CLOTHING

Any websites listed are just those that I have used; I am not,necessarily, recommending them
I try as far as possible to buy in the sales and scour the net for the best bargains, particularly those which are specifically targeted at the disabled.  Do not buy the first thing that you see; this is what makes so much money for so many companies. Be discerning!!

As time goes on and we lose the strength and dexterity in hands, arms, legs, feet, our ability to dress ourselves for as long as is humanly possible becomes more of a concern. Once we have to rely on a carer to dress us items need to be easy for them to put on us with minimal discomfort for the patient and effort for the carer. Also, many MND sufferers feel the cold, so the necessity to keep warm is there.

Women are, in the main, vainer than men. I should know; I am one!! I used to be very fashionable; I wore tight, hipster jeans, nice shoes and designer tops. I wore co-ordinating jewellery and had handbags to match. Unfortunately, those days are gone. However, whilst traversing the ‘helter-skelter’ downwards into 'patheticness' (good word, just made it up!) I have tried to adapt so as to maintain some sense of fashion/style, but this is, now, a massive struggle and warmth is my prime motivator.

UNDERWEAR

I wear knickers with string sides as these are a lot easier to pull up. I also purchase those which are a size larger than my actual size to make it even easier.
Re bras; I am lucky,(now) that I am not well endowed in the bosom department! I do not really need to wear a bra. However, so as to look a little more feminine, I like to wear one when going out. So, I purchase Sloggi bra tops which can be pulled on over the head, so, no fastenings. Even those who are well endowed can wear these bra tops or, camisole tops with an integral bra.

http://www.flowerbags.co.uk/sloggi-double-comfort-bra-top-21019-p.asp

There is no easy way to get tights on when disabled. Once the ability to do so diminishes, asking carers to help is not very useful as it is so awkward; it’s not quite like putting tights on a small girl as you can’t exactly put an adult MND patient on your lap! Even putting socks on someone else who is not capable of helping is a far from easy task. Once the tights issue raises its ugly head it may well be time to consider the leggings or trousers options.

These are aids which MAY help:-

http://www.rdkmobility.co.uk/Tights-Aid.html#

http://www.rdkmobility.co.uk/Sock-Assist-with-Loop-Handle.html

I have never used an aid to get tights, or socks on so cannot vouch for these.

MIDLAYERS

When dressing in normal skirts with zips and buttons becomes difficult, try elastic- waist clothes. There are a few sites which sell clothes for the disabled but they are mainly polyester and, not very stylish. Shops like M and S sell elastic-waist trousers and skirts. However, they if you want them to look in the slightest bit fashionable, they will only have half of the waist elasticated  and will still be a struggle to pull up. I, personally, did not find them at all useful as I could not pull them up.

 There are leggings and ‘jeggings’, which are very fashionable. If you require warm leggings there are merino wool ones. With these one does not have to deal with the feet as with tights. Typical examples are Icebreaker. They are not cheap but wear well and are lovely and warm.

http://www.natureshop.co.uk/Catalog/MerinoClothing/wool-clothing.asp

Icebreaker also do tops and vests to enhance warmth. If you scour the net you can find sites whereby these items are reasonably priced. The one above is one that I have used a lot.

If a man can no longer do buttons there are shirts with fastenings at the back or you could always get a helpful person to put velcro on under the button so as to aid getting on and off. Or, wear T shirts and jumpers.

Men will, possibly, opt for the tracksuit/jogging bottom option. One of the only good things about being a man with MND is that they can wear a ‘sheath catheter’, meaning that they do not have to, constantly, go to the toilet every time they have a drink. So, they only need worry about having their trousers pulled up on the ‘odd occasion’!

There are websites from which one can buy adapted trousers which have zips at either side of the waist (if you can still these up) or with Velcro fastenings and elastic holding the back up. There are also special trousers for wheelchair users which come higher up at the back.

http://www.able2wear.co.uk/product.php?xProd=44&xSec=94

http://www.clothingsolutions.org/

http://www.adaptawear.com/

I am at the stage whereby I am no longer able to pull my own trousers or knickers up myself. I can get them so far and then have to engage the help of my carer to get them up, fully. I have tried purchasing more flimsy trousers with elastic waists which are not as tight as the basic tracksuit bottoms or jogging bottoms. The snag with these flimsy trousers is that they are polyester and not natural fibre; therefore, sitting in a wheelchair with a ‘plastic’ cushion for 12 to 14 hours is not ‘nice’! You can imagine. I would love to wear my merino wool leggings or cotton velour tracksuit bottoms but will then have to have them totally pulled up by my carer or, since I can, just about, go to the toilet on my own still, spend hours sitting in my chair with my trousers down if my carer is out for any length of time. So, you take your pick as to what you feel is best for you.

I have looked into the option of cutting the tracksuit bottoms down from the waist and stitching/sticking Velcro fastenings on to them. You do need someone willing and able to do this for you; currently, I don’t have. If you do, try this, it could keep you independent for just that little bit longer.

http://www.sewessential.co.uk/Search.asp?SearchString=velcro&x=36&y=3

My experience is, obviously, that of a woman. However, some of these suggestions will, also, benefit a man.

There are devices available to help the disabled to do up zips and buttons.  There are variable opinions. Some people think that they are great, others cannot get on with them.

http://www.rdkmobility.co.uk/Button-Hook-/-Zipper-Pull.html

Pick clothes with minimal fastenings, such as buttons and zips. Use Velcro wherever possible. On line you can find sewing sites which will sell bulk Velcro for a reasonable sum. Get iron on Velcro. Buy jumpers and tops a size larger than normal to make them easier to get on and off. Try layering to avoid bulky clothing which will still keep the patient warm.

I wear gillets (sleeveless jackets) as they add that little bit of extra warmth. I have thin quilted gillets and sleeveless cardigans which I wear over the top of my merino wool tops indoors. I also have down gillets to wear when out if it is not too cold and I do not need a full jacket.

OUTERWEAR

 In the winter I wear a down jacket. They are quite easy to manipulate and get, useless, arms into. They are lovely and warm and can look reasonably attractive. These can be purchased very reasonably if you buy just before or after Christmas (in the sales). I have a lovely purple one (one size up from my normal to make it easy to do up and accommodate other layers). Black is the most available option. I thought about a long down coat but have to bear in mind the fact that I am permanently in a wheelchair and I would always be sitting on it, thus making it uncomfortable. Capes are quite popular and could be easy to get on; however, they can be rather bulky.
For women, a woollen poncho may be handy or a chunky cardigan as these are all the rage, currently.

For my HANDS, which are cold all year round, I wear cheap fleece gloves which I purchase from Tesco for £1 a pair. I, then, cut the finger tips off of the thumb and next two fingers to enable me to use my fingers. This has been fine till now; however, I now get such cold hands in the winter (indoors, even) that I have now taken to purchasing alpaca knitted, fingerless gloves. I buy them on E Bay for £6.99 a pair. I wear them for a couple of days and have them hand-washed as they can get food on them. They are lovely and warm. I started off with a cashmere pair but, at £30+ per pair it is a little expensive! I will stick to the fleece ones for the summer. Do not buy gloves with labels on as these tend to have wrists that are quite tight and difficult to get on when finger strength decreases.
Examples of e Bay gloves:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fair-Trade-luxury-alpaca-wool-gloves-fingerless-full-/220734749404?pt=Women_s_Accessories_UK&var=&hash=item7914365240

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALPACA-GLOVES-FINGERLESS-UNISEX-WOOL-HAND-MADE-M-L-BN-/220711728886?pt=Women_s_Accessories_UK&var=&hash=item7913efd93f

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNISEX-ALPACA-WOOL-FINGERLESS-GLOVES-VERY-WARM-/130476390822?pt=Women_s_Accessories_UK&hash=item1e60ffb9a6

I also possess a pair of sheepskin mittens which I can still, just about, get on. I leave my alpaca gloves on underneath.  I also have a sheepskin muff for my hands. My husband has cut the elastic cuff off of each end to enable me to get my hands in. I tend to wear one mitten on my right hand so that I can control my power chair and not get a cold hand and have the left one in the muff.

http://www.glanmor.co.uk/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16259&category_id=276

FEET

Gradually, as your feet become more useless and swollen, you will not be able to wear ‘normal’ shoes. If your feet tend to swell you will need adjustable straps or laces to allow for the swelling during the day. Try, as far as possible, to buy ‘normal’ shoes. Once you enter the realms of ‘disability’ the choice is limited and they can be more expensive; partly due to numbers purchased.
I graduated to ‘Ugg’ boots which kept my feet from becoming completely icy (you have probably guessed by now that I have a particularly bad problem with circulation and my hands and feet get extremely cold). Now that I am unable to ‘help’ the carer put my boots on I have started wearing sheepskin velcro fastening slippers with cashmere socks. Available, online.

http://www.lambland.co.uk/shop/ladies-velcro-sheepskin-ankle-boot-shepherd-p-996.html

http://www.elmhouseproducts.co.uk/acatalog/Velcro_Fastening_Sheepskin_Slippers.html

LEGS

To make sure that you keep warm and dry when in the wheelchair there are leg ‘cozies’. These can be ultra warm ones or just waterproof ones to keep you dry. There are various sites with them on

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__wheelchair+cosy_W0QQ_dmdZ2?rvr_id=208513577052&crlp=1166648797_284591_284611&UA=%3F*F%3F&GUID=0f95101512a0a0e20227cd47fdf888cb&agid=283428817&tm_kw=wheelchair+cosy&siteid=3&MT_ID=10&tt_encode=raw&keyword=wheelchair+cosy&geo_id=21&ff4=284591_284611

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=wheelchair+cosy&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=7302317945&ref=pd_sl_4sk7q7rmf4_b

http://www.benefitsnowshop.co.uk/products/Wheelchair/Wheelchair_Clothing.htm

http://abcmobility.co.uk/waterproof-fleece-lined-cozy-toes-%28ABC0031%29.html

However, once you are unable to move very much they are difficult to get in and out of. You could then use a rug. I have a lambswool rug which is light and warm.

http://www.glanmor.co.uk/cart.php?target=category&category_id=373

http://www.ewm.co.uk/Ladieswear/2012425/Product

http://www.woolblanketonline.co.uk/Antique-Buchanan-Lambswool-Blanket_APQ1T.aspx

NIGHTCLOTHES

If your feet get cold in bed there are various options. I started out wearing cashmere socks but, now that I can no longer take my own socks off, it’s quite uncomfortable when my feet, eventually, get hot in the middle of the night. I have now taken to wearing silk socks; they keep my feet warmer but not too hot. Almost, ideal.

http://www.charlotteandco.co.uk/accessories/slippers-socks-tights/silk-socks

With regards to actual night attire, I, currently, wear a short sleeved, cotton, nightie. It doesn’t get tangled up round my legs or arms and is fairly easy for Leonard, my husband and carer, to get on me. I used to wear cotton pyjamas with fairly loose fitting trousers to enable me to go to the loo on my own in the middle of the night. Then, when I could not pull them up on my own I graduated to the nightie. However, I can no longer get out of bed on my own and so do not drink anything after 9.00 pm so as not to require ‘toileting’ during the night; so, I could go back to pyjamas except that they are difficult for a carer to get on the patient.

If you prefer cotton nighties you may find that very few shops sell them. I found some really cheaply in Sainsburys.

Men can always find cotton pyjamas. If you are unable to do buttons wear ’T’ shirts and separate trousers. TK Maxx do these. If your legs get tangled in the trousers, wear shorties; also available in TK Maxx.

Remember, you can STILL look stylish; it just takes a little imagination!!

NAPKINS
 

To keep your clothes as clean as possible whilst eating, or, even to stop dribble from getting all over you, there are adult bibs available to buy. There are also stick on disposable bibs.

 http://www.incontinencechoice.co.uk/product/box-of-50-napkleen-disposal-stick-on-napkins-NAPORIG.html

However, I have just found a cheap device which allows your carer to put an ordinary napkin on you. I have used it and  I like it. I bought one each for my men MND friends!

 http://www.clevertogs.com/#/nipper-napkin-gripper/4540465911