Trying to be OS with a Chronic Health Condition

prepareathome

Rosetta92 wrote: »

T

I know you are banned from lifting but how about one of those grabber things if you haven't already got one, so very handy for picking up light items if you drop them, at least you don't need to bend down.

Can't remember if batch cooking was mentioned - cook up things you would do in oven and freeze them so you just have to zap them in the microwave. Hard I know to do enough for so long but at least will help in the early days. Its horrible when you can't use the oven, when we had kitchen done we bought separate oven and hob and oven is fitted on wall.

Could you afford to buy one of those mini ovens, they start at around £30 to use ( I had one for the 4 years before getting kitchen done as had gone about a year or so not able to use oven on cooker and it was brilliant did everything in it including baking, mine was £99 as I knew it would be in use for maybe years and it was )

For sweeping up kitchen floor etc., I would invest in a long handled brush and pan, I got one for £1.99 in Wilkinsons but that was about 3 years ago, its just right height and not heavy, and at last can judge where to stand to put rubbish in bin( well we use carrier bags hung on back door as no room for actual bin in kitchen) without dropping any on floor.

Maybe re-organise kitchen making sure everything that is kept in cupboards low down are at waist height ( for a while you might not be able to stretch ) even if it does mean sides are cluttered, its only till you are back to normal. Maybe a re-organisation of food cupboards so you don't find that herb, tin etc., is up on the top or bottom shelf.

Check on height of your couch in LR it might be bit low to get out of, so you might find it better if you raise it up a bit. Not sure how much raisers are I was using tins until OT adviser arranged to get me them, and they did fine. If your couch goes back a bit, as mine does, then you will want cushions also to keep you nearer the front so getting up easier.

Bed also is it low, again can it be raised. Are lamps, reading lights easy to reach?

Same with toilet, if so have you something you can use to help you get up. If walls tiled you can buy suction grab bars.

Things you might store elsewhere at floor level that you might want to use - not heavy things like vacumn cleaner which you cannot use anyway, maybe favourite books that are on bottom shelf of bookcase, knitting , sewing, card making equipment and stocks or whatever hobbies you have. You want everything at waist height.

Over the years I have slowly changed this whole house to suit me not being able to bend down or reach up to high, so everything being within my reach is so normal for me its hard to think what else you need to change. This is why my study is now so full there is only a small path from door to pc as most things used to be in loft but neither I nor hubby can get up there now.

Basically go into every room and see what you are likely to want over the next 6 months and is it with in easy reach without bending or stretching. I know not easy working out if you are likely to want an item so far in advance.

Summer clothes where are they stored, are they easy to get when weather gets warmer, also summer shoes and jackets.

Also are you likely to have people come to stay, is guest room easy to freshen up?

Never mind what you house looks like once you have moved everything so can easily be reached, its you living there not family or friends and they will not be around most likely when that particular item you were sure you wouldn't want is desperately needed. By Christmas it will all be back to normal again.

If you have the energy to give the house a good 'bottoming' before the op then it should be ok just for basic dusting and wiping for quite a while.

Oh yes how about a carpet sweeper, much lighter than a vacumn cleaner and handy just for a quite going over or crumbs on carpet.

Garden been mentioned by someone else, but remember you can grow herbs, salad leaves and tomatoes indoors.

Hugs

CurlyTop

Hi

In regards to those grabby things that pick things up off the floor or from a height you can't reach, HomeBargains had some in recently and I think they were only £1.99 or £2.99 if that's any help. I keep saying I'll get one but then my stubborn streak won't give in and then when I do need to reach either have to shout the hubby or get a chair to stand on. Next time .................. Best of luck

prepareathome

Daska, my IB to ESA form had to be in for Dec 7th and not heard a word yet, although I did have a strange visitor just before Christmas, he said he had come to check my bath seat and so took him up to the bathroom and he stood there and looked at it ( its kept out of the bath as hubby uses bath and he puts it in when I need it) and he said tell you what I will come back another time, get them to send you a letter saying I am coming and he went, its not that heavy, and only propped up either side of sink so if he really was there to check it he could have moved it easily, maybe I am paranoid but not had a letter from OH saying they will be sending someone out, heard nothing not a tweet from them or DWP so I do wonder if they were using it as an excuse to call on me out of the blue and see if they found me busy doing things I say I can't. He actually woke me up, I think it was about 11am and I had, had a bad night and I had to struggle downstairs and head was filled with cotton wool, he had to explain things about 3 times before I took it in, although I did remember to check his ID.

Pain levels have not been to bad lately ( not having to take to much Oxynorm for breakthrough pain, the Oxycontin in the morning dealing with it on the whole. Snag is fatigue has been a lot worse. Did manage to get out last month both to see Warhorse and to a meal with hubbys County Team and actually went to the hairdresser for first time in about 4 years. Snag is they wiped me out for days afterwards and I rested well before hand. So doing my rest, do a bit, rest life at moment but at least it means am getting bits done.

I gave up smoking last week - I have burnt holes in every bit of bedding I have and knew was only a matter of time before I actually set myself alight on snag is for all smoking is bad for you and others and hubby cannot stand the smell and kids want me to stop. I love smoking, and not easy to take your mind off the craving when stuck in bed to fatigued to do more than mooch around internet. So thought I would try one of those electronic cigarettes, so ordered one and it came last Tuesday and I charged it up and tried it, and found it not to bad, still had some cigarettes so smoked them, finishing last one at 7am on Wednesday 25th Jan and not had another since and although had some cravings I have just used electronic cigarette and been fine. Hubby said he expected me to try to cut down and use electronic Cigarette instead, but although I had not planned it, I really have found this just as good as smoking, yes still getting the nicotine hit, but at lower amount and nothing harmful to affect anyone else. I did pop to stop smoking clinic and my carbon monoxide reading was zero which is great and although not am approved method for stopping smoking ( the companies have to pay a fortune for licenses and hey pesto they will be approved) they are happy for me to use it and backing me all the way - they gave me some inhalator's for back up just in case I run out of cartridges and order not arrived as sadly can only get them on-line and cannot afford to buy a lot at once. So once I have used them for two weeks my running costs will be half or less or what it cost me in Cigarettes. Hopefully I will eventually stop even these but at moment I am still getting to enjoy my smoking ( they call it vaping) and not harming anyone and will not be setting myself alight - well not unless a battery explodes:p

One slight snag is past few days I have been starving ( not quite as bad today) and extra tired, been told both of these are normal when coming off the cigarettes even with still receiving some nicotine as body has to get used to not having all the extra rubbish it used to get along with this. Totally amazed at just how much they taste like the real things and how enjoyable they are, I know many people find they don't taste right so guess I was lucky with the particular one I went for.

Hugs and Love:A

daska

How bizarre! My understanding was that they don't have the right to do visits like that, did you try asking on the disability and dosh board?

I bought an e-cig kit for DS2's dad for Xmas. Expensive but I hoped it would make life more pleasant for everyone and it did for a while. He appreciated some of the convenience but complained about the lack of nicotine hit - but wouldn't order a stronger liquid - so has given up using them.:huh: So I'm back to nagging him about staying outside and chewing some gum before he knocks on the door, don't see why I should have to put up with it in my house when we're not even together. Stick with it, it shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks to adjust, but you might try upping the fat in your diet to cope with the hunger pangs.

Rosetta92

Prepareathome and CurlyTop - thanks for all these suggestions. Will definitely go in search of a grabby thing. Luckily my oven is at waist height so I can cook light things - need to make sure any sponge cakes are done properly and not heavy :rotfl: OH is very helpful when he is well enough, so he can handle any casseroles.

I've also started thinking about clothes, so am adding these thoughts in case they help anyone else:

- shoes - will wear slip ons so I don't need to bend down for laces and straps. Cotton Trader sale had these for half price http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/suede-slip-ons-ladies-comfort-fit/invt/aq10684/

- PJs and underwear - will be selecting to avoid site of scar :eek:

Hope this is useful, and thanks again for all the ideas.

Rosetta

prepareathome

Rosetta92 wrote: »

- shoes - will wear slip ons so I don't need to bend down for laces and straps. Cotton Trader sale had these for half price http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/suede-slip-ons-ladies-comfort-fit/invt/aq10684/


Rosetta

I have two pair of them one in black and watermelon and find them so comfy - wore the black ones when out today, no bending down, slip on easily, soft yet tough. I was lucky got mine in a sale about 6 months ago at £17 a pair. I find although they are swede they don't let the wet through and as the soles are quite thick they keep your dry if you walk through a puddle. Enjoy

Molly41

Another who anxiously awaits the arrival of the dreaded ESA renewal forms. Mine are due any day soon too!!

prepareathome

Molly41 wrote: »

Another who anxiously awaits the arrival of the dreaded ESA renewal forms. Mine are due any day soon too!!

I have had to stop worrying - with my form going back for Dec 7th and nothing heard since then I would been in total meltdown if I continued worrying. I was worrying before it went in and up till about Christmas then I thought why am I, there is zilch I can do about it. All I can do is when eventually medical date arrives is go and try and answer the questions as best I can then they will decide yes or no and then I will appeal if I have to. So now I am not saying its not niggling away at back of my mind, be impossible to stop it, but what I am doing is while I am still getting the Incap Ben is making sure everything is paid and everytime I shop add a few extra bits for my store cupboard, can't get much but its amazing how over the last few months how much has built up, not mountains of stuff, but enough for a few weeks - although I am remembering to stock rotate.

One thing I wanted to mention - if anyone here has bladder problems don't be shy about asking your doctor about sending you to a Continence clinic. I posted how I went and told the nurse in charge how I use Tena Lady pants when I go out but use pads at home as the pants are to expensive for me to wear daily and sometimes cannot afford them even for my odd trip out and I admit I loathe the pads and she said she would send me some to wear. I thought she meant a few pairs and yesterday I had a DHL driver deliver me two big cardboard boxes, I couldn't think what they were as hadn't ordered anything. When I opened them I found 7 packs of Tena Lady pants with each pack containing 18 pairs, enough for nearly 4 months if I was to wear them daily. I was speechless, its so good to know I have them, as I feel so much more comfortable wearing the pants, not so much like a baby in a nappy. I felt like crying when I saw them, daft but true its small things like that that help you feel you are still an adult and helps with your self respect which my bladder issue was wearing down.

So anyone out there who is struggling to deal with bladder issues and kept their self respect but money is stopping them please do ask to go to continence clinic. They are so nice and helpful, don't make you feel like a naughty child who isn't toilet trained.

Remember you bladder could be like mine, ok for a couple of days, a little bit leaky for others and a lot leaky sometimes. I do get some days when I don't have to wear anything as bladder behaving itself, but sadly those days are becoming less and less but usually its just I cannot move quick enough to get there, muscles will not work well enough to hold it in fully, so not soaked but still need to change normal underwear and get washed. I worry so much about smell I wash every time I use toilet even if no leaks, admit become almost neurotic about it, but done in past a lot of voluntary work with elderly who leaked and always smelt of stale urine and it was horrible for them and me, this was before such things as tena lady existed and their only option was a nappy, and who wants that if they can at all help it.

Its only a little thing in the great scheme of things but even so for me its a step in keeping my self respect. Now thanks to NHS I can wear a pair during the day and if going out in evening I can put on a fresh pair just as I would normal underwear. With all the cuts I don't know how long this service will be kept, but I am so thankful for it now.

I will ( I hope) be going out next Tuesday evening - no nothing to do with valentines day, hubby and I got out the habit of celebrating that 32 years ago as that was the day our first son was born and so as it was his birthday he came first and even when he grew up we never bothered going out, although I do try to do a nice meal, with table laid properly for us. This year though there is a meeting of the Woman's Institute - I went along in Jan as been trying to get there for a few years and they seemed a nice group of people. I was told they had only decided to cap the membership to 70 the previous Nov and they had 70 members but they thought one was leaving so they would let me know and I was phoned two days later to say yes one member has left so I can join. The night I went they had a talk from a Private Detective which was very interesting. So next week will pay and become a full member. I am hoping I will make the monthly meetings as it will give me something outside the house and at £32 for the year plus £2 each week its not expensive. Also hoping I can make some friends as admit I do get a bit lonely now and again.

Hugs to everyone:A

heavenleigh

This isn't a medical question just asking for any other stories of how to carry on being old style whilst being treated for depression????

On a good day i cook for hours, clean up with white vinegar, never use the tumble dryer even though it's there etc etc.

On the bad days, i can barely drag myself out of bed never mind cook and clean. resorting to 10p whoopsied pizza for dinner.

I enjoy cooking from scratch for hours on end when i'm feeling good and that's the way i want my kids to see me, that happy mummy in the kitchen that looks like a bomb site with all the pots and pans lying around.

I can't be the only old styler here suffering from this, any advice to how to make things easier would be grateful.

I already batch cook for lazy nights just dont know what else to do on my good days xxx

FairyPrincessk

I think there is a thread on how to be OS while coping with chronic illness that may have some more general suggestions.
I think the important thing to remember is that being OS is not about punishing yourself every time you use a modern convenience or don't make x from scratch. Its about finding a sustainable way of living for you. Try to be gentle with yourself--a 10p reduced pizza is still more thrifty than getting delivery. When you have more energy try to turn some of it into a legacy for days when you don't. Spend a little time on those days putting something in the freezer or make a list of very easy things to do on days when you just don't have much energy. Your kids will remember that you were brave to get treatment, that you loved them and that you were still there for them when things aren't perfect.