Transfers - No not football

Back in February of this year, I put a video onto Facebook of me doing a transfer out of my wheelchair and onto my commode, using my transfer board.

 

 

Transfer Video 4th February 2013

 

I was interested to see my transfer for a number of reasons. 

 

I am often asked how my strength and movement is.  Being in a wheelchair full-time it is difficult to really know the answer to this.  My transfers are my only real "exercise" but as I never see myself doing the transfer it is impossible to say how this has changed.

 

I wanted to be able to see how my transfers changed over a period of time.  Are these becoming more difficult, and could I identify things that might make these easier. Would changes to equipment, or to my routine, change how I did my transfers, and make these easier or harder. 

 

And I also wanted to be able to show other people an option they had regarding moving, when or if they became wheelchair bound.  Many people I see and speak to, in a wheelchair, speak about needing to be hoisted in order to transfer.  Even the majority of carers who come to me are surprised that I don't have a hoist. 

 

I was given the transfer board to use whilst I was in a Rehabilitation Centre, and after 3 months in hospital being hoisted, it was a great to find an alternative.  Hoisting can be uncomfortable and undignified.  Using the transfer board allows me to retain some independence, and allows me to use my legs and arms to a limited extent to move myself.

 

Before I did this first video in February, I had the impression that my transfers weren't very hard work.  I do them everyday, usually about 10 times a day from and to various chairs, bed, commode, etc, and they were part of my normal routine.  I just do them, without thinking.

 

I was shocked when I saw how much effort I was putting in to these movements, and many of the comments posted on Facebook, confirmed that many people who watched the video, also thought these were hard work.

 

So on Monday this week, I did another video of the same transfer.  Since the first video in February, I have changed the seat on the commode to one that is lower.  This has been a long drawn out affair to get this changed, which goes back about 18 months - and highlights the problems and incompetence of Social Services, but I'll write a full account of that another time.

 

I was also interested to see if the recent attempts at standing would have an impact on how I did these transfers and the movement of my legs.

 



 

Transfer Video 3rd June 2013

 

Having looked at both of these video's, I don't think there has been much change to how I do these, or to the effort required.  It's early days, in terms of my standing attempts, for this exercise to have any real impact on my legs and how I can use them.  I certainly don't think these transfers are any more difficult than last time I videoed them.

 

I still think doing these transfers, using the transfer board, is far better than being hoisted, and will resist having a hoist until it is absolutely the only choice available.

 

The other thing that strikes me about these video's is how I look.  I'm used to my fat bald head.  I've lived with that bit of equipment for years.  But it's the size of my stomach that shocks me.

 

I'm not one for constantly looking at myself in mirrors or shop windows, and I usually try to avoid being in photographs if at all possible.  A combination of Prednisolone and Guinness, not necessarily taken together, has certainly contributed to the girth of my belly, but also the loss of muscle in my stomach only makes it look worse.  It's not something that I get too hung up about, but it is something I look at with some disappointment.

 

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I'd suggest if you find me beautiful, you need your eyes tested!

 

The lady assisting me in both of these video's is my regular carer, Margaret.  She has been coming to me for almost two and a half years, and is very good.  Please do not be disturbed by the fact that she talks about killing me in both video's, as I'm pretty sure she is joking!

 

Seriously, Margaret is great fun, and we have a good laugh together.  She understands what I want doing, and how I want it done, and I understand how she will do things, so we can get on with the care tasks quickly and efficiently.  We can have a laugh and I regularly tease her about things she does, which she takes in good humour- or a threat to hit me!

 

I am very grateful to Margaret for all her help.