[mom23angels]

Ooo.. I forgot to add, I also received two books from the MS Expo today and one of them was MS: 300 tips for Making Life Easier. I haven't had a chance to really read it but I thought that would be a good thread for people to write some MS tips that they found useful.

Some tips:

1. It will be easier to pull slacks up and down if you wear underwear made of nylon instead of cotton.
2. Sometimes its easier to grasp a doorknob if you wind several rubberbands around the largest part of the doorknob.
3. Replace traditional light switches with rocker-panel switches that can be turned off with your arm or elbow.
4. Substitute a washcloth with a sponge or wash mitt which are easier to use if your hands are weaker.
5. If turning over or changing sleeping positions in bed is difficult, consider pushing the side of the bed up against the bedroom wall and installing a railing or grab bar on the wall. Anchor the railing to a stud and install it at the height that makes turning easier.

[braingonebad]

I use a lot of rubber bands. On my razors always. Great on water bottles - not just for grip but also so I know which one is mine. I sometimes use them on pens, if the pen is too skinny.

Also keep a phone with me all the time and a mini air horn by the bed. In case none of my family is close to the phone - out in the garage, in the basement, etc - and I'm in a bad way. I guess you get those at sports events.

[Riverwild]

The big fat Intuition razor for shaving. It fits my spazzing hands and gives me a solid grip for shaving without the hand cramps that go with gripping the small handled razors.

Soap on a rope...or in my case, soap in an onion bag. I cut a piece of the onion bag and make a soapie scrubbie with a piece of twine loop. I don't drop it, I don't have to bend over to retrieve it, and the rope keeps it right there where I need it.

Re-used pump bottles. I fill them with shampoo, conditioner, hand wash, stain remover, dish liquid, olive oil, syrup, etc. They are at hand, easily dispensed and cheap to refill. One good set of funnels fills them all.

Make the man cook! This works for me... I just gave up on cooking and cleaning when relapsing. I get on a tear every now and then but for the most part I live with what he can do, cause he is at home and I work 40+. So what if he doesn't fold the towels the way I want them...at least they are clean and he DOES make the effort.

The best part is I have a stud in bed already...

I just grab on to him when I want to turn over and when he isn't in the bed ( I work nights) I just call him in for a snuggle as an excuse and still use him to turn over...

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by mom23angels

1. It will be easier to pull slacks up and down if you wear underwear made of nylon instead of cotton.

This is SO true!! I had to go out and buy some nylon undies because all I had was the cotton ones. I don't really like nylon but it makes it so much easier to get dressed AND makes it much quicker to remove clothes when you're in a hurry!!

Ya'll getchur minds out of the gutter....I was referring to the bathroom!!

[AfterMyNap]

We had another thread on this awhile back, it's always helpful to share tips and tricks.

More here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread37273-4.html

[kicker]

Riverwild and HereKitty - you vixens, you.

That said, nylon is easier!! (I only have use of one hand and am in a chair, though I dress and toilet independently)

Use scissors to cut sandwiches when alone at lunch. Meat at dinner.

Out, order pasta with shrimp or something stuff one hand use or eatable with fork. If no choice DH does and I just accept i

[braingonebad]

Originally Posted by kicker

Riverwild and HereKitty - you vixens, you.

That said, nylon is easier!! (I only have use of one hand and am in a chair, though I dress and toilet independently)

Use scissors to cut sandwiches when alone at lunch. Meat at dinner.

Out, order pasta with shrimp or something stuff one hand use or eatable with fork. If no choice DH does and I just accept i

Now that you mention it, I'm very conscious of what I eat in public. I have more trouble swallowing when I'm not paying attention or am self conscious. And I sometimes have flinchy hands. Never know when I'm gonna start a food fight, so I never order stuff that requires a sharp knife when I'm with friends.

[kicker]

My cousin with Parkinson's was in his brother's kitchen with a large sharp knife trying to cut. Scary!!!!! Large arm jerks. YIKES!!!! Told him he belonged to the Cousin's neurolically impaired Club with me. His mom had started a regular counsin's club earlier. Both fell apart. He then got kicked out of assisted living for punching a male aide (who probably deserved it).

[AfterMyNap]

Velcro! I use it everywhere, even on the car's floor carpet to keep stuff within reach.

I also keep the cheapest, worst, waxiest potted lip balm handy to make my finger tips tacky for holding onto things, especially in the car. Sort-Kwik is too slimy for me.

Keep a phone within reach of your shower in case you need real help!

[kicker]

I have a cordless phone in my WC armrest bag held in with one side stick velcro all the time, a cell phone when I'm out.