Tips on getting around with one arm.

[Mardelle]

Hi ...
I just rest the tooth brush on it's side and lay it flat on my bathroom counter top. Sometimes I was position it upright with a slight angle on the basin as well. Then I gently squeeze out onto brush..
Mardelle

[RobertRacer]

I still dont order Steak when I go to a restaurant.

I have an electric can opener. First time I tried it post injury, I didnt think about popping the little magnetic handle up, that the lid was no longer attached an ravioli went everywhere. I make sure to prop my bad hand or something under it when releasing now.

For bathing, I got one of those loofa things (I think thats the name) that is on a maybe 18inch plastic handle. I can get everywhere now.

[Mardelle]

Dining out use to pose a problem...I oly ordered short noodle pasta dishes, so I could stab easily.
Now I carry a rocker knife designed for one hand cutting right in my purse. It's tricky though, you got to remember to scooop it off your plate, clean it off and stash it away before you leave, or you may lose it. For women it's easy to store in our purses. I have seen men wear fanny packs, this would help to store the knife safely and easily.

When I am ordering a steak at a restaurant. If I am tired and cannot cut my meat up. I ask the waiter to do it...Tip him more in the end. Or, I simply will do it on my own.

When I was in France for 3 weeks years ago..I use to pull out my simimulated bone handled rocker blade cutting knife to cut my food. Staff thought this was very high class. A woman who brings her own custom utensils...at the end it had two prongs that looked like it could also be a type of fish knife. The waiter would always wash and return the knife with great fasination

And lastly, sometimes a date loves to cut the meat up, makes them feel helpful and pampering of you. Let them do it...have fun...let them feed you too

With Peace, Love & Light
Mardelle

[Sparrow]

Oh RobertRacer, you reminded me of something I haven't thought of in a while. My first date post injury. I was asked to choose a special=occasion place to have dinner. The circumstances of our initial meeting allowed me to pretty much hide the fact that I was injured. Well, silly me, I chose a nice crab place. I Didn't even think about how I'd get the shells off. ...nor did I consider what just one glass of wine would do when mixed with the neurontin, amytrip, and percocet. LOL!!!! I ended up bursting into tears and explaining that unless I chewed the shells off and spit them back onto my plate, I couldn't do it. A joke was made about Daryl Hannah in that movie "Mermaid"...when she picked up a whole lobster and started gnawing. Funny in the movie but not so much in real life, My date was a good sport but suffice it to say, there wasn't a second date. I ate the salad and took the crablegs home. After I was preactilly carried into the house to sleep off the wine/drugs, I ended up beating them open with a mallot so I could pick the meat out of the mess on my counter. Once the bruise on my ego healed, I was able to laugh about it and be more careful when I'm eating out and more up front about my arm.

[s8n]

sparrow i believe the name of that movie was "splash" i named my daughter maddison after the mermaid in that flick. very funny story though lol. i do all sorts of stuff not thinking ahead on how i'll do it i come up with some very interesting comedy relief though. cheers.
daniel

[RobertRacer]

Regular folks just get the menu and think "Oh that'll be good" and they order it. I presume most of you, like myself, get the menu and think first "Can I eat that easily" and then go "Oh that'll be good.

Plus menus , like newspapers, are frustrating as crap to me! I have to make a big enough flat spot on the table to lay it out.

I want to know this question as I have my own way:
How does everyone dry off after taking a shower?

[desert_rose]

Hi every one

Im new to this forum and found this topic quite interesting.

I fell off a moving vehicle when I was 3 and this left me with no use of my right arm. i am now 23, married and i have 2 beautiful sons...

here are some of my tips....

I use my toes to hold my babies legs up so that i can clean his bottom

I bought a peeler that fits on the middle finger to make peeling fruits and veg easy

i type with my left thumb positioned on the space bar and my four fingers positioned on FGHJ

I drive an automatic vehicle and got the vehicle modified so that the indicators are now easily reachable for me on the left hand side of the steering

to open jars/bottles, i simply put it in between my thighs or between my feet

i grate cheese etc, by holding the grater using my mouth or simply use the gadget that comes with a container for the cheese to fall into... i place the container against my body and grate away

i will add more when i have more time\

Stay strong!
Zeenat

[AngelaW]

Welcome to the group. I hope you enjoy It as it is a great community.
That peeler sounds awesome. Where did you get it?
I like hearing childcare tips as I often worry about having kids in the future.

[desert_rose]

thank you very much.

i bought the peeler from a store called Adams here in Johannesburg. If you want one, i will be more than willing to post one to you if you email me your mailing details. Its really a great help.

Dont worry about having children, trust me, once you in the situation, you WILL find a way to do every thing. I care for my two boys without assistant, and some times get annoyed when ppl ask how i manage. But i guess they just cant fathom such a situation.

One brand of disposable nappies is the best, and thats Huggies Gold. It has a velcro waistband which makes tying the diaper easy with one hand. Pampers And cheaper brands are no good because of the sticky tape fastener, it sticks to ones fingers.

Where there's a will, there's a way

[Mardelle]

Hi All!

I agree with the diapers: Huggies Brand" are the best choice for one handed parents I also used cloth with velcro closures...awesome for the environment too:)

Last night I was making dinner and I was about to prepare 3 veggies with dinner. One were new potatoes. Easy one prick each with a fork. Microwave on high 3-5 min. depending on the strength of your microwave oven.
The next was asparagus. I buy them with the elastic at the top and bottom. I store them in a large mug with water in the fridge. When I need to cook them I first place them on my thick plastic cutting board. I leave the elastics on. I roll them up until I can get a clear cut of the bottom stems. I either use my cleaver to roll and chop the inch or so off. Or if they are really woody stems, I have a pair of small garden pruners I keep just in my kitchen. I cut down towards the board or on a side angle. Which ever gets the job done the fastest. Then I take the bunch still with elestics on...over to the sink. In run them under water rinsing by prying the last two fingers up from the bottom, rolling my thumb in the front. This way I can thoughaly clean the stems of asparagus keeping them all in tact. After I place them in the middle of the pan, I cut the elastics with the a pair od scissors and I and I'm good to go.

Then I sautee them in 2 tablesoons of becel- 1/2 the juice of a fresh lime, 1 teaspoon of fresh or dried dill weed and salt/pepper to taste. Cook them on medium heat turning often. About 4-6 min. They are delicious!


Bon Appetitie
Mardelle