

> >

> > I have a public folder here:

> >

> >

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=ea45327a6d5728ce#!/?cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA453\

27A6D5728CE%21178!cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA45327A6D5728CE%21174

> >

> > which contains some of our apparatus and inventions over the years.

> >

> > They include an invention for eucalyptus inhalations when my daughter has a

cold to loosen the junk, a wooden home-made stander to get her on her feet, a

wooden book-stand for reading in bed and a ramp to get her outside on the

terrace.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

TK,

I tried an elastic one and it didn't offer enough support. My left rib cage

smashes into my left pelvis. How severe is your scoliosis? Mine was last

measured at age 14 to be 126+ degrees. Now it's worse. Are you willing to post

a pic? My hard-shell corset is falling apart and I had two new ones made that I

could never tolerate because the orthopedists inored important features I

pointed out that were necessary.

Thank you,

Alana of the Cranky Spine

>

> Hi , you're right, the hard corset brace was really uncomfortable for

her - especially during our long hot summer - but she discarded that after her

spinal fusion at 8 yrs old (now she's 26) and hasn't used any support after that

though the lordosis-scoliosis has worsened and she leans to one side. Though

basically I think she's comfortable I try to buy her elasticated trousers which

she says provide some support for her lumbar region but now you mention your

elastic abdominal support system you've got me thinking about an elastic girdle

.... though that would be hot too in summer I imagine.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Alana & ,

Below is a link to the actual product which I am currently using. However,

there are many different brands and models and, for the most part, they are not

that expensive. It is cheap enough to buy something and simply try it out. One

of the earlier/cheaper versions had vertical plastic supports. They were

digging into my side and I just took a razor blade and made a little slit and

removed them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F5WBEI

In addition to the elastic support, I have a specially made hard foam insert

that sits on my stomach, just below my rib cage. I call this my " beer belly " .

The beer belly provides focused energy right on my diaphragm. Before I had this

piece made, I used various washcloths folded or bunched up.

Later this evening, I will try to take a picture of my elastic support and beer

belly. However, I take no responsibility for any of the carnal responses that

these pictures may evoke.

Happy breathing,

T.K. Small

> >

> > Hi , you're right, the hard corset brace was really uncomfortable

> for her - especially during our long hot summer - but she discarded that

> after her spinal fusion at 8 yrs old (now she's 26) and hasn't used any

> support after that though the lordosis-scoliosis has worsened and she leans

> to one side. Though basically I think she's comfortable I try to buy her

> elasticated trousers which she says provide some support for her lumbar

> region but now you mention your elastic abdominal support system you've got

> me thinking about an elastic girdle ... though that would be hot too in

> summer I imagine.

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi a, yes the end piece is connected by a hinge and just folds down to

store it against the wall and hidden behind the curtain!

>

> Cool, I especially like the ramp for getting onto the terrace. Is that a table

> top with a " fold down " end piece? ~a

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: <julie.marlow@...>

>

> Sent: Sat, July 9, 2011 7:05:01 PM

> Subject: Re: sip-n-spoon-straws- other tips for daily life

>

>

> I have a public folder here:

>

>

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=ea45327a6d5728ce#!/?cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA453\

27A6D5728CE%21178!cid=EA45327A6D5728CE & id=EA45327A6D5728CE%21174

>

>

> which contains some of our apparatus and inventions over the years.

>

> They include an invention for eucalyptus inhalations when my daughter has a

cold

> to loosen the junk, a wooden home-made stander to get her on her feet, a

wooden

> book-stand for reading in bed and a ramp to get her outside on the terrace.

>

>

>

>

>