Stop sliding and slumping of pals

[Tomswife]

Photo

 

[affected]

In the bed, I removed the sling side to side, not trying to bend Chris forwards.

 

[Jimi]

Not sure how much of this applies to the hospital bed. I live a zero gravity lift chair. I got the brisa fabric and power headrest. No sheets or pillows required. Whole chair gets a wipe down every four days. I have a thin air cushion with relief cut out for tailbone relief.
When I get slumped it's uncomfortable especially on my lower back. It's very easy to fix. We put the chair in zero gravity position (butt lower, knees higher than butt slightly bent) . Then we recline the back rest all the way back. My weight is now going down to my head. Now just a firm push on my legs slides me into the seat. Next we move the back rest up to up right while holding my legs from sliding forward. At this point my butt is back and my lower back is all the way against the back rest. My upper body is a little compressed so we flip my upper body forward to relieve the tension and back against the back rest. Whole process takes about a minute and takes little effort

 

[affected]

that is brilliant Jimi

 

[MupstateNY]

This is telling me I should borrow a Hoyer lift from ALSA so we can practice while I can still communicate well, given that I have had 5 compression fractures of the spine, and even before those, I was described by my mother as a "hothouse lily" or "princess on a pea."

The pillow descriptions remind me of my hospitalization after the worst fracture. The bed was very wide. I couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep unless the nurse laid extra pillows right across the bed to lock me into place.

Jimi, a video would be really helpful, if you're up for that.

The problem I'm having right now is that ALSA needs a letter from my PT saying that the Hoyer lift is safe for me. The PT is hesitating, not because she doesn't think it's safe -- actually I'm not quite sure why.

Tomswife, now that you've got more responsive providers, can you get an order for some skilled nursing visits to help you troubleshoot some of these things? When I left the hospital after that first nasty fracture, someone at the hospital had arranged for a hospital bed and some home health aide visits for a few months and PT in my home. The car insurance paid for everything. (Then, as soon as they closed the case, they kicked me out!)

Hopefully your health insurance would pay for the services.

 

[lgelb]

Tom is in a sling with full back support that naturally lets the upper body go forward. A sling that doesn't go up as high ("without back support") could be worth trying. He will curl during the transfer but his back may be easier to get up against the bed or chair. There is a freestanding neck support you can buy for the sling, or use a cervical collar.

Also, just a caution that letting the head take weight in the recliner or wheelchair wouldn't be advisable in certain cases of neck/spine damage, eye problems, or positional breathing issues.

 

[Jimi]

My head is always supported from behind by the headrest or when in the sling. Fortunately my head can go forward and my chin can rest on my chest and trach with no prob

 

[Tomswife]

Jimi. Tom cant recline even for a few seconds. He has bulbar weakness and cant breathe.
I have a home health aide with years of nursing home experience. She said. People slide. People move. You need to pull them back up.
We somehow got through the last 24 hours.
Pillows on sides helped.

 

[Jimi]

I used to have the breathing problem years ago. I then didn't have to worry because I was on bipap 24/7 for over three years and now I have a trach. Both provide enough pressure for reclining

 

[Tomswife]

We are having sling issues.

I am having difficulty getting tom into the sling.
- difficult to pull him forward and push sling down his back
- difficult to lift his legs to get the sling parts under his legs
- i cannot move his body

If i dont have the sling on correctly, he will be uncomfortable.
Now no matter what his arms hurt in the sling because it is pushing against his arms. I suggested a pillow but he said no.

He cannot be on his side. He cannot recline.

I dont want live in help. I just dont. But i guess i have to have round the clock shifts?

Is there another toiletting sling that would be better?

 

[affected]

I'm trying to remember if he is on bipap yet?
Someone on bipap can tolerate a lot more change of position.

There are soft slings you can leave under him when in the chair, maybe you need to look at the actual sling? Can you talk to your OT for some assistance because they can do functional assessment on both Tom, the equipment and your use of it all.

 

[Tomswife]

I reached outvto CCALS and they are thinking about the current sling.
I added more caregiver hours so there are 2 people here.
Our son in law may build a manual pulley system to help pull his back forward so i can get the sling behind him. Hmmm.

 

[Mary2]

How creative of your son in law!

I think overall Bi-Pap would help.

We have several slings and one is like the one you have in the picture. Ours had a good size piece of plastic sewn into it for support. I was able to remove this plastic and have found working with this sling easier since I removed the plastic. My husband didn't seem to notice the removal of the plastic piece.

We do leave the sling in place all day, but when I think of it, I take the leg parts out from under his legs.

 

[Mary2]

I take the sling out by pulling the legs out and lifting the sling up my husband's back. But I still roll him side to
side to put the sling in. I haven't really tried lifting him forward to put the sling in. I think if your husband was on bi-pap he might be able to tolerate going from side to side. I use the draw/slip sheet to turn my husband side to side. I couldn't move my husband's body without the draw/slip sheet.

I think with your rotator cuff issues, you made a good decision to increase the caregiver hours.

 

[lgelb]

I never had to move Larry up in bed. He weighed 250# and I weigh half that. That is why I'm confident you can find the "drop zone." But if you put a slip sheet with handles under the top sheet, you have the option if you need it, if there is enough clearance at the head of the bed.

I agree that rolling him to remove the sling would be problematic since that would shift his vertical position.

As I wrote, I would try a sling that is not as tall, that just covers the mid back. Or as Mary pointed out, at least remove the plastic piece that pushes him forward. I forgot about those!

Tillie, Tom is not yet on BiPAP. They are working on that.