[JimG]

So, last week, we traveled to Illinois and Iowa for my wife's dad's funeral/burial.

Because of all the driving, flying, sitting, and sleeping in crappy beds (when we did sleep), I was so tired/fatigued/stiff even in my upper body that I could not get myself up off a toilet to pick up my pants and had to have my wife come into the public men's room a few times to help pick me up.

It was the first time I've encountered this difficulty.

Any tricks of the trade?

Is there a video somewhere that demonstrates how to get dressed while sitting on a toilet?

I managed to get my underwear on while sitting on the toilet, but I couldn't get my pants/shorts up.

One time in particular, I had to use a non-ADA compliant restroom and by the time I gave up and called my wife for help......I had managed to get my legs caught between the toilet/wall and the rest of me laying flat out over the chair.

I told her she was going to find the scene pretty funny.......as I did.

I'm sure this has been asked many times before, but I did a search and didn't find anything.

This post has been edited by JimG: 07 September 2010 - 08:32 PM

[pinkcloud]

Hi JimG

Yeah - you could learn to use your feet. - I can pick up pens from the floor and even pennies with my toes. I have not been able to bend for ages. Its real cool actually and even do it when I am out and about in public if I have me flip-off shoes on.

I often get to the stage even now when I cant pull me trousers up on the loo if I too tired - I just ask some one or leave them on the floor if I am at home or use me walking stick of gripper to pick them up... bit like hook the duck at fun fairs.

If the spine dont want to bend it dont want to bend - I sure dont argue with me spine no more- it always wins the argument

[mellowgator]

jim g,

it makes it a lot easier if you don't wear underwear. i would also redress in your chair vs the toilet. you can get better leverage this way.

mellowgator

[LeahC]

I am complete so never get up to pull my pants up, don't pull the below the knee to start. I lean from side to side and pull my clothes up on the lifted side of me, then do the other side like a weeble!

[rue2you]

mellowgator, on 07 September 2010 - 09:44 PM, said:

jim g,

it makes it a lot easier if you don't wear underwear. i would also redress in your chair vs the toilet. you can get better leverage this way.

mellowgator

This is what I was going to suggest also. It is much easier for me to dress in the chair. I pull everything down in the chair, transfer to toilet, do my thing, get done, and reverse the order. At least if you get stuck, you know you will be on clean territory (your own chair) vs. a public restroom toilet!

[tyvin]

I stopped wearing underwear the last time I nearly killed myself attempting to get them back up and had to endure a couple of hours of uncomfortable sitting because I didn't get them up all the way and I wasn't at home ( ). So all the underwear has been burned. But coming from a man's point of view depending on whether you wear briefs or boxers....

Anyway; I would much rather get dressed on the toilet then the chair. On the toilet you can move back and forth pulling up the pants and you have a space underneath and that toilets not going anywhere. As for pants I only order gaucho style (high waist) stretch which have no zippers or buttons or pockets. That way it's just me and the material which makes it alot easier but I can't remember the last time I saw a guy in gaucho style pants .

There are yoga pants by Champion and Hanes that are great for women....... The material is made from cotton made to wick (Champion also has a little underwear square in theres as they are considered work-out pants).

Anyway; your story touched my heart and reminded me of all those times when I wish I had someone to call but had to improvise on my own . Ah lessons well learned and earned. In the end isn't it the easiest to get the pants on in bed? But we the fortunate who can still pee and use the toilet need to learn how to pull them pants up when not in bed so loose the underwear wait, wait! Don't you guys have it easier with the peeing part because you don't have to pull it all down? Let me think now. Hmm kind of uncomfortable trying to aim for the urinal from a wheelchair; could get a little messy . If I wasn't going to take a dump I would carry some type of urinal (they rinse really easy) or something like that maybe the disposable camper type stuff bags. Does that make sense?

As for your wife finding you in compromised positions; it kinds of breaks up the monotony doesn't it?

As for those disgusting public restrooms (how in the hay can women be so filthy!); anyway, I carry wipes in my bag and clean the seat before sitting on them. I take my time because I have to take my gloves off and everything else so I give myself at least 20 minutes or more to take a whizz.

This post has been edited by tyvin: 08 September 2010 - 02:58 AM

[pinkcloud]

Underwear - I agree, never wear them. Didnt want to post this on here but seeing as ya all do ...... I am pleased I am not alone

[nomis]

As has been said, transfer back into your chair to get dressed - much safer and easier. Just make sure your trou are at least up around your knees when you transfer or you'll get tangled and also be troubled finding them to pull up. Alternatively, shed them and go au naturale for ultimate freedom and attention.

[chrisarnold6]

In the UK, no one looks askance if a spouse (or carer) goes into a proper washroom for the disabled. This may help. As a complete para, I try to make bowel care as foolproof as possible, but it in the case of self catheterisation my wife has helped where needed. Underware is a non-starter for many disabled, as it can easily cause skin problems, as well as making the tricky even trickier!

[JimG]

tyvin, on 08 September 2010 - 02:49 AM, said:

I stopped wearing underwear the last time I nearly killed myself attempting to get them back up and had to endure a couple of hours of uncomfortable sitting because I didn't get them up all the way and I wasn't at home ( ). So all the underwear has been burned. But coming from a man's point of view depending on whether you wear briefs or boxers....

Anyway; I would much rather get dressed on the toilet then the chair. On the toilet you can move back and forth pulling up the pants and you have a space underneath and that toilets not going anywhere. As for pants I only order gaucho style (high waist) stretch which have no zippers or buttons or pockets. That way it's just me and the material which makes it alot easier but I can't remember the last time I saw a guy in gaucho style pants .

There are yoga pants by Champion and Hanes that are great for women....... The material is made from cotton made to wick (Champion also has a little underwear square in theres as they are considered work-out pants).

Anyway; your story touched my heart and reminded me of all those times when I wish I had someone to call but had to improvise on my own . Ah lessons well learned and earned. In the end isn't it the easiest to get the pants on in bed? But we the fortunate who can still pee and use the toilet need to learn how to pull them pants up when not in bed so loose the underwear wait, wait! Don't you guys have it easier with the peeing part because you don't have to pull it all down? Let me think now. Hmm kind of uncomfortable trying to aim for the urinal from a wheelchair; could get a little messy . If I wasn't going to take a dump I would carry some type of urinal (they rinse really easy) or something like that maybe the disposable camper type stuff bags. Does that make sense?

As for your wife finding you in compromised positions; it kinds of breaks up the monotony doesn't it?

As for those disgusting public restrooms (how in the hay can women be so filthy!); anyway, I carry wipes in my bag and clean the seat before sitting on them. I take my time because I have to take my gloves off and everything else so I give myself at least 20 minutes or more to take a whizz.

Most large public Men's rooms have urinals for little boys (or big men if you catch my drift) that are lower than my seat.

I just roll up to them, unzip and go.

Last week at the car rental return, I had to sort of pee "up" into the urinal as there was someone camped out in the only stall (handicapped though) and I couldn't wait for him to get out.....I had to go.

Unfortunately.....you can only relieve the pressure that way....you can't completely empty the bladder. At least I can't.

Yes....I am SOOO very fortunate to have a supportive wife who will do anything for me, including willingly walk into men's rooms to help me if I need it.

On a positive note.....

After a few nights at home in my own bed, and sleeping 8-10 hours/night, things are getting easier.

I still need her help occasionally at the end of the day when I'm getting tired, but I'm starting to be able to stand up with my walker again.

I was going to start back on the anabolic steroids again this week, but decided to hold off on it until October as we have the first shipment of a product to start her new business arriving tomorrow, and we're kicking it off at a trade show in Las Vegas on the 24/25th.

We have SO much work to do between now and then to get things ready that physical therapy is being put off until afterwards, and I don't want to waste the steroids until I can start back up again.

[rue2you]

Jim,
Did I miss something? Did you have a back set of some sort?

[wheeliebear75]

LeahC, on 07 September 2010 - 10:05 PM, said:

I am complete so never get up to pull my pants up, don't pull the below the knee to start. I lean from side to side and pull my clothes up on the lifted side of me, then do the other side like a weeble!

I'm not a complete but I get mine on this same way. Also (I've got 2; an inside chair with NO camber so I can get around in my mobile home, my out&about chair has some camber to it + removable arm-rests) when in public restrooms I find the arm-rests on my chair come in quite handy for dressing......I can often just push up with my elbows on them & get my pants up a bit faster than shifting 1/2 the weight from side to side. But when I was a bit fatter from lack of activity and I wasn't getting sick from the pain I was actually quite large for my height; 5'2 @ 190lbs made it WAY harder to dress & even bath....not that I'm suggesting that YOU are overweight but it does make it easier the less YOU there is to lift.

[JimG]

rue2you, on 09 September 2010 - 02:20 AM, said:

Jim,
Did I miss something? Did you have a back set of some sort?

Do you mean, have I gone backwards of late?

Yes, I have.

My PTs and my surgeon's PA both warned me from the beginning that I could get worse before I get better as the leg muscles are still atrophying until they get a full signal.

OTOH.....my toes came alive back in mid-July (they'd been dead for a year and a half at least) and I'm able to get some increased quad activity when sitting, so I'm not panicking.

As far as upper body strength....yes, I've lost much of that as well as the PTs backed me off from the PT regimen I was doing, b/c I was always too fatigued/tired and falling down frequently.

They thought it was worth the decrease in strength to lower the PT in order to give my nervous system more rest, which by the toes coming back to life quickly after I did that, gives the theory some credibility.

Unfortunately, it makes mobility and taking care of myself a little more difficult in the short term.

[rue2you]

So. let me see if I have this right. Are you a walker or are you in a chair all the time? If you are not in the chair then all our advice about doing all this stuff from your chair isn't helpful. Secondly, if you are a walker, and are falling a lot, do you have a chair that you can use? Thirdly, if you have a chair that you can use, would you consider using the chair to save your energy and then, of course, keep up practicing your walking but use the energy you saved to work out your upper body? Maybe every other day or so?

I may be way off base in what I think I am reading so forgive me if I am. I just know that they are starting me walking with full leg braces and the reality of it is that it flat dab wears me out! It is not worth using all of my energy to say I walked, when I could zip across the same area in 1/100th of the time! My PT told me they are "training" braces and they are not for functional walking because they are not realistic to use all the time all day in different floor surfaces and etc. We, of course, are hoping that along with the training of the braces that I will regain more function.

I just thought that if you are a walker, then the parallel might exist between your walking and mine. I just know it is extremely fatiguing. I'm sorry you are having trouble and I hope more function keeps on coming!

[JimG]

rue2you, on 09 September 2010 - 11:12 PM, said:

So. let me see if I have this right. Are you a walker or are you in a chair all the time? If you are not in the chair then all our advice about doing all this stuff from your chair isn't helpful. Secondly, if you are a walker, and are falling a lot, do you have a chair that you can use? Thirdly, if you have a chair that you can use, would you consider using the chair to save your energy and then, of course, keep up practicing your walking but use the energy you saved to work out your upper body? Maybe every other day or so?

I may be way off base in what I think I am reading so forgive me if I am. I just know that they are starting me walking with full leg braces and the reality of it is that it flat dab wears me out! It is not worth using all of my energy to say I walked, when I could zip across the same area in 1/100th of the time! My PT told me they are "training" braces and they are not for functional walking because they are not realistic to use all the time all day in different floor surfaces and etc. We, of course, are hoping that along with the training of the braces that I will regain more function.

I just thought that if you are a walker, then the parallel might exist between your walking and mine. I just know it is extremely fatiguing. I'm sorry you are having trouble and I hope more function keeps on coming!

It sounds like we're about equal in mobility.

I'm a walker and chair person, though the only braces I have are velcro straps from the toes of my shoes to my ankles for foot drop.

I use the walker around the house and office, and the chair for everything else.

I used to use crutches for outside the house, but after a couple of bad falls in July, I put those away until the legs get stronger (which they supposedly will) and use the walker.

I also have 3 flights of stairs to climb in our house that I'm able to do some on my own, and my wife has to help me some.....depending on how I feel.

This week, I've used my back-up cheapie chair around the office to save my strength, and with the extra sleep I'm getting......it's coming back in my upper body as well. I was just too fatigued from last week.

I want to walk as much as I can, b/c I really want to start going the other way, but I have to balance that with practicality of my environment and take the chair sometimes.

This post has been edited by JimG: 09 September 2010 - 11:53 PM

[rue2you]

Actually, I am not a walker at all - well, not functionally. The only "walking" I have done is in parallel bars with full leg braces locked in and with a rolling walker in the hallway at PT. It is really robotic looking! I have gained some hip flexor movement and slight thighs. I have been practicing in PT trying to keep my balance while holding on with one hand with the braces on. My biggest goal right now would be to get my thighs strong enough to keep my knees stable to be able to stand. Even walking that way is not an option. Just standing (without the braces) would be a maybe doable goal right now. I have been walking with braces with a walker too up and down the therapy hallway. I have walked 60 feet that way and then the spasms kind of take over and really get in my way so we have to rest awhile. Stairs? They are done one at a time on my backside!

I am hoping for more return and that is what we are working on. I wish you much energy!!

[JimG]

rue2you, on 10 September 2010 - 02:53 PM, said:

Stairs? They are done one at a time on my backside!

I had to do that last night on one of the flights.

About half-way up, my right knee buckled and I fell down, and had to climb the rest of the way backwards up on my butt.

My wife then got me 3 stairs up on the next flight and picked me up on her back so I could stand and climb the rest of the way on my feet (and her shoulder).

She's figured out how to reach her arm in-between my legs and I sort of half-sit on her shoulder and we both go up....one tread at a time.

[qbounce]

I'm not going to look at ANYONE in a chair the same way EVER AGAIN, thanks to this thread.

Now, I'll see everyone underwearless and pantyless!!!

[Tetracyclone]

I can get pants up and down pretty well during the day, but at night when I am half asleep... well, i quit wearing underpants to bed as soon as i got home. I stand (often just barely), then pivot from bed to the port-a-pot. If I had to deal with clothing a lot of it would get wet.

This post has been edited by Tetracyclone: 11 September 2010 - 01:21 AM

[Wheelsonfire]

In relation to a male going commando.

Me tried all sorts of underwear, downside is you could get marked from crease lines, but I found them a necessity to keep the package held up, I tried going commando style but me packet near the pocket kept going down on leg of the pants, normally deciding all by themselves to go in different directions, both veg down one side and meat the other, very unsightly, especially when VERY noticeable.... Transferring was an experience as at times they would decide they wanna go walk about and sitting on them brings a tear to me eye....Damned if you do and damned if you don't

[pinkcloud]

[quote name='qbounce' timestamp='1284159980' post='182210']

Qbounce: Hey dont discriminate - I dont sit in a wheelie chair very much and I in the no-pants gang ..... Good luck for your operation too, I read it on another post

And wheels....... so much information here.......... I feel bad for you men, that sounds a rough deal

[Wheelsonfire]

pinkcloud, on 11 September 2010 - 11:15 AM, said:

And wheels....... so much information here.......... I feel bad for you men, that sounds a rough deal

Me takes the mick, they complain, I crack a joke, they don't understand, I give advice and it's too much info................Jeez

[tyvin]

Take a banana and 2 beefy tomatoes put em in your pants and try to go about all day. Yep, yep; I believe that would just about teach any females about the male anatomy and the challenge of placing the equipment in a pair of pants each day. If I was a guy I don't know if I would keep on wearing underwear. How about a custom made g-string? No, yes, maybe, It's just like the guy who wear boxers; I guess that it wouldn't be any different because the boxers don't package anything like the briefs do but if your used to the briefs...........It's just like the bust of the females. Some can go without and some can't. Personally.............

Oh qbounce I'm sure you'll recover and now you have a new fantasy aspect to your daily jaunts . I thought all men wondered if females are wearing underwear or not! Ya know part of the mystical magical male mind .

I did go temporarily blind after reading WoF's reply about the composition of his testicles but I know that is the craic (psst did I do that right?)

BTW; I will take this opportunity to say that the picture of Wof's place has a pentagram above the 2 green Sasquatches' that are fighting one another or are they trying to hug and that's not a large knife or is that a and he's just glad to see his mate. WoF you have a huge green Sasquatch with a raging hard on in your backyard! Quick get the torch blower you keep in that garage and defend your land. Good Gods man maybe just use the elephant gun you keep under your pillow at night Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh it's cumming!!!!!!!!!!!

I would put some type of disclaimer but everyone knows I'm............JK.

This post has been edited by tyvin: 12 September 2010 - 04:10 AM

[pinkcloud]

Me takes the mick, they complain, I crack a joke, they don't understand, I give advice and it's too much info................Jeez




[/quote]

Wheels...........How interesting Tyvin put the comparrison of a banana and two big beefy tomatoes...... Me is thinking that she also must have had an image of a big package.....Now you see why I didnt say TOO much information - I said SO much information

[tyvin]

Ohhhhhhhhhh pinkcloud you are killing me here .The analogy presented put an image of a single rotten hanging vegetable and an old, dried ball of meat with the anus sphincter attempting to make a salad out of the whole thing. Quite a tasty image I would say.

You are the one with the Freudian image barking upon that young mind relentlessly sprouting images against your will (or not).

Ya know what they say eh...........it's not the meat but the motion since you want to add a sexual connotation on this thread. Hey; Whatever floats your boat.

I'm still trying to figure out what kind of salad dressing to make for the party.

Have you ever heard of projection?

[dangerousdave]

On a more serious note - i have only had the one experiance
In Spain, in a truck stop (of all places)
The disabled loo had a loo, shower, standing hoist, hot air blower, shower chair, racks of towels, full length bench, alarm pull chord all round the bottom of the wall, foot urinal for emptying leg bags.
If there is a heaven, then this was it

[pinkcloud]

Have you ever heard of projection?
[/quote]

ahhh projection - no anxiety on my part Tyvin. I actually prefer the description of banana and tomatoes myself I'll stick to that atttractive image admittedly so, and take full ownership of this - I prefer Rogers to Frued myself.

Working order or not, huge or small - its the mind which controls the body part thats attractive. Not the motion.

[Wheelsonfire]

I feel violated............................................................................................

Thanks ladies, it's been a while

[pinkcloud]

Wheelsonfire, on 12 September 2010 - 05:36 PM, said:

I feel violated............................................................................................

Thanks ladies, it's been a while

[wheelchairbling]

Ahem! As a newcomer, I ought not to comment on people's tomatoes (or other fruits!) So I'll just give serious, sober, advice...

I wonder about dressing aids? Have you tried sewing loops, as long as you need, on the sides of your pants? You could tuck them inside when you were finished.

And there's a doodad you can buy, kind of like suspenders with a handle. Or if you wore suspenders, you could leave them attached in front and use them to pull the pants up!

I remember back when I was an aide, I took my student into public men's rooms all the time. I would knock and call before we went in. Then if the door opened while we were inside, I would call, "I'm assisting a disabled person!" Most men waited, but it's funny that a few didn't care...they would just come in and use the urinal while I was there. Well, if it didn't bother them, it didn't bother me!