Potty 101 or has this ever happened to you?

[HeatherFeather]

Yesterday was the first day we went out to someone's house for supper since Ron was diagnosed beginning of November. He could walk then, just a few steps with my help. Now he is in a wheelchair as he can't balance a walker anymore.

For one thing, I was sooooo very worried about the steep stone steps, with no railing, outside his sister's house but his brother-in-law bought a bunch of 2 x 4's and placed them, two-by-two's, going up the stairs. Three big men managed to get Ron up those steps and into his sister's house with much difficulty and struggling. I had visions of....well, I'm sure you can imagine - and then at night, getting down those same steps - all went well - PHEWW!

Now to the potty part.

First time to someone's house. Didn't think of bringing a portable urinal because I thought, well - hey, I'll just wheel Ron close to the bathroom then help him get in it and everything else. Problem 1 - very very tiny bathroom (powder room) on main floor Problem 2 - nothing to hold onto. Problem 3- toilet very low. We had to stay outside the door and ask for something to pee in. My sister-in-law is always so funny - she's frantically diving into her pantry for something to give Ron, punctuating her acts of flinging things out of the pantry with, "oh, no not that!" "oh, that'll do ... no I NEED that" "OMG what can I give him" She comes out with a little margarine container - I told her that he needs something larger. She giggled, "really? he's that big?" I explained that it needed to be DEEPER, not wider - Ron's watching all this with an amused expression even tho he really needs to GO !

His sister finally found a mason jar - perfect. Ron...."AHHHHHHHHH....."

I will bring a urinal with me next time we are invited to someone's house :wink:

Has this ever happened to you? What about if your PALS has to use the toilet for more than just a PP and he/she cannot get into the bathroom? Suggestions?

Thanks everybody - have a beautiful day

~ Heather ~

 

[davbo49]

i know i would need a bucket. haven't got in to a small bathroom yet. but i haven't been out much ether. the rest of that story im going to stay out of that

 

[cheerleader]

Heather! That story had me in stitches! You are a gifted storyteller! Ron must be a gem to find it all amusing! TG there are things to laugh about during this journey!

 

[texastracy]

Heather,
Great story! Started my day off with a laugh! I never realized toilets were so low until I had ALS. The things we learn, huh?

Tracy

 

[Atsugi]

I had the privilege of wiping my wife's butt. Every day. Sometimes, you just gotta do the job you're assigned.

(If you think it's bad now, wait until he's dehydrated and compacted and you have to go in an dig it out!)

If you have room in the car, you might try keeping a potty wheelchair nearby, so he can do his business his own way without relying on other people's tiny toilets.

 

[AZmujer]

Hi Heatherfeather:

Yep, toileting is an ongoing challenge. I definitely recommend a carrying a urinal with you, but we've also used to-go cups from restaurants, jars, and in one desperate situation, a flower pot.

If your PALS and you are going out for an extended period, you could investigate a condom catheter. Jamie used one for the first time at Thanksgiving and it went well. He didn't have to worry about getting to a toilet or using a urinal. Just be warned: When you purchase/order one, the question will be he needs small, medium or large.

My husband and his yoga therapist decided they should change the question to: "Do you want large, extra large or XX large?"

 

[HeatherFeather]

Hi Heatherfeather:

Yep, toileting is an ongoing challenge. I definitely recommend a carrying a urinal with you, but we've also used to-go cups from restaurants, jars, and in one desperate situation, a flower pot.

If your PALS and you are going out for an extended period, you could investigate a condom catheter. Jamie used one for the first time at Thanksgiving and it went well. He didn't have to worry about getting to a toilet or using a urinal. Just be warned: When you purchase/order one, the question will be he needs small, medium or large.

My husband and his yoga therapist decided they should change the question to: "Do you want large, extra large or XX large?"

Hey AZmujer - yes, we will definitely go out "equipped" from now on - a flower pot huh? Um - large, extra large, or XXL? WOW - LOL! Thanks for the giggle! Have a happy day xoxo

 

[HeatherFeather]

Cheerleader and TexasTracy - thanks - happy you enjoyed my storytelling ;-) Atsugi - good idea - Ron doesn't have a potty wheelchair yet - I still manage to get him to the bathroom (ours are larger - LOL!). But I know that eventually he'll need one ...

 

[Barbie]

too funny! When we leave the house it is always like it was when my kids were babies--I pack a bag with everything he might need like a urinal, small towels, straws, Boost, etc. I never trust the bathroom situation no matter what. I am glad your husband has a sense of humor about the whole thing--that always makes it easier!

 

[Barbie]

Here is my story: This past weekend we went to a dog show at a huge convention center. should be completely handicap friendly, right? Husband needs to pee, I have his urinal but when we go to the bathrooms they only have men and women, no companion room. so I track down some officials, and they say no, there is no companion bathrooms but have no suggestions. so I take him to the first aid station figuring they would have a private room at least. the medic on duty walks us across the center and to a locked station and there is a companion bathroom finally. good thing he can hold his bladder!

 

[affected]

So well told!

We never had any real issues as by the time Chris was not really mobile he refused to go out.

Definitely you will remember to carry that urinal with you from now on, and will be able to giggle over that story for a very long time

 

[affected]

dang it mod

 

[Snowman78]

That was a funny story. I can so picture the potty debacle as it unfolded by your story. The only place dad really goes anymore is to an occasional doctors appointment but I sure you we have an extensive collection of urinals from the docs offices. We always make sure to take one now.

 

[Nuts]

Oh how funny, thanks for the laugh! We haven't been stuck like that yet, but we are just starting to learn how handicap inacessible so many public places are. Recently at a resturant I scouted the women's room to give hubby and idea of how well they handled the wheel chair stall. It was wonderful: doors that didn't weigh a ton and swung easily, the stall was directly across from the door--no turns to make to get to it, and it was very spacious. Go in, I urged. Right. The men's room was just the opposite of everything I'd described. So much for scouting using the women's room...

 

[HeatherFeather]

Nuts: so true, so many things we simply did not notice before and now, since we REALLY need these things to be just so for our PALS, oftentimes they are not ok for our PALS' needs :-(

(happy you enjoyed my little 'story' !)

Actually I was reading the thread, "Fun with ALS" in the Comedy, humor and jokes section, yesterday and was laughing so hard I was crying! :lol: