Aging is such a joy. Larry had to pee yesterday. Raised his lift chair and pulled his short and disposable underwear down. Noticed the underwear was wet. Got a new pair. Took off his shorts and wet underwear. Put the dry underwear and shorts on. Pulling them up somehow he fell to my left. Trying to keep him upright I rolled off my foot losing my balance. Tried very hard to keep us upright. No dice. Down we went. Fortunately it was a soft landing with me on the bottom cushioning his fall. We had a few scrapes. Lucky once again.
Down We Go: Aging is such a joy. Larry had... - PSP Association
Down We Go
30 Replies
•
Jeff, there are two ways to handle a fall. Either let go, hard I know, but necessary if you risk injury. Or best way is a controlled fall, if you know you are going, try and make sure the landing is as safe as you can make it.
Both are hard, but it's that old chestnut, who looks after Larry, if you are laid up. It's one thing for Larry to break a leg, but the whole world WILL collapse if you do!!!
Lots of love
Anne
• in reply toHeady
He’s got osteoporosis of the hips and osteopenia of the spine. His hitting the floor would be deadly. So far he has only cracked two ribs in January of 2017. Somehow it was a soft landing for the both of us.
Ouch!! Hope you are both OK . I would imagine you are both a little shaken. Heady has a point though must put your oxygen mask on first. I still have a long scar on my arm plus many long healed bruises where we fell together - luckily neither of us broke anything .....
Do look after yourself Jeff
Love Tippy xxxx
• in reply toTippyleaf
I was surprised as the fall began but knew to go with it.
Yipes! However did you get back up?
I got him on his knee then got in back of him and picked him up by the arm pits. Forty-three years of exercising is paying off. I had my weight belt on to help my lower back deal with it.
Thats the thing I dread most, Ivor taking me down when he falls..I don't think I would be able to let go of him. ...Brenda xxx
• in reply toBrenive
I don’t know how women can do this if their husband is bigger than they are.
Glad no one was hurt. I always dreaded dad falling and both of us going down, luckily it never happened.
Ron
This happened to us too.
Chris was not good and I fell with him. It was like slow motion - I remember thinking " If I split my head we are both doomed."
Luckily neither of us were hurt but I couldn't get him up. I tried to use the " camel" we had but he was unable to help at all. Chris was 6ft 1 and I'm 5ft. 5 So I called a neighbour.
That was the beginning of the end. Within a couple of days he was in hospital with an infection. Its weakness that makes the difference.
Thats why I focussed on mobility and eating !!!
love Jean x
• in reply todoglington
Larry’s mobility is declining as is he. He still eat pretty good.
At least you didn’t tell us that he pee’d before you could put the dry pants back on him. That’s where I thought you were going with this story 😂
Even when we’re on guard they still manage to surprise us with a fall. I’m glad it was a soft landing but oh my gosh, close call! It’s so scary when you both go down. I’m glad you’re okay. Phew!
Oh Jeff... It's scary when it happens isn't it? My hubby and I were lucky with all his falls ( as in no real damage to either of us) but every time it happened i had that instant panic that catastrophe was imminent!!
XX. Anne G
• in reply toraincitygirl
In the moment it was scary but I did manage to get as good a landing as possible. Only a few scrapes.
raincitygirl• in reply to
I found it important to "relax" into the fall - a soft sort of fall: I think not tensing meant fewer sprains and tips... Talk about "counter intuitive" though!
• in reply toraincitygirl
Years ago I went out on a dark winter morning to take the trash out to the curb. On one trip I hit a patch of ice. I was thinking about something else when I realized something was happening. The something was I was falling backwards. It was like everything slowed down. As I went down it occurred to me to relax. I did and landed on my back winding me for a moment. Also bounced my head on the walk. Got up and took the rest of the trash out.
Oh Jeff thank goodness you were both OK.
Chris has only taken me down once, he had a relaxed landing and I ended up on the pouffe.
He is 6ft tall and I'm 5ft 1ins, I have found strength I didn't know I had. He always wears a heavy leather belt which I grab if I have to manouvre him.
So keep on keeping on
Anne
• in reply toAnneandChris
He and I have been lucky to date. I expect him to break something eventually. That said I could be me.first.
When John was at home he was always falling and I used to turn him onto his knees and almost lift him up. It is amazing where you get the strength when you have to. You do amazingly well how you look after Larry. John brought me down with him a few times with me only having one broken wrist. He had a bad fall at the nursing home last week hitting his head and ending up at A and E. Now all he can do is sleep. X
• in reply toDickenson2
Larry hadn’t fallen a lot to date. He is falling more often than he has in the past.
Oh Jeff!!!!!
You are and continue to be such an angel to him! You have the patience of a saint!
• in reply toBettina545
So I’m told.
I've had a few falls with john, I used to turn him on his knees put a chair in front of him hands on the seat and Between us picked him up. He is now at the stage where he keeps saying he can walk, no he cant, but it scares you what he might try when your backs turned.
keep up the good work friends 😍 xxx?
• in reply toServena03
I don’t even have to turn my back. I always have an eye on him.
Oh, Jeff
I have so often been the landing softener.
Emotionally it is so like being in a car crash. Except it is the other crashing. Bad enough!
You describe the nightmare so well.
A horrible, but repeating thing. And, how anxiety provoking it is as we routinely provide care. It is constantly on our mind, but too easily we are caught out..
Horrible, no ammount of being risk aware is enough.
Warmly
Kevin
I know how you both feel . I have been falling more these pass few months . And thank God I havn't broken any bones. In December I received a concusion from my fall. Good luck ,You are doing a great job.
Maria Elena
• in reply tornpacu
We’ve had lots of narrow escapes. It a daily thing. Every time I move him I have to pay full attention to every shift in his body I feel.
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