[January]

Due to a chest injury, my Dr informed me that I can no longer lift things to do my shopping, wash my clothes or clean my apt. He tried to make me get a roomate so I'd have help. Well, that's not going to happen. I know no one who needs a roomate. My brother and neice both refuse to help me shop, do my laundry or anything else. I have to wear a brace now and even it is very hard for one person to hook properly.

I am eligible for a social services program but I have to wait six months before I can be accepted. So I'm on my own.

I drove around in shock for hours after the Dr told me I had no choice but make major life style changes and that I might as well accept it. It really made my depression and fears worse, thus I feel I can put it here in this forum instead of in the Health forum.

I've decided to take a proactive path and ask all of you for advice and tips on making my housework, etc, easier so I don't lift and pull on things.

Here's what I've figured out:

I am having the check out clerks to pack my bags extremely lightly. I have a buggy that I can come in and get and put my bags in instead of carrying them inside. I bought a mop to use to clean the bathtup and shower, but I'm not sure that's going to work. I've got to do something. I can't stand a groady tub! ick! I also bought a swiffer mop and cleaning pads so I don't have to wring a mop or carry a bucket of mop water. I need to find a box to sit my trash can on so I don't have to bend over so much to lift the bag out of the can. I can also put the trash bag in the buggy and push it down to the trash room.

I have no ideas about making the vacuuming easier.

The brace makes it most painful to reach into the dryer to get out my clothes. I don't have any ideas there. I have moved my skillets out of the oven so it doesn't hurt when I need to lift one. If I get down to get something out of the bottom cabinents I can't get up and I have no ideas about how to make that better. I have very little cabinent space so I don't have anywhere to put the things that are in the lower cabinents.

Me bed and mattress sit on the floor and I don't have a bedframe. It really hurts when I have to push to stand up. I plan on going to the Mission tomorrow to see if maybe they have a bedframe, but I don't know how in the world I'd get it home. I have a small car... Well, finding it is the first step, I guess. I also hope they have a recliner. I need one very much to take the stress off my chest when I sit.

Any and all cleaning and general tips will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

Jan

[Greenleaves]

Gentle *hugs*

I'm so sorry you have to go through that. It sounds very stressful.

Is there a church or something who can send volunteers to help you clean once in a while?

I hope you find some help.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

See your Pm's and maybe some ADD place can lead you somewhere a call cannot hurt

[hereiam]

(((((Jan))))

living in a dorm, i have little to no advice for you. i dont really clean, or shop, or lift things, etc. but my heart goes out to you, you strong ol' woman!

[January]

((((((((( Green ))))))))))))))

Thank you so much. I'm going to call the Salvation Army tomorrow and see if they have any ideas.

Hugs,

Jan

[January]

((((((((((( Sleeps ))))))))))

Thank you for the pms. What is an ADD place??

Hugs,

Jan

[January]

((((((( Miss )))))))))

Just knowing you're pulling for me helps a lot. Yep, I'm a strong 'ol woman!

Love and hugs,

Jan

[SeptemberMorn]

Jan, about all I can tell you is do as much as you can sitting down; like taking the clothes out of the dryer. Can you fold them right there? Then you can carry small loads to where they need to be. There are gizmos at the stores that will hold hangers with clothes on them... this is so you don't have to raise your arms too high. Taking things our of your cabinets will be easier, too. For the high cupboards, you might try getting yourself a "grabber." It's a handle with a long extention and "pinchers" at the other end. They're not too good for heavy stuff, though. You might want to keep flour, coffee, etc on top of your counter.

For the walls of the tub and shower there's a spray that you can use to keep gunk from sticking to the sides. For the floor of the tub, I'd say just run more water to rinse the soap skum down the drain. Maybe you could even spray the floor of the tub so it doesn't hold on to the soap scum but make sure it doesn't make it slippery!

Use a smaller trash can for your kitchen.

I'm not crazy about my Swiffer mop. The pads go dry really quick, so what I did was buy white shop towels at Home Depot and I hook those to the dry Swiffer handle. I spray my floors with floor cleaner and mop that way. I can then either use a clean towel to rinse or rinse the towel I used to mop with to rinse. I do this from a SITTING position, but it's still not easy on your torso. You can vacuum from a sitting position, too, so that you aren't bending. Take much smaller swipes at your rug. Roll or pull the vacuum, don't lift it!

If you can, you might invest in a desk chair with casters. That's what I used before I got my power chair. That might make moving around in the kitchen and doing your laundry a lot easier. No bending and straightening up!

What's under your rugs? You suppose you could get the landlord to remove them? It would be much, much easier to just push a Swiffer around once a day or so than to vacuum!

How long are you going to have to wear the brace?

I hope this helps.


Aren't you on Disability?? I don't remember. Your Medicaid Card can pay for some of the things you will need.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

Lmao JAN you know me typing with one finger eating with the other hand.....I meant there must be even online a site for americans with disabilities and that would maybe lead you with some help...But I see Sept had more awesome ideas ...she cannot make waffles like me though

[LMo]

Wow, Jan. I'm so sorry. What a nightmare

You received some great ideas here. I don't have much to add except that you appeal to the kind folks on Craigslist to deliver the stuff you need to you. Yes, you'll probably get flamed for "asking too much", but there are samaratins who will come to your aid and deliver a bedframe, supplies, or whatever it is you need. Craiglist is an invaluable resource if you're willing to give it a go.

Grocery stores are starting to offer online shopping and delivery service, often free with a minimum purchase. I tried to find some in your state but didn't find any. However, I bet you could find someone on Craigslist to meet you at the car who will carry your groceries to your door.

Ok, I'll stop shoving Craigslist at you now. But I really have met the kindest people on it.

Do you have a dog? Maybe make panniers so you can have it carry groceries?

[January]

Hi Tomi,

Thank you for the great advice. I never even thought about sitting down to get the clothes out or to get into the cabinets! What a great idea!

I have to go do the laundry on another floor to do my clothes, but they have chairs in there. I could scoot one over and sit down and try to reach into the dryer.

The pick up thingie is a good idea, too. I think my neice has one, but I don't know if she'd let me use it. I can ask.

What floor cleaner do you use? Do you just pour it on the floor and then spread it? I'll try to use the bathtub spray to keep the shower and tub clean. That will help.

The manager won't take my rug up. The only way I could change anything would be if I payed for it all myself. I wish I could have a lineolum floor. It would be much nicer than what I have and much easier to clean.

The Dr says I'll have to wear the brace forever, but I'm going to go talk to my surgeon and see if he can "tack" things back in place. The brace hurts my shoulders, back, sides and chest. I am having trouble keeping one of the straps snapped. Mom gave me a wide ace like thing that she used when she had broken ribs. Maybe I can use that, too and maybe it will hold things in better. You know the hard plastic "Y" looking thing that bass drummers wear to carry their drums? That's exactly what my brace looks like. The long part of the "Y" goes right down my sternum and the prongs go over my shoulders. They had to put a foam block in the sternum part to help keep the pressure on the right spot so the brace sticks out about four or five inches there and of course it sticks out over my shoulders. Don't misunderstand, I have friends who have cp and this is so minor compared to what they've had to wear... I am humbled by them and other people who have it much, much worse than I do. It does hurt though.

I have had to tell Friend Cher that I can't take her places anymore. I can't lift her wheelchair into my car anymore. We tried day before yesterday and I just can't do it anymore. I hate it. I feel like I'm letting her down even though the rational part of me says I'm not. She says she is not having some care giver come and help her and I just can't do it. I can't even go buy her groceries for her and bring them in... She's eligible for immediate help, but I don't know if she'll do it. We have such a good time. I will miss our outings so much.

Thanks Tomi. I appreciate everything.

Love and hugs,

Jan

[(JD)]

Hi again (((Jan))) first let me repeat how sorry I am that you are going to be adjusting the way you do things... I'm too sick to think of the resources, but there are plenty... for how to work smarter, not harder on things.

Second, you have to "think out of the box" to use a catch phrase of the day. There are no hard and fast rules and as soon as you are able to beging thinking that way, you will amaze yourself with different ways of doing things.

I don't use a trash can anymore. I hang grocery/plastic bag from a counter drawer knob.
Clothes don't have to be folded... and sheets and pillowcases don't complain if they're stuffed into the linen closet in a wad.
There are reach extenders available... get one with an extension to allow support from your elbow, if your hands aren't strong... getting things from anywhere
is almost easy.

Have the grocery person bag light, plus have them put the items in your trunk.. both perishables and heavy items closest. I have fed my dog from the trunk of a few weeks until I was able to move the rest of the food...meaning, you can leave some items in the trunk for a while.

Not only can you raise your bed into a frame, they have risers to put under the frame legs, which will raise it another 5" I'm tall, and it makes all the difference in the world to be able to "just" stand up from bed (or on a bad back day, get out backwards.)

One thing I've been advised to do, but haven't yet, is to buy a small refrig/freezer for the bedroom, for the days I have trouble walking to kitchen.. and needing ice packs etc...

Grab rails in bathrooms are a must. My commodes are also handicapp height, which is another "saver." But you can at least get "arms" for the commode...normally they are screwed onto the bolts, but I can't do that..it works fine lying on top of the area behind the seat.

A change in the clothes I wear was also necessary... I can't always pull something over my head...nor do buttons... various clothes (and a nifty buttoner) helps.. plus larger than life ones.. (as you probably already know about) Shoes that slip on, but stay on... front hook bras if any ... and no, you don't always have to wear underclothes if you have trouble getting them on! lol

Keeping batteries handy for all the remote controls (tv, stereo etc) (I keep near bed) because guaranteed, your worst day will be the day the remote dies.

There are cleaners that don't require scrubbing (scrub free is one) foams and cleans as it goes... a shower head on a tube (yeah I know there's a name for it) helps rinse...and also coupled with a shower chair, makes that task doable. Oh...and a small upright vacuum for bathroom floors... but NO WAY on the bigger guns... I have a kirby with a transmission and the PT says no (and I agree...the pain isn't worth it.)

If you don't already have a handicapp placard, or tag...time to get one. Not only saves you steps, but gives you room to maneuver when you do get someplace.

There's so much more... really, I think if you even called the local hospital occupational therapy dept they might have at least brochures or hints for you.

I found that dust is a protective covering for furniture. TC

[January]

Thank you, Sky.

Everything you said makes tons of sense. I need to definately get that bed off the floor and those risers sound perfect. I'm six ft tall and almost all legs, so I definately need a tall bed.

How to pack the trunk is a wonderful suggestion. I would have never thought of that!

You're right about the folding of clothes. You really are... It's hard to give up old habits, but you're right.

My bathroom came with bars in it, so I'm cool there. They really help. I don't often have to use the bars, but they've saved me more than once in the shower and in standing up. When I first moved in I thought, "Ugh, how ugly. I don't need that!" Now I'm so grateful they are there.

Thank you for all your good suggestions. I'm so sorry you're stuck in the same boat. How are you feeling today? Can you call your Dr. today?

((((((((((((((((( Sky ))))))))))))))))))))

Hugs,

Jan

Dear sweetie, I don't have any suggestions but I'm glad other people here did.

I am so terribly sorry for what is happening to you. I don't know why you are in this condition but I wish you were not.

((((((((((((((((((January)))))))))))))))))))))))))

[red_rose]

January,
Have you checked with your doctor about a home health care aide?, Or other opsions, It sounds like you have it all figured out. I hope it all works out for you .
My best wish for you.
RedRose

[wanttoheal]

((((((((((((january)))))))))))) I'm so sorry you are struggling. I don't have much advice, but I wanted you to know I care.

[SeptemberMorn]

Jan, I use a laminate floor cleaner because that's what I have throughout, but you could use a floor cleaning agent that doesn't require rinsing. Doesn't Lysol, that pine cleaner or Mr. Clean have one? I'd mix a weak solution in a spray bottle and just SPRAY as you go long so your floor doesn't get too wet.

To avoid streaks, I go ahead and rinse my floor since I have soft water. You'll have to see what you think of your floors once you pick a cleaner.

[January]

((((((((((((((( time0 )))))))))))))))

Thank you so much. Sweet kindess helps so much. You'd be surprised!

Hugs,

Jan

[January]

(((((((((((((((((( Red Rose ))))))))))))))))

Thank you so much. I am working on getting an aid. Because I have Social Security Disability instead of Medicaid, I have to wait six months for help. Weird!!

Thank you for your good thoughts and wishes. They help!

Hugs,

Jan

[January]

((((((((((( Tomi )))))))))))))))

Hopefully I'll go to KMart tomorrow and look at the cleaning products. This is turning into an adventure, isn't it?

Thank you!!!!

Love and hugs,

Jan

[bebop]

Jan was this a car accident? I don't remember if you said that or not. I broke my foot one time and thank goodness I had an office chair with no arms on it and I rolled around the house to transport my laundry from laundry room to bedroom!! worked great!

[SeptemberMorn]

Hey, Jan! While I was looking for things that might help you get around and make things easier I came across this. What do you think??

When I was thinking of buying something to help me, someone sugested one of these...

[LMo]

I use vinegar/water in a spray bottle on my hardwood floors instead of a rinse-off cleaner...

[(JD)]

Ok, my tip of the day: work directly in front of whatever it is you have to do. Don't side up to something, don't turn to talk while doing something... face it straight on (whether sitting or standing.) Amazing how many muscles you can mess up/spasm by being off center.

Also, don't lean more on one foot/leg than the other, but balance evenly on both feet.

I think that dog that I used to have eons ago, that would eat dust, would be handy.

[SeptemberMorn]