The cushions on power chaird
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
September 22, 2009 8:00pm CST
My friend and I were discussing with my husband who is uncomfortable sitting on the miracle foam covered cushion of his power wheel chair. Now it is covered by a fine smooth fabric, but most of the people who use these are people who suffer from strokes, heart conditions, etc. and these people often are overweight with a lot of fatty tissue on the behind. But since my husband might have Lou Gehrig's disease or a similar one that where one loses muscle and fat, he is essentially flesh covered bone sitting on a smooth miracle foamed cushion.
My friend suggested that a cover of sheepskin would be more comfortable. My husband does sleep on a blanket and has another blanket under his fitted sheet and under that a mattress pad and he is a little more comfortable. The trouble is that there are more people who have had strokes, diabetes, overweight, then those who has als or lou gehrig's diesease.
So do you suppose that if there was a way to find out that someone has als sooner, rather than after all the elimination tests be done, that the chance of getting a sheepskin covered cushion for power wheelchairs would be considered standard issue?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
17 Oct 09
We finally got a new cushion. My friend knows an upholsterer who made a special cushion for my husband. He has been doing it before because it seems that there are not that many who understand that someone with als needs a lot of padding below because their muscles are going. Now my husband is comfortable, but he gets bored easily sitting so long. You can't win.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Sep 09
I think they are available in the States, and we can get a separate sheepskin, but then we have to make a cover and also attach two heavy velcro straps on the bottom side of the cushion to keep it from sliding off. And the material at the bottom has to be such that it will not pull apart and if the cover has to be washed or dry cleaned, one side does not shrink or become misshapen. I was thinking of putting a piece inside between the foam and the cover, but that might not work as it might slide and besides I feel the sheepskin on top would be the best solution.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
27 Sep 09
That would be a good idea. I was thinking of the cost. I heard they are quite expensive and we are already over our budget as it is.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
23 Sep 09
It's too bad they don't offer that option now. There are many, many thin people in wheelchairs--we just don't see them very often because they're so ill that they don't get out much! Did I suggest a donut cushion? I don't remember. They're soft and keep his bones off the hardness of the seat.
Have you been in touch with the ALS society? http://www.alsa.org/ They have a lot of information there and support, too. Perhaps you can tell your story there and maybe you can get a grant to come to the states for testing--a grant is where they pay your expenses.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Sep 09
We do have a center here in Winnipeg for Als patients. The trouble is that my husband cannot get in unless the tests prove he officially has Als. The specialist says that he has a 99 percent chance of having it, but there is a one percent it could be a nerve blockage that prevents the flow of blood, etc. but she was trying to make him feel better - after all, it is easier to say that there is hope when there is none. The tests we have come up in the end of October and in November, and once we get the results, then his care will go to Deer Lodge which is the ALS center here. They will probably get him the cushions or whatever that are specific for als patients. I will see if there are cushion covers for not just the wheelchair but our lift chair on the net and see if there are any around.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
23 Sep 09
suspenseful I do think there is a way , no I know there is a
'way as a friend of mine here has started feeling that he was'getting'
forgetful and wanted to find out if he was getting Als disease. he went to his doctor and his doctor did some tests. gorge told us his tests came back showing beginning alzheimers disease and the doctor put him on aricept, maybe you have heard of it , the doctor told him that aricept slowed down beginning alz and even sometimes just stopped it so I think you should look into this with your husband doctor and find out if he can also test your hubby the same way our george was tested.then you could both maybe rest a little easier if you knew more what you are dealing with.hope I have helped a bit. hugs.
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Sep 09
Als is not Alzheimer. It is Lou Gehrig's disease and in that you regain your mental facilities. So my husband still has his memory, both short and long term, and it is much easier to find out if someone is senile or has the beginning of alzheimers then to find out that he will lose his muscles, and p one of the muscles he will lose the use of at the end would be his heart muscle. The only way to find out if someone has als is to take tasts like MRIS, to see if the brain works, neuro stimulus reponse, etc. and if there is no clots in the brain, etc and none of the signs of a stroke, bad heart, lack of mental activity and yet the muscles continue to shrink and atrophy, then the only thing it is is als or Lou Gehrig's disease.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
23 Sep 09
Your suggestion might be the deciding factor, I would call them and ask about it. Maybe they don't deal with medical personelle directly and a fresh voice from the community who uses it might help others in the future.
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@suzzy3 (8341)
•
24 Sep 09
Sheep skins are very soft and comfy.My son had a sheep skin in his cot when he was a baby and it was so soft and comfy.I do hope your husband is ok and I am sorry to hear he is so uncomfortable it must make him ratty and irritable poor you,hope you sort this out for him.Best wishes.sue.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
27 Sep 09
He did want me to cut the foam we bought for our queen sized bed that we got rid of into cushion size, and put four together. And I told him it would not work, but you know my husband, he bugs and bugs and bugs until in order to keep quiet, I cut the pieces of foam put them into a plastic bag, took out the old miracle foam cushion. Oh it was comfortable all right, but it did not fit right, I could not put him down at the correct angle with the Hoyer, and he kept slipping forward.
I tell you, my husband has some wild ideas and they do not seem to work, but I do think the sheepskin idea is good. So I will be looking for a sheepskin cushion cover for the wheelchair set. At least it will be income tax deductible if the handicapped store here has it in stock, but I doubt it.
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