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Post by warren214 on Sept 14, 2014 13:40:52 GMT -7
I was wondering what kind of toilet seat one would need for easy transfer for double amputee. I want to make sure I have what I need when I get home after surgery. Thank you all!
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Post by Ann on Sept 15, 2014 0:01:36 GMT -7
Hi Warren, I am a bilateral amp and didn't know there were special kinds of seats available, I have just made do with whats available but I think much will depend on your bathroom and your wheelchair and how much room or equipment like rails, etc. that you already have in place.
Also your upper body strength bearing in mind in the short term, straight after your op you might be a bit weaker and your legs feel uncomfortable, so you might want to think about a commode or something similar, there are some types you can use like a shower chair, you can use that go over the toilet.
I don't remember how I was originally shown to transfer to the toilet, but know sometimes bilats find it is easier to have the wheelchair in front of the toilet and transfer straight on frontwards, othertimes, sideways.
I imagine though, initially you will be assigned to a physiotherapist or OT who will help advise on all this.
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Post by cherylm on Sept 15, 2014 2:25:20 GMT -7
Well, Ann's your best resource for a bilateral amp...but I do have a little experience with "toileting issues." If you're ultimately headed for using prostheses, it might be useful to have a raised toilet seat...easier to stand up from one of those than the standard height seat. Until you're into prosthetic legs, though, the seat itself is less important than having sturdy things to hold on to while using your upper body to transfer to the toilet. There are "commode-type" frames that can be set up around a standard toilet to provide arms to hold onto. Grab bars installed on the walls around the toilet are much sturdier, but are often harder to have positioned. I, personally, just use counter tops, bathtub edges, and even the side of my shower bench when I find myself needing to to an upper-body transfer...but I also have one leg to stand on!
And Ann's right...you should have home visits from a PT and/or OT to look over your surroundings to make some recommendations and be sure you can make your transfers safely.
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Post by Ann on Sept 15, 2014 5:00:58 GMT -7
Just to add to what Cheryl has said .... do get the advice from an OT/PT on this ..... and make sure that any adaptations you have done will take all of your body weight and are very secure.
Bathrooms can be difficult for Bilaterals, be very careful about putting your weight on ordinary bathroom fittings, its an automatic thing to do and with a prosthetic/s you can sometimes get away with it as Cheryl says but bear in mind after your surgery you will be entirely dependent on your upper body for transferring etc., you also don't want to be risking damaging newly amp'd legs.
I don't think I am particularly heavy, but I have broken grab bars, toilets and bathroom sinks, not to mention numerous cupboard doors and household appliances whilst leaning on them on for support and leverage, I am sure many bilaterals will echo this. I have learned to be very cautious with household fittings and what I put weight on, I try and get bathroom fittings reinforced with support so get some professional input on this preferably from an OT/PT.
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