Technical Aids Tips und Tricks XLVIII

November 21st, 2016

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FINALLY, NO MORE SWOLLEN FEET…!!!!!

Most of the wheelchair users know the problem with the swollen feet. During the day they swell and at night they go down again. However, this process of up and down was never a satisfactory one and it eventually ended just last summer when for the first time in my eight and a half years in a wheelchair I couldn’t get my feet in to my shoes anymore at all – although these were already two sizes up.

I have never used anti embolism stockings, because as a Tetra with plenty of discomfort in my feet I couldn’t possibly put them on by myself.

 

Sport Lange carries compression stockings especially designed for runners.

 

I have them put on in the morning and wear them if necessary until the next morning. No more swelling of the feet during the day! I cannot remember in the last nine years having had such slim feet. Of course, I don’t want to discourage anyone from wearing their anti embolism stockings but for anyone in the same situation as I, compression stockings are the way to go!

Where to buy:

Online at eBay or Amazon
Sports supply store
Sanitätsgeschäft
or at James & Nicholson for 8.75€

Translator BW

 

Winter Special

November 16th, 2016

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Here is a collection of links with tips and odd stories around the subject winter. Sorry, but not all blogposts referred to are translated yet!!! More to follow…

Wheelblades, wheelchairski

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=9362&lang=entranslated!

FreeWheel

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=15468&lang=entranslated!

Put salt next to the car before snow falls…!!!

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=15740

Reflectors and Illumination

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=5699&lang=en translated! http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4162&lang=en translated! http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=882&lang=entranslated!

Moutainbike Winter Tyres

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=1311&lang=en translated! http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4829&lang=en translated! http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=2068&lang=en translated! http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4759&lang=entranslated!

Wheelchair auxiliary snow chains

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4928&lang=entranslated!

Running direction of “Schwalbe” tyres

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=2271&lang=entranslated!

Wheelchair tyre cleaning carpet

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=1328&lang=entranslated!

Wheelchair tyre slippers

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=3298&lang=entranslated!

Christmas Tree remote control

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4397&lang=entranslated!

Special wheelchair for removing snow

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4239&lang=entranslated!

Story referring to the picture

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4582

Miscellaneous

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=750 http://www.eigude.de/blog/?p=4636 If you have good ideas, as usual e-mail to rollinator@eigude.de

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XXXI

November 1st, 2016

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.

Chock Part XV

October 31st, 2016

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.

Eigude Shame XXX

August 4th, 2016

Qual-ität aus deutschen Landen

Ich berichte bereits seit Jahren darüber, dass viele Hilfsmittel die wir müde Krieger benötigen, weder gut durchdacht noch qualitativ hochwertig sind, das einzige was hochwertig ist, ist der Preis. Eine Patientenwaage zum Beispiel, die zwischen Deckenlifter und Hebetuch gehängt wird kostet über 500 €. Eine vergleichbare in Deutschland hergestellte Industriewaage kostet 56 €. Wenn diese horrenden Preise verlangt werden, man begründet dies oft mit der Vergabe einer Hilfsmittelnummer, verlange ich quasi eine lebenslange Haltbarkeit. Genau dies ist nicht der Fall, ein gutes Beispiel ist mein Duschstuhl, der nicht wasserresistent ist rostet und schon am Vorderrad seinen Reifen verloren hat. (siehe älteren Beitrag).
Jeder kennt die Triangel am Galgen vom Krankenhausbett. So einen habe ich auch zuhause, ohne diesen liege ich wegen meiner fehlenden Bauchmuskeln wie ein Maikäfer auf dem Rücken.

Seit heute 8:00 Uhr bin ich fassungslos:
Als ich mich heute Morgen ein wenig im Bett drehen wollte, riss der Gurt, und ich hatte das Dreieck in der Hand.

Was hätte da alles passieren können.

Ich war glĂĽcklicherweise nicht alleine, sonst wĂĽrde ich immer noch, wie ein gestrandeter Wal, unbeweglich im Bett liegen. An das Telefon wäre ich auch nicht angekommen, auch wenn es “nur” 10 cm neben dem Bett steht.

Als Lösung musste ein Spanngurt vom Auto herhalten.
Ich bin sicher der hält, auch wenn der keine Hilfsmittelnummer hat. Echtes Qualitätsmerkmal so eine Nummer.

Bei der genaueren Beschlechtachtung des Haltegurtes, denn das Wort “gut” hat er nicht verdient, habe ich eine zweite Stelle gefunden, wo der Gurt auch kurz vor dem reiĂźen war.

Insbesondere bei solch wichtigen sicherheitsrelevanten Teilen verlange ich beste Qualität zum Beispiel einen Gurt mit Metallgewebe.

Ich weiĂź, ich bin schuld,…ich habe zu viel Kraft. Ho,…ho,…ho…

Um alle Artikel der “Eigude Pranger-Serie” zu lesen, hier klicken.
Am Ende der Seite einfach weiter mit: “Ă„ltere Einträge”

Qual-ität aus deutschen Landen

Ich berichte bereits seit Jahren darüber, dass viele Hilfsmittel die Behinderte benötigen weder gut durchdacht noch qualitativ hochwertig sind, das einzige was hochwertig ist, ist der Preis. Eine Patientenwaage zum Beispiel, die zwischen Deckenlifter und Hebetuch gehängt wird kostet über 500 €. Eine vergleichbare in Deutschland hergestellte Industriewaage kostet 56 €. Wenn diese horrenden Preise verlangt werden, man begründet dies oft mit der Vergabe einer Hilfsmittelnummer, verlange ich quasi eine lebenslange Haltbarkeit. Genau dies ist nicht der Fall, ein gutes Beispiel ist mein Duschstuhl, der nicht wasserresistent ist rostet und schon am Vorderrad seinen Reifen verloren hat. (Siehe älteren Beitrag).
Jeder kennt die Triangel am Galgen vom Krankenhausbett. So einen habe ich auch zuhause, ohne diesen liege ich wegen meiner fehlenden Bauchmuskeln wie ein Maikäfer auf dem Rücken.

Seit heute 8:00 Uhr bin ich fassungslos:
Als ich mich heute Morgen ein wenig im Bett drehen wollte, riss der Gurt, und ich hatte das Dreieck in der Hand.

Was hätte da alles passieren können.

Ich war glĂĽcklicherweise nicht alleine, sonst wĂĽrde ich immer noch, wie ein gestrandeter Wal, unbeweglich im Bett liegen. An das Telefon wäre ich auch nicht angekommen, auch wenn es “nur” 10 cm neben dem Bett steht.

Als Lösung musste ein Spanngurt vom Auto herhalten.
Ich bin sicher der hält, auch wenn der keine Hilfsmittelnummer hat. Echtes Qualitätsmerkmal so eine Nummer.

 

 

Bei der genaueren Beschlechtachtung des Haltegurtes, denn das Wort “gut” hat er nicht verdient, habe ich eine zweite Stelle gefunden, wo der Gurt auch kurz vor dem reiĂźen war.

 

Insbesondere bei solch wichtigen sicherheitsrelevanten Teilen verlange ich beste Qualität zum Beispiel einen Gurt mit Metallgewebe.
Ich weiĂź, ich bin schuld,…ich habe zu viel Kraft. Ho,…ho,…ho…

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, ….

July 12th, 2016

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This is by far the hardest blog I’ve ever written in 8 years. Words cannot express my gratitude!
One year ago today on July 12th, 2015 I barely escaped from the jaws of death.

When I add up everything, that my body came up with (see older blog), it comes to 44 weeks in 4 different hospitals in the Rhine/Main area since July last year.
Although I’m now starting almost where I was eight years ago when I became paralyzed in an accident I won’t complain too much, because I am glad that I am still here at all. (5 % probability of survival is not very much.)
You really don’t want to know everything. There are so many diseases and I am not keen on learning the Latin language this way. From now on, my hand stays down, even if I have to attach a stone to it.

At this point I’d like to express my sincerest gratitude especially to my wife, my parents, my brother, my mother-in-law, the rest of my entire family, the nurses and caretakers, doctors, therapists of the BGU hospital unit K3/K8 and the intensive care unit of the North-West Hospital also in Frankfurt am Main and to all other friends and acquaintances who thought of me, took care of me and still do helped me to get back to life.
At night I had a lot of time to think, and I don’t know how I would have managed without you. One night can be quite long.
I have not enough words to express my gratitude. There is still a long way to go, but keeping my positive attitude and training zeal I will not disappoint you. That I can promise!
Since Friday, July 1st 2016 I am now permanently at home again.
Hopefully, this was my last blog about diseases for the next seven years, when my medi pump has to be replaced again. This topic will be banned from the blog as far as possible.
Even though I’m repeating myself:

Thank you, thank you, thank you…

that you were there for me throughout the past year and still are now.

Translator BW

Technical Aids Tips und Tricks XLVII

July 11th, 2016

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Noodle Strainer Hybrid

As I mentioned several times in the past, the function of my hands and fingers equal those of a four-year old armed with gloves in winter.
Since half a sandwich roll, plain without anything on it, already feels like a 5 kg weight to me, daily exercise of the hands and fingers is a must.
I have already tried various hand training tools. The classic soft rubber ball has the disadvantage that because of Isaac Newton it constantly falls to the ground if you spread or stretch your fingers.
More than eight years later I discovered this ingenious hand trainer, also known as a “noodle strainer”. About the expert use of such a devise I shall report in a later blog .

You put your fingers somewhat narrow or wider apart in the fitting holes. Since the inside ring is made of rubber you can quite simply perform hand curls- and stretches. With a slight twist of your arm it is also suitable for upper arm and wrist strength training.
If you want to make sure that the hand trainer does not fall down, simply attach a key band to two holes.
The hand trainer has no aid number and is considered sports equipment which explains the price of currently €29.95 plus shipping. It is available in various strengths levels at Sport-Thieme under Art.-No. 2194224.
To the link: click here

For Tetras like me, who still have some finger functions and people who have severe osteoarthritis this hand trainer is highly recommended, especially because it can be used comfortably while watching TV – no thinking required.

Excessive consumption of pasta might have a positive impact on the aerodynamics of a Rolli, but not so much on its axle load.

To read all articles of the “Tips on Aid Series”, click here.
At the end of the page simply go to: “OLDER ENTRIES”

Translator BW

Addendum Chock Part XIV

June 1st, 2016

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Already home for four weeks …!!!

As already reported, after taking a shower in March at home the titanium body of my implanted drug pump suddenly peeped out of my belly. It broke through the abdominal wall and I had to sign myself into the hospital again – after only three weeks of “Home” – Holiday (see older blog).

This time I was in the room next door at the same station as three weeks earlier; they still knew me there.

One could have the impression that I like this hospital food. I do not know what you eat for dinner, but this chef salad that is served every evening as an alternative selection is delicious. We can therefore say that the food there is quite good.

After several days of unsuccessful attempt to change back to oral drugs to eventually get rid of the pump completely, the old and no longer sterile pump including lines was taken out. For two weeks an external pump supplied the meds until in a second surgery a new pump including lines between the vertebrae into the spinal canal was implanted – again at the left side.


(Not bad, that dope!)

Nevertheless, the visits from the hospital pastor, various anesthesiologists and several nurses in the intensive care station, who still knew me from eight years ago, got me thinking.

This pump change or better yet new installation required another five weeks of bed rest, but they went without major complications.

Now I am back home for four weeks and I am already looking forward to the empty batteries in 7 years. That is when I will receive a new pump and new scars. I hope that the location of the pump does not need to be changed. Otherwise, above and below the navel there is still some space left.

When I look at the numerous scars on my neck, belly and back, I should probably reconsider my desired profession as a top model.

Translator BW

Eigude Shame XXIX

April 24th, 2016

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Unbelievable – or Tough Stuff

A few months ago I was scheduled to be transferred out of the rehab facility in the Taunus (behind the seven hills where the seven dwarfs lived) back to the hospital in Frankfurt from which I came 6 weeks ago. I was to undergo a special examination named Angiography, a procedure during which one can actually watch his or her own brain function live at work. The transfer service was ordered a few days before with the request “sitting in own wheelchair”. I had already had my bags packed the day before (you wouldn’t believe what all accumulates in 6 weeks!) I cleared my small single room for dismissal at 8:00 AM because it would be reassigned right away.

The next morning at 7:20 two nurses stormed into my room and told me slightly stressed that the shuttle would take off half an hour earlier, which was in 10 minutes! Of course, I couldn’t insist on the 2 drivers delaying their contractually assured breakfast break. After a short handling, also called basic care (I felt like at the Pitstop at a Formula 1 race) the transfer service showed up – but of course, with a stretcher. There was not enough room in the vehicle for me sitting in my wheelchair. Oh well, I had “only” told them about five times! Well…uh… bad. After a successful arrival in Frankfurt I was seated back in my wheelchair and the drivers checked me in at the emergency room of the hospital. I waited patiently while the drivers cleared the field. After approximately 10 minutes a staff member approached and mentioned that I was quite early.

My comment: not that bad, 8:45.

She: ONE WEEK!!!

Those “luminaries” from the rehab clinic, whose priority apparently is not the well fare of the patient, kicked me out an entire week early! Fortunately, the hospital had a bed available and granted me asylum for the time being.

Translator BW

Chock Part XIV

April 10th, 2016

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You may well believe that I currently have become lazy about writing, or suffer from writer’s block. This is not the case, I have enough material, but I also have a relatively good excuse.

When I finally came home mid February after seven months of hospital-hopping, my implanted drug pump (see older posts) decided without asking me to escape from my body through the abdominal wall. And that after only three weeks of “homeland” holiday!

Over the years the skin around the scar got so thin that on March 5th after a shower at home the titanium body of the pump suddenly became visible from the outside. Boy, would I have liked to see my facial expression at that moment! The silver lining doesn’t always have to be at the horizon and a silver wire is not likely to grow out of the belly!

There I was with my non-sterile implant.

I immediately decided at the cost of my health insurance company to rent a hospital bed again. Maybe they haven’t changed the linens from my old bed?

I have always wanted to dial “112″.

It’s silly, but ultimately it’s just a laceration. Now I’m in the room next door.

It took two surgeries to replace the pump and the attached line that goes to the spinal canal and move it to the other side. After nearly five weeks in the hospital bed I’m finally back in my wheelchair.

What an uplifting feeling to finally have WiFi again in the sitting room and not bother the other fellows with my voice control. Although I’m back with my training where I left three months ago but I’d say:

“It could have been worse”

Translator BW

Zur Startseite

Technical Aids Tips und Tricks XLVI

February 24th, 2016

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It is due to the small fouls that wheelers are exposed every day to new challenges. You are blocked in from the side so that you can’t get into your car anymore, during cleaning the toaster is moved back to the wall, or the installation CD is put out of reach on the cupboard. My last week’s highlight was a beeping smoke alarm because the battery was empty when I was lying in my bed. All this is causing an uncontrollable neuron tornado in my head.

Among my favourites are open windows.

In the summer it’s getting warm and in winter quite cold, if the heater below is not running on full power which I can’t reach either.

There are definitely more important reasons to ring at the neighbour’s door than asking them to close an open window. Grrrrrrrrr…

The do-it-yourself store with 20% on everything except for the parts you really need offers a

Hobbit &wheelchair window closer/

„almost“ usable in their assortment. However, small construction work needs still to be done.

Just take:

  • min. 1 meter aluminium pipe, thickness 12mm
  • 1 meter aluminium flat bar 15m x 1mm
  • 30 cm hose inner diameter 10mm- 12mm
  • 2x screw M4 x 25mm
  • 2x screw-nut, self-locking M4
  • 1x drill 4 mm with drive mechanism
  • Construction tools for screwing, or a set of healthy teeth ;-)

Cost of material ca. 10,00€

Saw the aluminium bar in ca. 2x 36 cm long pieces and pull the hose on one of the pieces.

Drill a 4 mm hole into all sides of the aluminium bars and the pipe centered with a space of 15 mm from the edge.

Bend the aluminium bar with hose oval e.g. using a bottle and bolt it two-sided with screw and screw-nut on one end of the pipe. This is going to be the window side.

The other aluminium bar is going to be the handle. This can be formed according to hand function or artistic freedom oval, square, round or even heart-shaped, main thing is that the bolting on the pipe is not forgotten.

(My white Vespa scooter from 1992 in the picture below with kick starter is looking for a new master!)

The operating mode of the window closer should be comprehensible, but could on special request be explained personally under phone number 00907/40059449665 for only (1.000.000.000 €/min) by “Bernd das Brot”. (Translator’s note: Reference is made to a satirical sketch to spoof call-in shows on TV, (see also other blogpost).)

All open windows can be closed again now.

And how to open them we will learn tomorrow!!!

The certified re-constructor is obligated to send to the Rollinator a Chilli Pizza online.

Contact: rollinator@eigude.de

Translator BL

Chock Part XV

February 19th, 2016

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Paper chase in district court

Yesterday I had some business at the district court in my hometown Frankfurt. Public buildings should by now be all accessible, but I had to go to building A, an old venerable building from 1889. At that time there wasn’t much concern about accessibility…


Quelle: wvs-ffm.de

So I called in advance and got the information that in order to avoid steps I had to enter though building E to get to building A. First, at security control I had to hand over my set of wrenches, one that every experienced wheelchair driver always has on board. Perhaps I could kill someone or gouge out someone’s eyes?!?


Quelle: Hornbach

So off to building E, into the elevator, up to the 1. floor. Then through the dusty hallways, follow the signs “transition to building A” – almost like in a scavenger hunt! At some point I stood in front of this ramp… positive thought first: there is a ramp, yay! However, it is significantly steeper than the specified 6% according to DIN180 40-1… and also a little steeper than the training course at rehab. Although, I know some wheelies, that would have a blast down this “Rolli slide”!

Then continue the search for the next elevator, back down to the ground floor. Then find the right room… fortunately it was the last door before the next steps.

Somehow we found our way back, but not before landing in a cul-de-sac first ……

Next time I’ll scatter breadcrumbs!!!

Translator BL

 

Technical Aids Tips and Tricks LXIV

February 14th, 2016

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My latest tool – an Overhead Lift

After half a year of “enjoying” free food and lodging in different hospitals while testing their equipment and treatment options, I am now back home. Let me introduce to you my latest support instrument.

As some sort of a “Christmas gift” my insurance kindly approved the overhead lift that I had requested out of necessity because of my increasing restrictions. (A mobile standard patient lift cannot be used in combination with my height-adjustable frame insert.) It took a few weeks of organizational back and forth between my insurance, the medical supply store and the manufacturer – you know how this goes – until the lift was finally mounted at the beginning of February.

The Lift is hanging from my bedroom ceiling and ensures a safe bed-air-wheelchair-transfer with the optional switch between wheelchair and shower wheelchair.

For people with back problems, instead of using belts for transfer I recommend a special lifter cloth.

With the three heavy duty anchors, each 1 ton load capacity, I do not need to be fasting right away ;-)

Translator BW

Armbath???

January 17th, 2016

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In the last few months I experienced a wide variety of therapies that even I, as some kind of “professional patient”, was not aware they’d exist.

One day my therapy plan stated “arm bath” among other things. I couldn’t imagine what in the world this meant.

A bath for arms? – Kneipp Kur for the less affluent? Maybe the doctors should know my account balance ahead of treatment?

It turned out that the ominous “arm bath therapy” really was a water bath for my two upper limbs.

Was it necessary? Did I really need that?

The dark colored water in the picture should not be mistaken as an indication for my dirty hands – it was caused by an added rosemary essence to promote circulation. After such treatment one has to be careful not to bite into his own little finger ;)

Anyway, after an unsuccessful thirty minute search for a dirt stain on the tiles of the wall, I didn’t have any better idea of how to pass the time, the therapist came back and asked me how I liked the treatment. My honest answer was “Well, my two hands are now clean, very clean”!

For some reason this type of bath therapy disappeared from my future treatment plan :-)

Translator BW

Greetings from the Training Camp

November 22nd, 2015

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2 months have passed…

Nobody ever doubted that there’s something going on with my head (literally ;-) However, with the news that hit me out of nowhere in the middle of July about my brain situation – I certainly could have done without.

Meanwhile, I returned all of the newly acquired spare parts (gastric probe, tracheal needle, permanent catheter) and slowly begin to see the light again at the end of the tunnel – into the light I did not yet want to ride…

After intensive hospital hopping I have one piece of advice for all Paraplegics: no matter what illness or disease needs to be treated – your paraplegia must first be addressed; it has absolute priority! Instead of selecting an alleged special rehabilitation clinic, rather chose a hospital that you trust and make it your preference. Those specialty places might not be familiar with paraplegia and are easily overwhelmed. If you can’t make it out of bed on your own, maybe due to a decline of your overall condition, you have lost.

Fortunately, for one month now I’m back in the hospital of my trust, where even the guards know me by name. They will put me back on my wheels!

Here are a few impressions from my current “training camp”… physio-, ergo-, speech therapy, driving training, mud baths, etc. …

Translator BW