How I Camp in a Wheelchair in my Wheelchair Friendly Trailer PART 2: USING THE TINY BATHROOM
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- Accessible RV's and trailers are expensive and not something that was financially possible for my family. So we bought a regular trailer with a wheelchair friendly layout. The bathroom is way too small for me to get in with my wheelchair, but I wanted to be independent while camping so I figured out how to ditch my wheelchair outside of the bathroom and lift myself around in the bathroom without it. I hope you find it helpful!
Part 1:
• How I Camp in a Wheelc...
Part 3:
• How I Camp In a Wheelc...
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Great video. I have been a para for 14 years and that made me nervous to watch. Very impressed at how you accept the circumstance of the small shower. I would just say no, but you prove I would be wrong. Thanks.
Thanks! It took me 3 years to build up the courage to try!
@@EmpoweredPara LOL that is small space to be moving around in, I would probably turn in the shower and put my legs down but that is a small tub, so I have no idea if it would be best to do that, plus you need to wash your legs anyway, so I guess so long as the curtain keeps the water for going out onto the floor.
@@wheelieblind I was really just winging it lol. Not much thought was put into where my legs would go! Just can I balance? Check. Is water staying in thr tub? Check. Lol
Many blessings, and thank you so much for that wonderful demonstration! You give me hope! I love camping and very much want to get back to it, and now I see you figured out how to do it, so it IS possible!
We didn’t appreciate the first times we watched this that you do a full 180 degree transfer from the toilet to the shower and back. Your practice, balance, stubbornness and pure grit sure made this work for you! Great skill Brittney!!
Thanks:)
I've been a t-4 paraplegic for 45 years and have done your exact shit-shower-shave-shampoo routine many times. I could tell hilarious stories about this broken 6'4" frame criss-crossing Mexico and Central America. I'd have have you howling I'm sure. How many times did my wife Suzy - while examining my options - mutter: "We're going to laugh about this tomorrow so we might as well start right away."
Now 74 years old and looking back, I would have protected my shoulders better. I gave in to the idea after a couple of operations when I was 65 years old. After discussions with my physio- and occupational therapists about my quality of life, I decided to renovate my place so it is wheelchair-friendly. I did a super-easy kitchen, widened all the doorways, added a bath shower chair, raised the toilet seat and appropriate grab bars. I also swapped my waterbed for a motorized multi-position hospital model, and I traded my Jeep Cherokee for a lift-equipped Dodge Caravan. I don't do acrobatics anymore... I plan ahead.
I think you'd benefit from a few appropriately placed grab bars in your trailer ...so you don't have to twist your frame that severely as you transfer. A local metalworker can make them to your exact specs for a little money ...so treat yourself to the best. Take care of your prime investment: YOU! Keep up your great work.
I am totally at the point where I need to start preparing for aging with a disability. Less crazy stuff and more energy saving stuff. I bet your stories could fill a book!
Your awsome. My wife is a paraplegic and we use a toy hauler. I have made portable ramps and now a removable electric powered lift at door. We have been looking for a new camper with a installed lift. Not many options unless you have a lot of money. Great videos and ideas. Hope to see you out camping one day.
Yeah, lifts are insanely expensive. I got really lucky with my trailer and finding a lift on kijiji! Thanks for watching! Would love to see how you guys have managed to make things work for your trailer!
Wow I would love to see the ramps and electric lift you are using. We also have a toy hauler. We are using an aluminum threshold ramp to extend our ramp door but haven’t figured out a lift yet - sure would like to though!
Good job for figuring out how you can manage instead of giving up. Personally I wouldn’t be able to do all that transferring and would just have an outdoor shower. Outdoor showers are awesome.
Gotta do what's right for you!
Excellent video thanks ... Good video showing what it's like for a para to navigate a small bathroom and shower. I've been a T-10 para for 38 years.
A real wheelchair veteran! I bet I could learn from you!
I imagine it took some thinking and practicing to find out how to do this. Thanks for sharing with us!
You're amazing! I'm a para as well and would have to eat a hearty breakfast before all if that transferring. Can I suggest a sliding board for both chair to toilet and toilet to shower chair. It might be helpful.
I used to use a sliding board to the shower but by butt didn't like sliding on a hard surface!
You can get Bath Stools that slide across!
Very helpful info for us and a nicely done video! Thank you!
You're welcome! And thanks!
You should you use a small office chair. I have been disabled for over 47 years .. I used your method for a long time until i just got tired of that. I use an office chair to transfer.
you are amazing.
Thanks!
You make it look easy...
It took me 3 years to figure out how to be independent in the trailer! Time, patience, and practice, with a dose of stubbornness!
Remember the Thumbs Up 👍
There are Wheelchair Accessible Baths! They have a seat!
They don't have Accessible Bathrooms in normal travel trailers and very rare.
I had a friend in high school with a T5 spinal cord injury. One thing that always seemed to cause some confusion was her leg spasms. Sometimes when she would have one someone would end up saying “I though you couldn’t move your legs!?”
She explained them to her friends and showed us how she could actually trigger spasms to occur by leaning back in her chair just right. She would then use that to make her legs “kick” someone that walked by. It always made for some great laughs! She would then just say “hey it was a spasms, don’t blame me!” Lol
I’ve always been curious if other people with SCIs have similar spasms. Can you trigger yours as well, and do you ever trigger them to help out with everyday tasks?
I’m sure if you were to make a video about spasms many people would find it informative (especially ones with friends who have SCIs). Sometimes friends just don’t know how to ask what happened when her leg moved.
Thanks!
I have definitely gotten that before! People often have no idea that people with spinal cord injuries have spasms! I can definitely do a video about it! Thank you for sharing your experience and how positive and humorous your friend was when she had to deal with her spasms! And thanks for your input! Where are you from?
I’m from Colorado!
@@noraamatthews cool! I have a friend near Denver! Beautiful state! Same time zone as me:)
Grab rails? Toilet Frame?
Have you tried a transfer board to transfer from the toilet to the shower/tub?
Yep! That's how I started in the trailer!
When you were describing the Braun UVL, I think you said you’ve had this trailer for quite a long time now. In the changes in trailer design, do you think that you might be able to find a new trailer one day with a more accessible bathroom for yourself?
There are ones with bigger bathrooms, but they are few and far between
@@EmpoweredPara Thanks. I’ll “patiently” (lol) wait to see your new trailer you mentioned on the CZcams video yesterday.
Wonderful job Why not be adjusting to expand the bathroom? where do you live
The bathroom actually works well for me because its so small and I don't have far to lift! I am in Canada.
Yes, I understand where in Canada you live while I am in Canada, Richmond
@@nezaroobest7139 I love in central Alberta near Edmonton:)
Wow awesome video! What is your SCI level and for how long have you had it?
I am a t6. I have been paralyzed for 22 years. Do you have a spinal cord injury?
Thanks for the compliment!
Raised Toilet Seat?
Hello
Hi!
@@EmpoweredPara I hope you have a nice day
Why don't you just use a bowl of water with handi wipes like in the old days? I'd avoid the bathroom 100%.
Lol. No way man. I need running water!
@@EmpoweredPara 🤣. I was in a cabin/home where I couldn't get in the bathroom and washed up with baby wipes...but must admit, a shower felt wonderful!
hey, do you have spasms?
Yes, not really bad spasms but I do get them when I transfer and lay down.