Question:
Anyone else with this problem? What have you tried?

I am just home from open RNY and found it damn near impossible to get off on and off the toilet at home. My house is vacated and on the market to sell, but at my house I had a counter next to the toilet in the guest bathroom. In my mother's 1970s home (where I am recovering) all 3 bathrooms have no counter or anything next to them to lean on for support. My brother is in the bathroom now trying to rig-up a pulley system for me to hold on to ropes strung through hooks bolted to studs for me to lift myself up using arm strength instead of horrible pressure on incision site. Has anyone else had to do something to address this? If so, what did you do???    — Wendy T. (posted on July 25, 2003)


July 25, 2003
I used a cane. Did the trick.
   — joeandteri

July 25, 2003
Medical supply stores have a thick donut thing that sits on the toilet giving it more height. Cheap easy solution. <P> Older folks have this trouble for them handicap toliets that are higher can be installed.
   — bob-haller

July 25, 2003
What about one of those toilet seat booster seats? I forget what they are called but we had to get one for my Father-In-Law. I think we got it at a medical supply store, it adds inches so you don't have to go down so far to sit or stand. Makes it easier to sit and stand when using the toilet.
   — doodlebug

July 25, 2003
The devise to raise the toilet seat is a great idea. But I found using a walker to hold on to when I got up helped a lot too. Not only did it give me something to push up on, but it stabalized me too. I was using the walker because I had hurt my knee.
   — Patty_Butler

July 25, 2003
When my mother in law needed assistance for other reasons, we placed her portable commode over the toilet and took off the receptacle that was below. The seat of the commode was higher than the toilet seat, and it has handles to puch up on. It did the trick for her. I didn't have a problem when I was post op Lap RNY. Good luck!
   — Fixnmyself

July 25, 2003
My husband bought me the medical donought to put over the toilet. It raised it about 5 inches or so. He got it at Walgreens for around $30.00. I also bought the shower seat and handrail for the tub, which I also used to help get in and out of the shower and up off the second bath toilet.
   — Heather M.

July 25, 2003
I have a toilet lift, that helps me not have to go so far down on a low toilet, it works great, and you do not need to pull on anything, a medical supply store would have one you could buy, and I have a walker that I use now, because I have had a stroke and lost some mobility in my left leg, you can probley rent a walker by the week or month. They have handles that lock in so they do not move. I have my surgery on August 6th, and having the lift and the walker and a recliner, atleast that is one battle I do not have to deal with, and get up and down by myself.
   — cindy

July 25, 2003
Do you have a walker or know of one you can borrow? It worked great for me.
   — Sharon H.

July 25, 2003
Original poster here-- were any of you guys 325 pre-op? My brother went to the medical supply store for me and tried out walkers, toilet lifts, etc. and talked to the guy there. The guy there told him that he could not recommend any of these for someone over 300 lbs. and my brother tried out several of these things (now he is maybe 180 soaking wet, but he tried to put high pressure on them, etc.) and didn't find them to be stable enough that they would hold my weight. The pulley thing he made after a brainstorming session w/ the guy at the medical supply store has worked so far, just requires a lot of energy each time (and, of course, I don't have an over-abundance of energy right now). Thanks to all who responded to my original post! Please keep me in your prayers as I am still in so much pain. THANKS A MILLION TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SENT ME WELL-WISHES, ETC.!!!
   — Wendy T.

July 26, 2003
In each of my bathrooms we have a handicap rail installed by the toilet on the wall. We started this when the "Mom in law" lived here. I don't think I would have one without now. Even now after I lost my weight, with any surgery I had (PS0 or guests that need some asst this is so helpful. Since it's your Mom's house, I'd bet she'd really like it too. Good Luck!
   — ZZ S.

July 28, 2003
Yes there is equipment out there for morbidly obese people. I know because I have some at home and I'm an equipment specialist with a hospice and arrange for home equipment for our patients. Not all companies carry the items - but more and more are as our country is producing more and more MO people. Try a national company like APRIA. They may be able to order it special for you and if your doc writes a prescription, your insurance should cover all or most of the cost. You can even have a special bidet hooked up to the commode to help with personal cleansing (it has a hand held control). Go on-line and enter medical equipment or bariatric medical equipment in a search. You slhould be able to find something or jsut start with your phone book - there are usually many equipment companies in town. There are probably 40 where I live and at least 5 of them have the bigger, heavier equipment in stock. What you really need is a locking elevated toilet seat with arm rests. And a couple grab bars installed around you would be helpful as well. There is also a pole available that can be installed - it's bolted to the ceiling and the floor and has adjustable handles you can use to pull yourself up with. Good Luck!
   — Deborah F.

July 28, 2003
Additional note.....i forgot to tell you, I'm 450lbs (was 498) and the equipment is sturdy, safe and works well. tHE BARIATRIC equipment usually is able to support up to 600-800 pounds depending on the piece of equipment. You can even get beds for at home that raise and lower the head, foot and height of the bed and another called a Hi-Lo that can do all that plus fold itself into a sitting position so it's like you are sitting up in a chair!
   — Deborah F.




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