This whole "losing my arm strength" thing is getting very annoying. Not only is almost everything too heavy for me to pick up, even something as small as a dozen eggs, but now my fingers have taken to locking up consistently whenever I extend them to reach, grab, or push something. It's like the knuckle joint on each finger actually inverts and locks during the process. Then I have to stop whatever it is I am doing, release the hand in question, or both hands sometimes, then shake them to loosen my fingers.
It's all kinds of things, though. For example, not only can I not roll over in bed, I can't even roll onto on side these days. This means when I am put to bed, I need to choose my position carefully as I will likely be there for at least 12 hours. I'm going to start asking my HCA's to put me on my side. I'll sleep that way for a few hours, then roll onto my back for the rest of the night.
Then there's my jackets and hoodies. I simply am not strong enough to pick them up over my head. I need someone to help me put them on. These days I take them with me and ask the first person I meet to help me, even if it's a stranger. Actually I ask strangers for a lot of help these days. I find people are almost always both willing and cheerful. They seem to innately understand the issue.
I've also discovered that I can no longer open some of my pill bottles, expecially the larger ones, which really aren't that large. The child-proof caps are also ALS-proof caps. I know I can get my medications in blister packs, although I don't know what that will cost. My current worry is whether or not I will be able to tear open the packaging.
And that's another thing... packaging. But this is enough complaining for today. I have a lot of reasons to dislike packaging, so more on that another day.
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