Hi all...well, I've been in a continued flare for a few weeks now, and am starting to wonder if this is the new "me" I was wondering if anyone could offer advice regarding ladies' clothing styles that are TOS-friendly.

Here's my dilemna: I prefer to wear dresses, jumpers, and/or skirts, which my daughter usually sews for me. I am in need of some new things, and she and I have been discussing what would work best. I am increasingly finding getting things on and off over my head is very uncomfortable, but so is buttoning/unbuttoning something (even if the buttons are in front). In the jumpers I am now wearing, my daughter has sewn a strap of matching fabric to use as a sling...which works well, except it does pull somewhat on my shoulder. We were also thinking about some sort of an "apron" that would have a sling, a place to put my cell phone, and my cordless, so I can use the hands-free set, for around the house.

Anyone else find solutions to these logistical one-armed (some days no-armed!) clothing issues? Or any brilliant ideas? Or links to prior discussions on this? So far the button-down jumpers/blouses have worked best, but I'd like to not have to ask for help with the buttons if I don't have to. Zippers are not exactly my style, though...

I'd appreciate any ideas!

Donna

I also have a lot of issues with getting dressed. Pulling up pants, zipping them up and buttoning takes me about 15 minutes. The only things I wear that pull over my head are tank tops, so I "don't show through". Buttons on shirts are particularily difficult. I have one or two sweat shirt type things that have zippers. These are a lot easier to use. The problem is that I can't really go out with those on. I am definetley looking for something that is easier to wear. I want something that I can wear for my daycare, and going out.
If anyone has ideas, I'd love to hear them.
Tracy

I found a few websites for adaptability clothing?/
might be some ideas there-
http://www.silverts.com/products/ind...4&categoryid=2

oh here's a whole list of sites-
http://www.makoa.org/clothing.htm

When I returned to work I had vertually nothing. Friends were great and I ahd a few things they were generous to help with and buiolt from there.
So, I had two pair of pullon pants, elestic pants, no zippers anymore. I had really enjoyued the simplicty of buying a few long skirts from Kohl's that went with the tops, elestic bands pull over tops. The skirts were $15 I couldn't even buy the material for that. I also found on the maternity rack elestic skirts two sizes smaller below the knee great skirts and patterns.

I have three pull over silky feeling tops, with a fleese off white shirt jacket.
http://www.kohls.com/products/produc...=1168398568047

http://media.kohls.com.edgesuite.net...0&op_sharpen=1

http://media.kohls.com.edgesuite.net...0&op_sharpen=1

For the carry all's I have a bag or fanny pack. I have a hobo light material, or when I want things close to me a small square fanny pack or shoulder strap really small only big enough for a cell phone and mac card, and money, pen.http://www.ebags.com/osgoode_marley/...?modelid=74293

This has a shoulder tap and no weight, just small enough for what I need outside the purse.
It is from AAA. travel agency

I have a 2 1/2 inch heel open toe Hush puppy, nice type heel, and then a functional black slip on about 1 1/2 inch square base heel.
I do have a toss pillow sitting around but do not tell anyone I am disabled so I just leave it as something I raise my books to read during my visits. I supervise court ordered visits.

If I am entering info, I just tend to tag the pillow along and let it in my lap.
What is killing me is moving furniture and setting up tables for visits.
Sometimes someone is around to help, mostly I just load and push myself.
Di

I have just purchased the new Itec bra and undies from La Senza...or Victoria's secret in the US (large lawsuit about the fabric so La Senza used the bra despite VS having the patent so they bought La Senza...hope we get the gear as well)

anyhoooo......the bra is great like wearing nothing at all! Comfort galore and is a sexy treat to wear the undies are the same......

just a note.
take care all,
Victoria

Jo, I found the same website! I explored a few of the links...the one called "Easy Does It" has some pretty blouses and slacks that have Velcro closures, with buttons sewn on the outside to make them appear "normal". That would be so much easier! I think I've decided on blouses like that with elastic waist skirts--similar to the Kohl's skirts--and/or dresses with velcro to the waist. We can put the sling strap in the dress waist band...and maybe a fanny-pack type of thing for the phone.

I've been using front-closure bras for a couple of years now, although I wish I could find something with easier hooks to maneuver...I wear bigger sizes, and I think they have about 35 hooks the size of a pin head

I also switched to a much smaller purse...room for checkbook and cell phone and not much else...

Thanks for all the input...I'm glad to know I'm not the only one finding a problem with this, but wish none of us did Tracy, I hope you can find something you like, too...that second link that Jo posted has a bunch of different sites to explore, although a lot of the clothing is designed for people in bed or in wheelchairs, with back openings which would not work for us, of course!

Donna

Hi, I found that a turtleneck alittle snug actually keeps some of the swelling down, and then I layer it with a soft fleece which is very light. Good thing it isn't summer yet, as the turtleneck would look funny .

For tops that have pockets have you ever tried scrub tops? (the ones nurses wear).

I have lots of scrubs. I originally bought them when I was going to school to be a med tech, but they were so comfortable that I bought more and now I wear scrub pants alomst all the time, and I wear scrub tops when I need good pockets for things like my cell phone or wallet or keys.

I have my 'around the house' scrubs that I wear as pajamas, and then I have my 'leave the house' scrubs that are nicer and are similar to nice khaki pants but are a lot more comfortable and much much easier to wash and wear (no ironing, no need for a hangar).

I buy my scrubs in a much larger size than I need so that I have extra room for comfort - and since the pants are all drawstring it's easy to buy larger pants and then tie them to fit my waist and then fold the waistline over once or twice to hide the drawstring.

I also buy the tops in a much larger size than what I need. In the summer I wear a tank-top under the scrub top, in the colder months I wear a long sleeve shirt (usually a big oversized mock tutrtleneck) under the scrub top.

The thing I like most about wearing them is that they are very comfortable (so comfortable they feel like pajamas) but at the same time I feel comfortable leaving the house while wearing them because the nicer style scrub pants just look like normal pants, and even the scrubs that look like scrubs - well people just assume I am stopping at the store on my way home from work or something

So I basically get to wear my pajamas to the store without looking like I am wearing pajamas to the store

The only time wearing scrubs out in public becomes a slight problem is when I go to the hospital for any testing (like blood tests). People stop me in the halls and ask me directions to the cafeteria or how to get to the maternity ward.... but I know the hospital so well (I did work there at one point many years ago) so I am able to give them the directins, and it's not that big of a deal


Donna - Since you like jumpers and since your daughter makes them for you -- what about using scrub tops to make the top portion of the jumpers? I don't know a thing about sewing or making clothing, but I would imagine that it wouldn't be too hard to turn a scrub top into the top portion of a jumper.

If anyone is interested in scrubs, I find that Marcus Uniforms has the best sales and prices for regular plain scrubs, and that Lydias Professional Uniforms has the best selection of the more pretty and fancy scrubs.

Hope that helps,
Liz

I find zippers and those 'hook' type buttons a pain in the butt, errr arm, esp on dress clothes. I am always struggling to get them done up. I love cami's and sweaters/hoodies...I live in that kinda stuff...Cami's are easy to get on (I can always step out of them rather then pull them over head) and sweaters keep me warm. If I wear 'regular' shirts I wear stuff that is ultra stretchy so I can get in and out of it with ease. Some days are rough...though so I feel your pain. I carry a tiny purse that doesn't fit too much or carry my debit card/ID/etc in my pockets. I bought a light weight leather coat for winter...the weight of winter coats does me in.

When I am at home I wear tanks and yoga pants...then cuddle up under a blanket

...scrubs. They're easy to pull on/off, reversable, wash n wear, ... and you can always say to people that you're in "healthcare" (your own).