Navigating in bed

[Babygirl]

Please share how you navigate getting in and out of bed. It is very hard for me to get in bed and once in bed I cannot move easily. Getting out of bed I can't seem to roll over to put my feet on the floor.

[jillannf6]

hi i hsve s rail which i csn grab on to ot get me out of bed and then back in

frequent visits to the toilet in the ngiht make this all a bit easer (but i still fall either gettign back to the bedroom or when gettign to the bed)

lol JIll

[olpilot]

I use a bedrail that extends from the head board about 18 inches I use it for getting in and out and for just turning over. Also satin sheets or pajamas makes moving much easier. Wiyh the bedrail rolling to a sitting position and the pushing up works pretty good.

[doodles4]

I sleep(if you call waking up 4 or 5 times)in my recliner...I gave up trying to sleep in bed. I turn into a brick and I can not move. It is scary to say the least. On the up side I don't have to make the bed up much any more!

[Hidden in reply to doodles4]

A brick describes it adequately

[JAYNIE]

i have a electric bed, like in a hospital, but not that elaborate. it goes up and down . I also have a portable railing. (take it with me if i travel) I raise the head of the bed, and lower the feet and I can then ,using the railing, get out of bed............my beds are two t wins pushed together so that i can put railings on both sides.

[Pete-1]

Satin sheets.

[froggatt55]

I tried the satin sheets but everything slipped of the bed. I am not a PJ person so got a rail that fits onto the side of the bed with straps that fit under the mattress - I have only had it a few weeks and will take it on holiday with me, I can get into bed OK and still try to get out using my tummy muscles and determination but it's great for turning over in bed

My biggest bugbear is the pain in my legs on wakening - I just have to get up even though I could sleep longer at times

[shasha in reply to froggatt55]

well we found the same but we stopped using the satin duvet cover and use a cotton one but i still need the satin pj's or nightie too

[shasha in reply to froggatt55]

i also have dreadful pains on waking in my legs - i take modopar whiich seems to help

[Owenbob in reply to froggatt55]

Try sleeping in the nude. You can't move around with pajamas or a nightie.

[minnietip]

I use satin sheets, and pull on my brass headboard,,,,, and have a temper-pic mattress........

[Hidden]

I use a walker and park it next to the bed. To help me get up I grab it! It's a U-Walker. It's made especially for PWP! Very heavy! I have a light weight one for the car! I got a prescription for both and insurance paid for most of both. Live in Illinios, USA. And I wear satin pajamas! Can't use satin sheets, slip right out of bed with both! Just the bottoms work for me! Hope this helps!

Blessings,

Carol <><

[cjsg in reply to Hidden]

what is PWP

[tlongmire in reply to cjsg]

People with Parkinson's.

[PatV]

If after wrestling with covers, pillows, etc. I am not asleep, I go to my sofa which is long and narrow, prop leg up on back, turn on old movies and fall asleep frozen in place. I need to figure out how to get TV to turn off automatically.

[Barbie18 in reply to PatV]

Hi PatV,i had a television once that could be programed to be turned of when you want but i suppose that could be difficullt if you are not ready at that time,this is another idea not knowing how your TV is set up you could put the plug on a timer hope this helps BARBIE

[Jupeter in reply to PatV]

You could try using one of those timers which will switch off the power at preset times.

[paddyfields]

Flat on my back because I have to sleep that way. Right heel hooked onto edge of right side of bed. Pull on heel and swivel sufficiently to get right elbow bent under upper bodyand holding it halfway upright and left leg partially hanging over the side. Ally up and on to floor This is the method I developed when I was rigid from whi;ash but I am fortunately not that rigid now. I feel it protects the lower back.

I also have nasty aches and pains in legs before getting. It seems to be a lot commoner than we are told.

[PatV in reply to paddyfields]

when you say right side of bed, do you mean there's bedframe at the foot of the bed and you're propping your heel on it?

Yes, the itchy crawly red ants and dystonia in the legs. It's worse if I eat late.

[cabbagecottage]

The answer is a rise and recline hospital bed . the district nurse who calls on my husband arranged it for him it's on long term loan . !!,

You lower it to get into bed then I raise it so that I can tend my husband when he needs , I place a small pillow at the fooT of the bed and ALWAYS raise the knee part of the bed slightly . This takes some of the stress away , With the pillow at the foot of the bed the clothes then don't lay on your legs which. can feel heavy and makes it easier for any movement . H.e sleep in just a PJ top a longish one . When he gets into bed I place a small a slide sheet ready behind him so th when he is on the b. ed it makes sit easier for him to slide shuffle across . Remove it ... Do the op when you get out of bed .

Until then use a grab rail they are very good

[cabbagecottage]

Take care when getting into bed that you don't fall backwards I place a large pillow behind him and move it when he is safely in .

By the way I AM NOT A GIRL GUIDE !!!!

[Samee]

In physical therapy they told me to strengthen upper thighs you can use one of those resistance bands. Its hard , not sure what your particulars are , when I get out of bed I'm almost in a squatting position having to stand up. I usually think or say aloud'TADA' bow for an invisible audience and thankful I'm able to get up. Not sure what to do about the lacking movement when trying to get comfortable I do know frustrating for me whenever I have to get out of bed and start over.

[Hidden]

PWP. People with Parkinson's!

[Walhalla50]

This is my biggest problem . I have found that if you focus the mind and go through the motions in your head and then try it can help. A firm bed also helps.

I am touring Ireland from Australia at present and staying in different hotels. It is the only stressful part of the vacation is waiting to see what bed I have and something beside the bed to hold on to. I feel it is only a matter of time before I fall and crack my head at the corner of a bedside table.

[JohnPepper]

Hi Babygirl

I found that the fitter I got, the easier it was to move in bed. When we get so unfit is when we have the most problems! We have all heard the adage, 'If you don't use it, you lose it'. That goes for everything!

I know it is difficult to exercise, when we have Pd, but we have to force ourselves to do it.

You can exercise in bed or in a chair! I know it is difficuolt!!!! But you would be surprised how much better you feel afterwards. Don't rely on pills. They do nothing to get you fit.

ONLY YOU CAN DO THE EXERCISE FOR YOURSELF!

Come on!

Find out from your physio what exercises you can do and then get on and do them!

JOHN

[Babygirl in reply to JohnPepper]

Thanks John!

[gran5-]

I didn't read all the comments so if this is duplicated my bad. When I was in a hospital my bed had a trapeze (spelling) . It was a big help.

[Jenette]

I take Sinemet ER and requip ER before bed and have no problems

[Auntiekath]

I am living on my own since my husband died in february BUT I HAVE PLENTY of handrails all around the appt. I ALSO HAVE A CARAVAN porta potti next to the bed which is easy to empty each day I have two single beds which are Electric to move the head or the feet I find that moving the head part into a sitting position makes getting out easier I was in and out of hospital three times last year and I was provided with a hospitl bed that had a mattress like FOAM AND AFTER GETTING ONTO THAT i couldnt move I was just stuck on the mattress

and it made thinbgs worse for me. IT WAS IF i JUST SUNK INTO THE MATTRESS AND STAYED THERE. i ALSO USE A CANE AND HAve plenty of sticks to help me pick up things from the floor or other things that are out of reach very usefull.. I live in France and we have supermarket Lidl I bought them from there very cheap and also my canes they are the most usefull things.I also find when showering top use smaller towels to dry myself as theyare easier to manage. I feel I am very lucky concerning medication for the first 9 yrs I was on Requip which controlled the parkinsons very well after that I had some years of trying allsorts of medication as I had to start taking Levadopa and Levadopa and Requip did not work for me so eventually I stopped taking Requip. But to cut a long story short I am on Apokinon which I have over 24 hrs changed twice a day I had it at the beginning alongside LEVADOPA BUT THAT WAS NOT GOOD AND GOT OUT OF HAND WITH ME TREMBLING A LOT LAST YEAR WHEN i WAS ADMITTED TO THE uNIVERSITY hOSPITAL AT tOULOUSE WHERE tHEY SORTED OUT MY MEDICATION THEY CHANGED THE DEBIT PER HR IN MY SYRINGE WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY A PUMP AND I HAVE NO NEED AT THE MOMENT FOR OTHER MEDICATION. i HOPE THIS MAKES A BIT OF SENSE AND THAT ANYONE BENIFITS FROM MY RAMBLINGS AND TERRIBLE TYPING BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD THING TO LIVE WITH. gOD bLESS YOU ALL aUINTIE kATH. tHANK YOU ALL FOR ME BEING ABLE TO READ YOUR COMMENTS

[Sedona]

This is becoming a big problem for me, especially since I get up several times in the night. I recently pulled a muscle in my neck just trying to sit up in order to get out of bed. So, now I throw the covers off and roll off the side of the bed and hope that I can get my legs to hit the floor first. If not, I pull myself up with the side of the bed. I have thought about purchasing a new bed frame with a foot board that has posts and either using a cane to hook onto it or tie a rope on it to pull myself up with. The thought of using a rail seems confining, I know it would help me to sit up, but it would block me from getting out of bed.

[esrob]

I have a grab rail and wear satin nightclothes anda they help a bit. I still find it difficult to turn over from my back to my side, and getting out is becoming more difficult. Heigh-ho! It's all good exercise!

Auntie Kath, you are an inspiration.