GETTING DRESSED

[Auddonz]

My husband is having difficulty getting his pants on and also a jacket if needed. Actually dressing seems to difficult in general. Is this a progression of the disease. He was diagnosed in Oct of this year. Any suggestions PLEASE

[Jemr]

I don't think it means progression of the disease just a symptom of PDs small motor skills control. Has he had physical therapy for the PD?

[Auddonz in reply to Jemr]

Hi jemr, Yes he has had some pt but they won't come any more. He also is getting ot but don't know how much longer he will qualify for that.

[Jemr in reply to Auddonz]

I would encourage him to use his hands to do things as much as possible, even picking up coins and putting them in a jar!

[MagicMax]

I have lived with PD for 12 years, and dressing is starting to be a problem. I always stood up to put my pants on. Now I have to sit on the edge of the bed. Sometimes my caregiver lends a hand. There are shirts made that use velcro to hold them closed; and they look like regular button down shirts. Every little trick in the book helps.

[Auddonz in reply to MagicMax]

Hi MagicMax, Totally agree, Every little trick in the book helps and I encourage him to use them. I am his care giver or trying to be. We are both seniors and some things are difficult for me to help him with :(, but I try and so does he.

[JohnPepper]

Hi Auddonz. I don't think it is a sign of the progression of the pd but rather a common problem with most people.

He needs to take his time and concentrate on what he is doing. Don't be in a hurry!

It is safer to sit down while putting on trousers and shoes and socks. It is also easier that way. Reaching the toes is often very challenging but regular stretching exercises should help with that. I find that I can use one hand better than two because reaching down there with both hands is far more difficult. I use a shoe horn, which sounds very old-fashioned but it helps. With my socks I often have to ask my wife to help me get them over my toes but then I can get them up properly. Don't try to do everything for your husband as it takes away his self-confidence. WE don't have a lot of self-confidence as it is, and losing one more skill just makes it worse. Get him to do as much as he is able, and don't try to do everything for him, unless you want to break his spirit entirely.

Good luck!

John

[Leilani23 in reply to JohnPepper]

John, that is very wise advice.

By the way, I just ordered your book from Amazon. I'm looking forward to reading it -- and acting on it!

Leilani

[JohnPepper in reply to Leilani23]

Hi Leilan. May I also say that Pd is a challenge and sometimes it pays to laugh at ourselves and make light of the Ooops's!

Good luck!

John

[Leilani23 in reply to JohnPepper]

You're absolutely right! I told my husband to call me Flopsie because of all my chin tremors and we have a good laugh because of all the times he calls me that. It's a lot better feeling to laugh than to worry.

[JohnPepper in reply to Leilani23]

Hi Lellani. You are quite right. It is amazing how laughing helps other people to feel at ease in our company. Most people do not know how to handle being in the presence of a person with Parkinson's. Pd is actually worse for the carer than it is for us. Their job is much more difficult than our discomfort and frustration. I still spill things and knock things over. I lose my balance and bump into things, but I just laugh about it and apologize to anybody affected by my clumsiness. I am much more confident about myself and my Pd than I used to be. Confidence is the one thing we lose straight away with Pd. That is the thing we have to work on the most.

Kind regards

John

[Leilani23 in reply to JohnPepper]

That's so true. I'm still working on the confidence part, since I'm new to this game. But I'm getting more confident now that I see good results from the brisk walking. It's amazing the impact it has on my balance. Yippee!

[JohnPepper in reply to Leilani23]

Hi Leilani. You are like a breath of fresh air. Tell everybody about your results and that will help them to do the same.

Good luck!

John

[Auddonz in reply to Leilani23]

Hi Leilani23, When I can, I will try to get my husband to do some walking. Right now I am down with a virus myself but I have told him to exercise more and he is trying.

[Leilani23 in reply to Auddonz]

Hi, Auddonz,

I hope you feel better soon. These winter viruses can take a lot out of you.

Best wishes,

Leilani

[Pete-1 in reply to JohnPepper]

Indeed John, I have just had the thought that this applies to all of life including anyone not afflicted by PD and all difficulties that seem to conspire against us.

I think we should all be allowed a infinite number of errors and Oooop's every day.

[serg in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi John I order you book 3 weeks ago and I haven't resieved it what's going on

[JohnPepper in reply to serg]

Hi Serg. If you write to me at [e-mail] I will be able to answer your question. All orders are delivered within 24 hours by registered post direct to your address. As I don't know your name I cannot give you the date of delivery.

John

[JohnPepper in reply to serg]

Hi Serg. I have written two emails to you and both of them have come back unable to deliver. Your tracking number is RJ 032 166 647 ZA. Your order was received on the 9th February and was posted by registered post on the 10th. If you phone your post office with this number they should be able to help you, If not then email me and I will phone from this end. I need your phone number in case I am unable to get you by email

Kind regards

John

[serg in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi John I'm Sergio Villarreal my email is [e-mail] my phone [phone]

[JohnPepper in reply to serg]

Hi Serg

I have just written to you on this new email address and see what happens.

John

[serg in reply to JohnPepper]

I got the # i will give this info to the post office

[JohnPepper in reply to serg]

Hi Serg. Thanks for letting me lnow. If you don't have any luck, send an email to me and I will follow it up at my end.

John

[serg in reply to JohnPepper]

Thank's

[Auddonz in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi johnPepper, I do encourage him to do as much as he can himself or give him tips that might help him. He does use a shoe horn to help him put his sneakers on, which we bought with velcro closures. There is something his OT gave him to put into his socks that is sort of rigid and has straps on either side. It helps tremendously. all he has to do is pull the straps and they pull them up. You might want to look into finding one. He does sit on the side of the bed to get dressed. My other thing to do is to get short tennis socks which I think will make life easier. But the OT will not be coming much longer since medicare will not cover it. I m petrified when that happens. BTW, are you a senior as well. We are, he is 77 and I am 76.

[Auddonz in reply to Auddonz]

BTW, johnPepperMay you said and I quote - I also say that Pd is a challenge and sometimes it pays to laugh at ourselves and make light of the Ooops's! Your attitude is so positive and appreciated.

[JohnPepper in reply to Auddonz]

Hi Auddonz. Yes! I turned 80 last year. What country do you live in? Have you joined a Pd support group in your area?

John

[allofatremor in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi John, My OH had a follow up yesterday with his Neuro, he was very pleased with him (no med tweaks or additional meds) great news!!!!!!!!!!!

I explained that my OH was always the worlds worst worrier prior to his PD dx, and now he is impossible to live with, and as regards the confidence factor it hits him hard as you mention in your post.

The neuro is at the forefront for PUK and said that 60% of Parkies are NOT getting the correct treatment/meds for PD, and this is a big aim he is working on.

I intend to read your book (on my list of things to do) hahaha!

The Neuro has recommended a book by an Australian Doctor Russ Harris (The Happiness Trap) he seems to think this will help us both to immensely (spelling)???

I have just ordered the book, and also there is another by the same author which I will purchase after we have read the first one. This one is all about confidence I think its called the confidence gap. I'll let you know the out come. xxx

[JohnPepper in reply to allofatremor]

Hi Alofatremor. You have the right approach. There is nothing to beat knowledge when you have Pd. There is no doubt whatsoever that you can treat Pd by putting a lot of effort into it and taking as few drugs as possible. Attitude plays a big part in all that.

Kind regards

John

[Auddonz in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi JohnPepper, No haven't joined one since I haven't I haven't a clue if one exists on our area. Would love to join one for both of us.

[JohnPepper in reply to Auddonz]

Hi Auddonz. I don't know where you live but most countrys have a Parkinson's Association. You should try to contact your national Parkinson's Association and see where the nearest group to you is.

Good luck

John

[Joanne_Joyce in reply to JohnPepper]

This is one thing I appreciate on this Forum. The issue of PD and loss of self-confidence is very real and it is only those of us with PD who even know about it. Thanks John for bringing this out in the open.

[JohnPepper in reply to Joanne_Joyce]

Hi Joanne. It is nice talking to you again. Talking about things is the best way to get on top of problems.

I was talking recently to a very attractive lady in her mid to late 50s, who suffers very badly from poor self-image. The problem is that she is unable to find a husband, even though she is still so attractive. We discussed various aspects of being single and, although she was unable to talk about certain aspects of sexuality, she accepted that she can still remain sexually active, even without a partner. She had grown up believing that masturbation was disgusting, and I have to assume that this aspect of her life was causing a great deal of problems with her self-image.

Thinking that she was doing wrong and being ashamed of being human, was one of her main problems. She has subsequently got a lot better and is now mixing with more people and getting out more often.

I feel a bit nervous about raising this embarrassing subject but who knows, maybe there are others out there who have the same problem. I am not qualified to talk on this subject but a sex therapist doctor spoke recently to one of the support groups I visit regularly. She talked about the important part that sex plays in our lives and our need to live a healthy sex life. She wrote an article for me to put onto my website, which is worth reading. Look at reverseparkinsons.net and see what she had to say.

Kind regards

John

[terib912 in reply to JohnPepper]

I agree 100% with you. My husband has ataxia a nd I started doing everything for him instead of letting hom do it. Now I really dont know after 2-3 yrs what he can and cannot do.

[JohnPepper in reply to terib912]

Hi terib. I thnk it is called, "Learned Non-Use", by which is meant that if you think you are unable to use your left hand to perform a certain task, then you will not try to perform that task with your left hand. Then that left hand ceases to be used and it starts to wither from non-use. What we don't use, we lose!

KInd regards

John

[Trenny]

How about sitting at the top of the stairs (if you have any!)? BUT don't stand up without holding on to something firm.

[Coblrman]

The medications helped some with the fine motor skills (like doing your shirt buttons). I still stand when putting on my pants (but then although I've had pd for 7+ years I still appear to be younger (57) than the average pd patient).

[Bobity]

Go to magnaready.com. They have fantastic shirts with magnets behind the the buttons. You can't tell from a regular shirt, and there is no no struggle with buttons .

[Auddonz in reply to Bobity]

Hi Bobity, Thanks for the suggestion but he has a pace maker/defib and magnets would not be a good idea.

[Beachdog]

Has the hub started any medications? Sinemet (carbadopa/levadopa) helps with motor skills. I still get tangled up in my jackets unless I am very focused on technique... facing the back of the jacket with each hand in the appropriate sleeve, I swirl the jacket around like a cape and slide my arms in. Usually works.

Also yoga is good although my motivation has waned. On Youtube, Yoga by Adriene, has a number of good yoga sessions including beginners, lunch time 20 minute sessions, and more. And she is not a fanatic... might be worth a look.

[Auddonz in reply to Beachdog]

Hii Beachdog, Yes he is in Sinemet. I help him with a jacket but his trousers are more of an issue. Getting his feet in each side is difficult and also getting them off. Appreciate your suggestion about yoga. Although right now now he is still trying to cope with all of his changes in his motor skills. Will try your suggestion with the jacket though.

[michaela13 in reply to Beachdog]

There is also chair yoga on the Internet for those who are having trouble with balance.

[redread]

Yes, it can be a progression of Parkinson's, and in my hausband's experience, it becomes more pronouncedwhen his meds are wearing off. Almost like dressing in slow motion! I had to shop for trousers with elastic waist, no belt unless a formal occasion. It's just too difficult for him to manage everything in the restroom. Also, no more buttons on shirts for daily wear. He is retired so it doesn't make much difference. There are clothes sold with velcro closing under the buttons but ther're pricey. Putting clothes on may take longer and be more difficult, but it is good exercise in the process. Sometimes it's the only exercise my husbands gets in the morning. I help him a lot.

[Auddonz in reply to redread]

Hi redhead. Right on target, yes dressing in slow motion. Very frustrating for him. He is not working, we are both seniors. His shirts just go over his head, no buttons, but his pants are more of an issue. He wears jeans and getting his legs in and out is very difficult. He would not wear pants with elastic, I know him. Got him sneakers with velcro which makes it easier for him to handle that issue. I try to make him get dressed with as little help from me as possible. What would happen if I got sick and couldn't help him. Scares me to death. He has exercises he is supposed too do but is so stubborn it drives me crazy. The therapy he has been getting will be ending soon, medicare pays for just a certain amount. Thank you again for trying to help us out. It is much appreciated.

[redread]

I bought the pants at Kmart of all places because they were just what he needed. They are dark grey jersey fabric with a string tie waist that he often leaves untied. Since he wears polo shits outside the trousers, or sweaters, they hide the strings. They are wash and wear, more like lounge pants, but look good wherever we go. He also wore jeans for years but Parkinsion's changed his habits. It was taking him more than an hour just to get dressed each day. He wore a suit to a funeral recently and worried the entire time that he would have a problem with the trousers. Just not worth it.. We turned the corner on those pants the day that one of his bridge playing buddies complimented him on his outfit. My husband is not too interested in exercising either. Did physical therapy and follows up when he thinks about it. Cold weather interfering with walks, etc. Good luck!

[Auddonz in reply to redread]

Redhead you are a sweetie for giving me the tip of where to get them,. Will talk to him about getting them. TY

[Auddonz in reply to redread]

Can't find them at the Kmart in Ocala. They have fleece, to warm, and another pair with cuffs t the bottom. There is only 1 pair with a pocket on the upper leg so that he can carry things on it.

[Rejuvem]

My father in law uses these Hand Grips to exercise his hands. It works great for helping him to maintain fine motor skill.

bit.ly/1D8T2JB

[Auddonz in reply to Rejuvem]

Hi Rejuvem, He has been using them, have a pair at home. Will see if they do help him more. Thanks for the input.

[willyjan1]

Yes dressing is one of the many things that go along with Parkinson disease. I was diagnosed with it in 2007. It's not the end of the world. I will tell you that having a good attitude is very important. I depend on the Lord, and He has been a wonderful help to me. I had to learn it the hard way. I finally turned it all over to HIM.I was even going to a counselor.

[helgab]

Is He taking any medication ?

[Auddonz]

Yes he is

[Espo]

Regarding pacemakers and magnetic button shirts, it probably depends on the pacemaker and the shirt. I have a Boston Scientific pacemaker model K274 and several Magna-Ready shirts (CUSTOMER SERVICE 866. 635.8866 magnaready.com/shop/MagnaRe... ) and had the combination checked and they are compatible.