Does anyone have a smart toilet or similar system? Trying to plan ahead and keep my lovely mans dignity.
Also I am currently doing the towel drying for him but how does everyone else manage?
Any pointers or advice greatly received 😃
Having a really bad week 2 now of dizzy and wobbly symptoms. It’s just awful but I’m trying to keep upbeat and smile 💜
Hiya, we haven't got one of those toilets but we have started building a bungalow so we're putting one in in preparation!H
🤣😘
We installed a smart (or shower) toilet some months ago. We've been very pleased with it and it definitely helped reduce an issue with repeated UTI's.Our experience is however that it doesn't completely remove the need to use paper and so some 'manual' intervention is needed.
Also a point to be aware of is that should progression require you to use a shower wheelchair over the toilet, the smart toilet may need adaption to work. For instance some have automatically opening lid and you may wish to leave the shower chair over the toilet most of the time & the vent switch is pressure operated from the toilet seat which you may not be using.
As for drying, I know some speak very highly of air dryers however we took the view that MSA progression would mean that I would need to assist J in the showering process and so we just adapted to that early on.
I think the most important thing, if it can be arranged, is to have a wet room with plenty of space to move around with a shower chair. We also fitted a sliding door to the wet room which was one of the best things we've done as it made getting in and out so easy.
Take care, Ian
The smart toilet seat I’m looking at showers and dries. Do you think just a shower hose would be better? I know it’s difficult to answer but this whole situation is difficult.
Thank you for your answer it’s very informative.
I have a wet room but I don’t think it would take a shower chair, I’ll have to google it x
We had a Geberit care 8000 toilet installed when we had our bathroom reordered to a wet room. Our OT was able to get a shower chair provided that was able to roll over the toilet and still use all the functions. Space is the biggest issue for access when the toilet/shower chair is required. We found it really useful and while in the later stages there is some assistance required it is much less. Going on holiday to somewhere without one was always a bit of a nuisance! I do know that people have used the attachment that fits over your own toilet with good results though.
Thankfully we had a wet room sorted in plenty of time. Used a wheeled commode over the loo, manually cleaned up and straight into shower. When I returned said commode back to NRS they told me that there is a wheeled shower commode available.
We looked at those but didn't get and in fact my husband was only able to move sufficiently to sit on the loo for 6 months after diagnosis. (Couldn't walk, turn etc). A shower chair (which has a commode area for toilet use and washing) allows you to move him in and out of position. But you must make sure your loo is not too close to the wall to allow shower chair to go back far enough over toilet bowl. And that loo is not too high. Which is also contradictory because a higher loo is easier for them to sit upon. Though may require a step in front to raise feet and encourage his bowels!
My husband's deterioration was swift but hope you are luckier. I'd speak with your OT and get their advice before you spend a lot of money on something that may not be suitable shortly.
His progression seems to be rapid. Symptoms began last October with a finger tremor now can hardly turn, get up or walk. 😢
So sorry to hear that. It's a horrible descent and all the things you think you'll never have to do, will happen. The only good thing is it doesn't change overnight and you both get a little time to adjust your mindsets. I am just relieved we put in a wet room in time to allow easy access to shower and sufficient space for shower chair and at least 2 other people. (As soon as your husband requires hoisting in and out of bed/chairs and other people are involved, they are only allowed to work in pairs.)
My biggest regret is not recording my husband's voice. He lost his speech entirely and when we set up the eye gaze machine, it would have been great to use his own voice with it. Do look into voice banking with speech therapist or MSA Trust asap. Just in case.
Thank you x yes we’ve started voice banking xx
Hi, we had a bio bidet fitted in the wetroom, which proved really helpful and it helped retain dad's dignity as it washed and dried. However, we had issues trying to find a shower seat to fit over their already higher toilet and also, we found the seat a little small to sit on. I think the gerberit models are bigger. As others have said, it would be good to try to get advice from the OT before you spend any money.
Thank you x
We are having the smart toilet was sorted with OT though still waiting for work to commence just hope it’s not being done to late hoping as you all say it will help on the dignity side of things
Closomat palma we have had rep and all sounds good so fingers crossed hopefully hear in a few weeks as to when alterations can start and wet room fitted downstairs sorry it’s taken a while getting back
Advanced MSA / Towards the end
Fatigue/lack of energy
Leg half numb
Problem of clearing thick and sticky mucus 
advice
