Toe nails

[Debbieann]

It's the first time I've been asked but he asked me if I'd cut his toe nails, toe nails cleaning teeth, ooooh don't know how I'm going to do this, even the thought of trimming his moustache (which I have always loved) and shaving him!! Don't think I'm going to to be a very good carer, how am I going to get my head round these things HELP

[Heady]

Oh Debbie,  teeth I hate! That really turns my stomach.  I know this sounds crazy, but I much happier(!!!!!!) cleaning the other end. So in my book, if you can cope with the teeth cleaning, you are going to be fine!!!

Lots of love

Heady

[Nanny857 in reply to Heady]

Oh Heady, I'd do the teeth any day but not the other end.  Don't know I'm going to cope with that when it comes our way. Nanny857 

[jzygirl]

Oh you will.

 You just sort of drift into it all. I do finger and toe nails. Trim face nose and ear hair. Clean nose and ears out. Take teeth out and clean them and then the mouth. But don't ask me how long i have been doing these things because it just seems that i woke up one day and hey presto they was part of the routine.

The more you think about what you might have to do the more you will worry about coping when you have to.

   Janexx 

[goldcap in reply to jzygirl]

Jane, everything you said resonates with me. I do it all as well. The barbering thing is fun though I have gotten carried away. I do a pretty good beard trim now. We nair (hair remover) ear hair. I think it makes them feel better when they are well groomed. I must confess (warning this might offend some), I have trimmed, "the other end" other's have mentioned as well, as it makes diaper clean up easier. Try and beat that one-HA!

[jzygirl in reply to goldcap]

Snap. I find if you don't trim that end you get clingons on the starboard bow JIM. (I have got a funny sense of humour.) Janexx 

[goldcap in reply to jzygirl]

Jane, I've noticed-the clingons and the humor-keep it up.

Jayne2

[NannaB]

I have to do everything someone would normally do for themselves and have just drifted into it. What amazes me is how quickly C's finger and toenails grow.  I'm clipping every 2 weeks. I was told that CHC would pay for a chiropodist every 6 weeks. His nails would be curly if I waited 6 weeks before the next clip. Sputum and phlegm used to turn my stomach but now they are just like any other bodily fluid I have to deal with.  I'm sure you will just get on with it after the first few occasions.

Happy clipping!

🖐🏼 👣

X

[Debbieann in reply to NannaB]

Thank you, maybe it's an age thing, when my children were babies nothing fazed me, but when my grandchildren done'poo in the pot' (potty) did I heave an gag to empty it!  Chiropody and dentistry never been on my bucket list and as for the phelm thing!! Well maybe I'll get thin, won't be able to face eating.

My old age sorted too, my daughter has it planned that we pool our resources and buy a place with a granny flat for me! 

Your husband is obviously much further down this horrible route than mine, i hope I can be as strong as you

Love Debbie x

[Yvonneandgeorge]

I think you just get on and do it, really without thinking about it.  George has got a lot of phlegm which I don't really like dealing with, but what can I do? Going to cut George's toe nails this next week, he really is not well, keeps saying he is going to die soon, which upsets me so much, he could not even feed himself today. DN came in she said he has got the start of a chest infection, hopefully antibiotics will kick in soon. 

Career came in that had not seen him for 5 weeks she said she could see some much difference in his health, and he has lost half a stone, so worried about him, live to you all.  Yvonne xxxxxxx

[Nanny857]

Hi Debbieann, it's tough going but hopefully I'm going to make my motto "must do is a great master".  However I'm not looking forward to some of the tasks others are going through now, in fact I'm dreading them.  Nanny857 xx

[abirke]

Well I lost my last post to you unless I sent it and in that case just chalk it up to my dementia!

Anyway Well said Jane, you just get used to it Debbieann....I know I have even thought about what to eat while doing these activities! I am not sure I knew about toenails NannaB, ! Every 6 weeks...I think by two weeks, Bruce is shredding his socks! hahaha and the fastest hair to grow on Bs  head has got to be the nostril hair...constantly cutting! I use baby nail scissors for mustache and nostril. But debbieann, I think for all of these things you can get soemthing semi automated.  I know for his beard I had to go electric....and then when I saw that he lost coordination to brush his teeth, I bought electric there as well.......I know there are trimming kits for other hair... making it alot easier...look into those things...You will get used to it dear!

You can do it Debbieann, You can do it!

AVB

[goldcap in reply to abirke]

I agree the electric shaver and beard trimmers with add on nose hair trimmers make it much easier. If I do not keep F's fingernails clipped he scratches himself to the point of bleeding. Does anyone else experience this?

[Chris_F]

Hello Debbieann,

I don't care what anybody says, I didn't sign up for this and there are 2 chores I refuse to undertake - nail clipping is one of them. I came across a mobile chiropodist who attends after 24 hours notice and only charges a tenner. I always give her £15 and sing her praises because she provides an excellent service. I wont tidy up after toileting either. I have a remote controlled bidet type seat fitted and I just press the various buttons as required.

Good luck then Debbie

Chris F.

[NannaB in reply to Chris_F]

Hi Chris, Those bidet seats are good, we had one on holiday several years running.  Not sure what you will do when incontinence sets in though Chris and you are not told when the toilet is required.  Since PSP I've learnt it's best to never say never.

X

[goldcap in reply to NannaB]

Ahmen to that!

[Lieve]

My parents have a beautician come to the house who does both their nails every month or so. I've been clipping my dad's fingernails in between. His old hairdresser comes round when we ask him. The visiting nurses (every morning) wash and shave him (he hates it - one nurse has to catch every single hair by which time he is totally fed up!). And he has false teeth that no longer fit with the changing shape of his mouth, so that's that problem solved! See if you can at least find mobile helpers - there are more and more of them because of the aging population and they're not more expensive (usually) than visiting a beauty salon. Good luck!

Lieve

[mthteach]

Chris_F, I had to google the remote controlled bidet. How interesting. That might be worth looking into. That is a job that I hate also. I put my double gloves on and hold my nose. The really bad part for me is whats in the bowl is sometimes too large to flush. I have gotten a tool from the hardware store for clearing out lines. 

I bought a electric tooth brush as well, and there is a battery nose hair remover tool that I hand him, and he does the job. 

Debbieann, Good luck with this part of the sickness.

[Debbieann in reply to mthteach]

Tip a bucket of water and flush at the same time, usually does the trick!! 

[mthteach in reply to Debbieann]

Thank you for that Debbieann. I have a real big big issue with that. 

[goldcap in reply to mthteach]

I just replaced my toilets because of this very same problems. New ones take down anything and anyone in the near vicinity with a loud WHOOSH! who would have ever thought the highlight of my week would be getting toilets-H

[Hidden]

You will do fine. We all feel like this now and then.

I found a podiatrist who does Joe's toenails and it really makes him comfortable.

Hope you find your way. It's a long road but one we travel with courage because we have to keep reminding ourselves, they are the ones who are suffering...

Regards,

[ketchupman]

For better or for worse ... That's what I signed up for almost 35 years ago.  Never dreamed I'd be doing the things I have to do to keep my bride as healthy and comfortable as possible.  Many things are downright nasty, including what I had to do this morning to get her bowels flowing.  Something a nurse taught me about a year ago involving my index finger.  I won't go into any more details. But it works like magic over the drugs and enemas. 

But I have to hope that she would do the same for me if things were reversed.  Doing for my wife makes me feel just a bit more like Jesus and what he'd expect me to do.  

But I know as a man who is about 80 pounds bigger than my wife, I have it much easier than you ladies dealing with your husbands.  

Hang in there you caregivers.  You'll receive your reward one day. 

Ketchupman 

[Debbieann in reply to ketchupman]

You sound like you doing brilliantly, we gave the wheelchair a test drive today, I'm no lightweight, but not sure how to negotiate slopes with a 14stone man on board(sorry don't know what that is in lbs) but it's a lot!!

Debbie 

[DenB in reply to Debbieann]

I had to buy a motor for the back of my husband's wheelchair, or I would never have  been able to push it for long, especially useful in manoeuvring up the smallest slope.

D

[DenB in reply to ketchupman]

You are a wonderful husband, Ketchupman

X

[goldcap in reply to DenB]

I agree wholeheartedly!

JG

[PUTLAND]

Oh Debbie its ahead of all of us, don't know how I will cope.  At the moment my heart goes out to you, good luck and hope you can manage xxxx

[goldcap in reply to PUTLAND]

Putland, that's what I thought when I first came on here. You would be surprised what you can handle when you have too,

Stay strong, JGC

[Kelly55]

I winced reading some of this but it is amazing what you adapt to ! We have a lady come in to cut mums toenails and she still bites her fingernails so they're sorted. But the personal care is something I really struggled with at first (especially as I've never had children and never had to toilet someone before) but now although I sometimes grimace I just get on with it. Gloves and wipes are my best friends! And tonnes of tissues for saliva etc. to try and minimise drool everywhere. It's funny how much we take for granted with our own personal care when it's easy to look after yourself, so many crevices etc you have to be mindful of ! Mum won't let me brush her teeth anymore and has never been one for oral hygiene, so I feel guilty about that bit but again I guess you just do what you can! I'm late doing mums peg meds and cleaning the wound which tbh turns my stomach a bit especially having to push the tube in and out, but if I don't do it who will ! And least if I do it I know its done properly! If you can get barbers/chiropodist etc to visit the home then do it! Otherwise you'll manage I'm sure, good luck  

[abirke in reply to Kelly55]

Oh the PEG and spit machine.  Woke up yesterday morning to PEg fluid all over B and his side of the bed....Luckily  we have a bottom sheet which has proven effective in keeping the mattress dry.  Laast night I taped the tip shut  I think dad fiddles with it in the night....It's not strapped to his body as it was when he went to bed! And that loud saliva machine!!!!!!

The only help i can give you with that is after you clean the saliva canister, spray it with a disinfectant or just plain old clorox.  That way, bacteria cannot grow making it a more fowl endeavor when cleaning!

AVB

[Kelly55 in reply to abirke]

Mum opened her peg cap once but soaking herself in her stomach contents put her off enough to do it again! They do require a lot of maintenance though and a tray of items to give meds. 

The neuro told mum her saliva isn't bad enough for spit machine. So I dont know how bad you have to get! Mum drools and chokes on saliva and cattarh constantly but tbh after hearing about the cleaning of those machines maybe it's for the best!! 

[abirke in reply to Kelly55]

If you can stand the peg fluid, you can stand that spit machine...you never come in contact with the stuff...and I had to tell the Dr that B needed the machine....waiting for a dr to tell me anything means a long wait! If your mum needs it, and it sounds like she does (based on B's needs ) I would tell dr that she needs it! A neurologist is good for brain tissue...what does he care about spittle?....Mine just freaks out and says see you 6 months!

Good luck, Kelly

AVB

[Kelly55 in reply to abirke]

Thanks AVB! Yeah maybe I'll keep on about it at our next 3 monthly meeting!! Mum didn't say a word last time, despite still being able to talk a bit, and tbh I feel the meetings are now pretty futile. But I'm going to ask for a slide sheet and suction machine next time I think ! 

Saw GP earlier and she asked who's in charge of your mums care .. I paused and then said 'me' .. And then they replied no I meant what consultant etc and I said I suppose the neuro but I wouldn't call a 3 month meeting for half hour taking charge of care ! But we all know the real score on here and this site is best way to get info for PSP ! Be lost without it ! Take care ! X 

[abirke in reply to Kelly55]

Amen, Not only can one b**** and moan here, but we can learn how to be better carers and make our life a bit easier!

AVB

[DenB]

really?

[Doglinton]

Reading these I realise how many things I hate or dread have become part of what I do. I will arrange for some "beautician type things " to be done by others but its the phlegm, coughing, mouth cleaning,bowel problems which just have to be dealt with.  There's no option. Hate doing nose hair.

Stop the world I want to get off !! sometimes. I am not religious so its very much me on my own.

Battery pack for wheelchair next.

love, Jean x

[goldcap in reply to Doglinton]

You know what gets me? I had no idea they did so much grooming! So much for a quick shower and throwing on a hat

[DenB in reply to Doglinton]

It is one of the best purchases( battery pack for wheelchair) , I have or rather my son ( he lovingly bought it for us after watching me struggle)has ever made!! We have a TGA powerpack.

Dx