Columns Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor 45 Minutes in the Life of John Peter Connor 45 Minutes in the Life of John Peter Connor by John Connor | November 6, 2020 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link I have two regular carers at the moment. The first to arrive greets me with her usual efficacious, “Good morning, John!” She’s loud enough to wake the whole street. Luckily, my neighbors should be up anyway, as my carers are booked for 11 a.m. each weekday. I have mentioned in my previous columns and in my warblings as a moderator of our MS News Today Forums (where I’m allowed more words than on Twitter!) that Iāve spent the majority of my professional life avoiding getting up in the morning. Iām certainly not going to start now that Iām actually paying for it! My other carer is far more sedate with his “Good morning, John.” Heās an enigma. As masks are worn at all times, I only see his eyes. These narrow if he disapproves of something. Both ask me how I am. I presume itās part of their training. Until I try to get up, I have no idea. Iāve done the “Well, Iāve got MS” line and got a snicker! I’m sure theyāve heard variations of that many times. But now I can never do it again. Well, I could when different carers turn up, but it even strikes me as a tad hackneyed. The routine is to first get me sitting on the edge of the profile bed. I raise it so they donāt have to bend when they push a nylon slider under my feet. I can then swish my legs out and grab my ladder. OK, explanation required: I wanted to be able to lift my torso on my own, especially if itās an emergency (er, when I need to use the bathroom) and only my wife is on hand. So, I hit the net and procured a four-rung rescue ladder for cave diving. Who knew it would also work for MS patients trying to escape their beds? A ladder to escape my bed cave. (Photo by John Connor) Thankfully, I also have a hoist, but if Iām ill enough to need it, thereās little point in aiming for a shower. Itās a bed bath, and the hoist gets me into my power chair at the end. At the moment, I can still get onto my commode/shower chair by using the Molift Raiser, and then I am carefully pushed to the shower. I can shower by myself. While I’m there, my carers make my bed. Itās like coming back to a serviced hotel room! Then, they put on squeezing wraps to contain my lymphedema, turning the previously laborious task into something of a Formula One pit stop. This really transformed life for my wife and me. Now, someone just has to let the carers in, and Iām sorted for the day ā except for that other olā bodily function that can strike anytime! Time is limited, but there is room for laughs, especially when barrier cream is being applied under my ā thereās no delicate way to put this ā testicles. My female carer cheekily asks if sheās doing it properly. She’s referring to the previous day when a 60-something carer-in-training was tentatively doing it and I had to ask her to delve deeper. As I put it, “to get my moneyās worth!” If you live in nappies and are constantly sitting or lying down, the bed sores can (and have) become horrendous! Then I replied with a joke that unfortunately I can’t repeat here. My carer stopped what she was doing and cracked up in laughter. Her knees bent. As I had her on the ropes, I followed up with, “I canāt even get my 63-year-old wife to do that!” Her legs bent further. Thankfully, the other’s eyes widened this time. It was a good start to the day. *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author John Connor In the ā80s, John Connor created the first regular column about the burgeoning London stand-up scene. In 1990 he wrote a book about its effect on the Edinburgh Festival: āComics: A Decade of Comedy at the Assembly Rooms.ā That year he also devised and ran a live topical stand-up team show at The London Comedy Store, The Edge (It was destroyed in 2020!). In 2009 John was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, which cut short his main job as a TV casting director for āBlack Books,ā āMy Family,ā et al. Now, John writes āFall Down Get Up Again,ā an irreverent journey with MS. Tags humor, lymphedema Comments Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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