Tips and Tricks

SwirlyGirly · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 11:41 am Post subject: Tips and Tricks

Hello all,

I'm curious what tips and tricks do you have to get through your daily life on your "bad" days?

For me I live alone so I've gotten creative over the years.

I have a tow strap that goes between my mattress and my box spring. I use this to help me get out of bed on those days where I just can't seem to do it alone. (tow strap is a durable flat nylon material. Look it up online for a picture)

I have hard wood floors in my house so I have 2 office chairs at each end of the house for those days that I can't seem to make it down the hall. I just sit in the chair and weeeeee down the hall!

I replaced all my door knobs with lever handles. I can't seem to do well with regular door knobs even on a good day.

So what tips and tricks do you all have?
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~SwirlyGirly~
California
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sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

Well...

My laundry area is down stairs....so I bought a laundry bag instead of a basket. I fill it up and let it roll down the stairs. (gives me something soft to land on if going down the stairs doesn't work out well Laughing

) Then I can fill it with the clean folded clothes and drag it back up the stairs. (or get my dog to fetch it, but only if he's having a good day. He's elderly and not as spry as he used to be.)

I wear satin pajamas. Makes it easier for me to turn over at night and to sliiiIIiiIIiiide out of bed in the morning Smile

I have canes located through out the house. They come in hand.
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Oh look ... a cookie

SwirlyGirly · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:16 am Post subject:

Ohhh I thought of another. I use masking tape to wrap my toothbrush and any other smallish thing that I have a hard time holding on to. They do make grips you can buy that help, but I find they often don't fit what I need them to. The masking tape you can make it as big as you need to, so you can have a better grip.
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~SwirlyGirly~
California
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Suzique · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject: Handy helpers

Swirly Girl and Sits_inthe_Corner and others: Another thing that is really helpful for "gripping" is the soft pipe insulation. My dad put some on the rounded handle of my canes, and it is much easier for me to grasp than the 1" diameter handle before the addition. The pipe insulation can be put on anything (well, not your toothbrush - haha) that is too small to comfortably grip, and you can seat it in place with a good tape - depending on your preference (I particularly like the cloth medical tape, but I have to replace it rather often).
My favorite things for "bad days" are the comfort baskets that I make up when I am feeling pretty good for use when I am not. This includes a favorite lotion for massaging painful hands, knees, and feet, books that I have chosen for relaxation (variety, as my needs change with my moods), a little cd player and soothing music, candles with really pleasant scents, etc. My husband can put one of the baskets by my bed when he leaves for work, and I can set up my own little "spa" in my room to relax and comfort myself. Setting these up ahead of time keeps me from having to go around searching for the items when I am feeling too ill to do so, and my husband doesn't have to try to locate the items, either.
I purposely do not read those special books when I am at my best, so that I have something really special to look forward to when I am feeling yucky. If you are not a reader, you can do the same with a video, or a puzzle, crosswords puzzle book, etc. Just a special something to distract you from how awful you are feeling!
This is a wonderful idea of a thread, and I love the things you guys wrote about. I hope others chime in, too.

Susan

mnjodette · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

Oh, these are great ideas! I love the 'pamper yourself' baskets, Susan! You're so clever to plan that well.

I'm just starting to have a lot of trouble with my hands - I've been lucky with only a small amount of joint pain until the past few months. My hands are getting pretty bad and some of these ideas will really help.

We have a house with 3 floors - master bedroom on the upper level; most living space in the middle; laundry and where we watch TV on the lower level. I try to keep a set of anything I need (cleaning things, reading materials, pens, paper, over-the-counter meds) on each floor. Saves me from having to go up and down stairs when my legs aren't cooperating.

Anyone have good ideas for using a keyboard? My hands are starting to really ache when I have to key in a lot of text - and I write grants for a living....kinda' hard to avoid! (At least online here I can just type a little at a time...)
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"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." Lord Byron

SwirlyGirly · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject:

Susan I love your pamper yourself idea! I'm definitely going to try that one!

Jody, Have you ever looked into voice recognition software? Last time I tried one (over 5 years ago) they were still kinda buggy. I always had to go back over a document to check for errors (things like using the wrong "there, their, they're"). But considering the advances in technology today they should have improved some. You might want to try some out.
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~SwirlyGirly~
California
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Oluwa · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject:

Jody,

Though I have the same issues with my hands on the keyboard...I haven't set it up, but Windows Vista has a Voice Recognition Program that came with my new PC...

I haven't because well, brain dead...and I don't know if I have a microphone that will work with the program...maybe I will investigate this weekend while my husband is home..

It says you can dictate text into documents..almost anything.

Rob uses one..hey Rob...does it work for anything?

TIP...

OXO Good Grips has great utensils for the kitchen. Big handles. I love the Locking Tongs...takes the pressure off from squeezing.http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?section=10064&item=46711&minisite=10024&respid=53057

Also I have one of those OXO soap dispensing scrub wands with a round sponge on the end too to wash dishes. Big handle, extra sponges can be bought. Two to a box.. Love it. My hands can't hold a rag wash properly..http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?section=10043&item=47321&minisite=10024&respid=53057

I also use a a vegetable brush to scrub my pans with....

The OXO peeler wasn't a hit..not sharp enough...

ah...more to come...

L.,
Oluwa

mnjodette · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject:

You know, the voice recognition thing is a great idea. I don't know why I didn't think if that. We're just shopping for a new notebook computer. I'm sure I can find one that will listen to me! Very Happy

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"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." Lord Byron

TERIOD · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

mnjodette · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:49 am Post subject:

Thanks, Teriod - Looks like just what I need! Have you used these?

Jody
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"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." Lord Byron

hatlady · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 11:57 am Post subject:

Some of these tips are ones I hadn't thought of, thanks so much! My SO has MS, as many of you know, and she's always having hand trouble - I'm going to get some insulation for her canes and her walker.

As far as the kayboard, I've seen many "ergo" keyboards that look a bit more hand-friendly, if the voice recognition thing doesn't work. I do know those programs have improved a lot - so maybe that's something to look into.

I still use the baskets for clothes - but don't fill them as high. And getting the basket back downstairs? Well, I yell "BANZAIII!!!" and give 'em a toss. Makes a wonderful clatter. They wait for me patiently at the bottom. Laughing

OXO products are fabulous - I bought their can-opener thing-ee, but found that I STILL had problems - as I couldn't grasp the jars while I was using the thing-ee to twist the lid. Well, a strap-clamp worked just right. Clamp in one hand, thing-ee in the other, twist and voila'!

Amazing how creative we get. And it is so fabulous to share our little "AHA!" moments.
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~"I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe." (Dalai Lama)

rob · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

Hey everyone,

Yes, I've been using voice recognition software on my computer for a few months now. It's part of the Windows Vista that came with my computer. I have an HP Pavillion Entertainment PC, and it has a microphone built in. I don't know if others have that though. It's really easy to use and understand. Didn't take long at all to get used to it. What I'm writing right now is all from me speaking. Sometimes I still type manually, but on the days where my hands are not working well, I use the voice program. It will also read everything on the page for you as well, and even say good morning! It also can curse like a sailor. I got a rather raunchy joke from my father one day, and the computer read it. There's something really funny about hearing a female computer voice rattle off four letter words.

mnjodette · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

Rob, that's so funny - I chuckled thinking about the nice, female voices they use on those programs telling a raunchy joke! Laughing

My husband said the VRS has come a long way and we can certainly have that capability on a new notebook. I'm anxious to get that! First thing I'm going to do is send myself a raunchy joke! Wink

Hatlady: I have some of the OXO things - they are great. I've also got some of those ridged-rubber jar opener things that help. But, if it's a new jar, really tight - they just don't cut it.

Jody
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"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." Lord Byron

TERIOD · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

Suzique · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: vista

Hey, Everyone, Don't know what the health and human services area of your state offers for each of you, but many states have assistive devices that are approved to purchase for people who are disabled (and you do not have to be on social security - just get a doctor's letter stating that you need it, Jody). The voice recognition software is one of the programs that is offered by some. I am getting it paid for through the college where I am a student, but the ADA advisor told me that some disability services offer them to people who are not students, too. You might check into it, Jody, if you don't want to purchase Vista (which has the software built in, I understand - Rob??), because the software individually is like $900, I think. I am anxious to hear more about the Vista software, Rob, and it sounds like Teriod is, too. You might start a thread on it, and maybe others will comment, as well. I am considering purchasing it for my big computer (I use my lap top when in bed or feeling really badly, so that is where I plan to put the voice recognition software), as part of an upgrade we are planning - it is a year old, so already an antique! haha
Thanks for the upbeat comments, everyone. This is a great thread!

Susan