novaBBS - sci.electronics.design - Re: Faced with the loss of legs

Two years ago, in 2020, I suffered a series of strokes that cost me the
vision in one eye, the loss of use of my legs, and my right hand doesn't
work well.

Recently, a friend lost the use of her legs due to a degenerative disease.
I decided to write a list of tips to help her with her disability. Of
necessity, this list is centered on the stores available around Midland,
Ontario, but many of the suggestions can apply anywhere.

Since many of the inhabitants of this forum are approaching the age when
strokes are likely to occur, I post the list here in the event it is
needed. Here are the tips:

1. apply for pension, pension supplement, disability, and anything else you
and your doctor can find.

2. reduce your taxes by taking every deduction you can find.

3. reduce your electric bill

3A. your water heater is a huge part of your bill. Reduce the water
temperature setting to 110 degrees F(43C).

3B. your refrigerator is the next huge part of your bill. Increase the
fridge temp to the maximum possible, usually around 43F (6C). Increase the
freezer the highest temperature possible, usually around 14F (-10C).

3C. setting the fridge to 6C is the best temperature for long term storage
of vegetable such as potatoes, onions, etc.

3D. change all the filament bulbs to LED. A 60 Watt equivalent LED bulb
only takes 9 Watts instead of 60 Watts, or only 15% of the original. They
are in a much softer color and last much longer. Some are dimmable:

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=60+Watt+LED+BULB&s=price-asc-rank

4. get a toilet extender with arms. This helps standing up. The very best
one is at

https://www.amazon.ca/Carex-Raised-Toilet-Adjustable-
Armrests/dp/B00H7QVUS6/ ($89.99)
- the other ones are crap.

5A. get Instacart. This service delivers food so you no longer have to go
to the stores to shop. Walmart and RCSS have the best selection but RCSS is
often a bit more expensive. Do not buy potatoes from Walmart. They are
terrible.

Instacart+, formerly known as Instacart Express, is an optional
subscription service that provides access to unlimited free deliveries on
orders over $35 for $99 per year, or $9.99 per month. It also reduces the
service fees on your orders.

https://www.instacart.ca/store/home

More about Instacart later.

5B. Use Feastify

https://feastify.com/listing-region/midland-main/

You can get the best Fish and Chips this side of England at Midland Fish &
Chip & Seafoods.

Also find the best pizza on the planet with Little Caesars Pizza, at County
Rd 93.

Do not order chinese food. None of the chinese restaurents are any good.
The only one that is passable is Uncle Roy's Restaurant on King St.
However, they have a minimum order, but I forget what it is. Learn how to
make your own.

6. Stop using ordinary sodium salt (NaCl). It increases your blood
pressure, which leads to strokes. It also causes water retention. Use
potassium salt instead (KCl). This is available at Valu-Mart on King Street
as Salt Free. Here is a photo:

https://www.amazon.ca/Windsor-Iodized-Salt-Free-Substitute/dp/B07H1LH8CG/

- Do not buy from Amazon. They overcharge. Get it from Value-Mart where it
is about $7.50. They are called Independent Grocers on Instacart. Also,
RCSS stocks it.

6A. Be careful of the salt content in various food and condiments. For
example, how much sodium is in French's yellow mustard?

French's Classic Yellow Mustard
per 1 tsp 5 ml
Sodium 60 mg 3%

WM $3.05 400 ml
Amazon $5.17 830ml <- Amazon is a better bargain

French's Low Sodium Ketchup
per tbsp 15 ml
sodium 40 mg 2%

6B. Get a blood pressure monitor, one that works on the upper arm, not on
the wrist which are the least accurate. Around $40 - $50:

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=blood+pressure+monitor+upper+arm&s=price-asc-
rank&page=2

One example: Blood Pressure Monitor for Home use Accurate Automatic Digital
Machine Large LCD Display Dual user mode $39.99
https://www.amazon.ca/Pressure-Monitor-Accurate-Automatic-
Digital/dp/B0B5RKS2WF/

7A. Get a small cart so you don't need both hands to carry things around.
Here are examples:

Mr IRONSTONE Kitchen Cart 3-Tier Kitchen Baker's Rack Utility Microwave
Oven Stand Storage Rolling Workstation with 10 Hooks for Living Room
(Vintage) $99.99 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07PJNJM62/

Amazon Basics 3-Shelf Adjustable, Heavy Duty Storage Shelving Unit on 4"
Wheel Casters, Metal Organizer Wire Rack, Black (23.2L x 13.4W x 32.75H)
$49.23 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01LYZ7U4I/

HOOBRO Industrial Printer Stand, 3-Tier Printer Table Printer Cart on
Wheels, Height Adjustable Rolling Carts, 2 Hooks, Under Desk Storage Cart
for Home Office, Rustic Brown and Black BF28PS01 $59.99
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08BNW3JT5/

- Do not get a folding table. They will fold at the worst time when you
have a heavy load on them. Stuff will end up on the floor.

7B. Get a small cart for the bathroom

Lifewit Slim Rolling Utility Cart 7.9" Width for Bathroom Laundry Room
Kitchen $29.99 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09TS8Y98L/

8. Do Not get a wheelchair. They are a pain in the neck. Difficult to
navigate around, cannot get close to aything.

9A. get an ordinary office chair with dual wheels. This example is the best
chair I have found in 60 years of work:

Amazon Basics Low-Back Computer Task Office Desk Chair with Swivel Casters
- Black $89.68 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01D7P5BFS/

Sytopia Office Chair Caster Wheel Replacement Suitable for All Floors and
Carpets, Heavy Duty Rollerblade Chair Wheels, Universal Caster Wheels Size
(11x22 mm) $39.99 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09X4LPHP5/

- do not get the other style of covered wheels. Lots of things get stuck
and clog up the wheels.

9B. Get a seat cushion. Do not get a memory foam. They collapse to nothing.
Most of the GEL cushions also simply collapse. Do not get an air cusion.
They tilt under you and you will end up on the floor. Get this one:

Tektrum Thick Orthopedic Cool Gel Seat Cushion with Cooling Vents $67.92
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07192ZV7B/

9C. Get a seat cover for the Tektrum. Black hides stains best:

Home Beyond & HB design - 2-Pack Embossed Pillowcase Set (Standard Size,
20x26-Inch, Black) $11.99 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08YZ7K9V8/

10. The chair will eventually lose pressure and the seat will lower itself.
Get a bunch of hose clamps to wrap around the shaft and prevent the chair
from falling. The shaft is 1.1 inches in dia.

Breeze Power-Seal Stainless Steel Hose Clamp, Worm-Drive, SAE Size 24, 1-
1/16" to 2" Diameter Range, 1/2" Bandwidth (Pack of 10) $17.22
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B008MG2UJI/

- I use 9 clamps with the Tektrum seat cusion.

- Amazon overcharges, but they include delivery. You can get the same
clamps from Rona, Home Depot, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, etc.

11. If you don't have one already, get an Instant Pot. I have the Ultra and
Duo models. I like both, but the Duo is easier to operate. It also stores
the cooking times you used previously.

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker,
Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Maker, and Warmer $129.99
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00FLYWNYQ/

12. Instacart Items. Clearly, these stores have many more items than are
listed here, but I save you the trouble of searching for common items.

Here are some of the things you can get at Valu-Mart, known as Independent
Grocer on Instacart:

13. Here are some of the things you can get at Instacart Walmart:

Click here to read the complete article

Subject	Author
Faced with the loss of legs	Mike Monett VE3BTI
Re: Faced with the loss of legs	panteltje
Re: Faced with the loss of legs	John Larkin
Re: Faced with the loss of legs	Mike Monett VE3BTI
Re: Faced with the loss of legs	panteltje
Re: Faced with the loss of legs	Clive Arthur

You will have many recoverable tape errors.

tech / sci.electronics.design / Re: Faced with the loss of legs