Everything I do now in Occupational Therapy is all geared towards me doing things on my own such as brushing my own teeth with hand cuff. The hand cuff or universal cuff is adaptive equipment which allows me to everyday daily tasks like brushing my own teeth and feeding myself. I don’t have full use of my hands, such as my fingers and my wrists so this holds my toothbrush or spoon or fork for me since I can’t right now. Don’t have the strength or grasping power to hold things yet.
I started brushing my own teeth this week but I probably could have been doing it a few weeks ago. I have more movement in my arms and I was just waiting for them to make me a universal cuff for my toothbrush. I’ve been feeding myself for a while now so I could have been doing this too. I know it feels some good to be able to feed myself now and also brush my own teeth. Since this whole journey with Guillain Barre Syndrome started on August 1, 2019 has been to say the least a different experience. It’s just plain weird having someone brush your own teeth let alone everything else you can’t do yourself. I’m some glad to see some independence coming back to me. I hated asking for help since the beginning as it’s not me.
My discharge date is April 10, 2020 so it’s coming up pretty quick. It’s tentative as that date can be pushed out based on my progress. As long as progress continues with my recovery from Guillain Barre Syndrome and I’ll benefit from more rehab I’ll stay. The moment progress stops so does your stay here. Scary in a way! Occupational therapy has been working hard, working on goals and tasks for me to complete. All tasks I’ll need to do on my own when I go home.
I’m putting on my own T-shirts and can take them off but now it’s pants and shorts next to try. This will be a little harder since I can’t grab with my hands yet. I just wish my hands were back to normal as all tasks are harder to do. Who would have thought how hard it would be to put on a shirt? Pants and shorts will be harder I’m sure. Something in real life that would take less then a minute to do will be 5-10 minutes for sure now. That’s if I can even do it. We’ll see next week!
Next plan is transferring from wheelchair to shower chair. Everything I’m doing now is based on what I’m able to do or work on doing with what movements I have now. When I leave here I could be very well walking but if not they need to make sure I’m ready for when I go home. This is one part of occupational therapy is frustrating to me. If my hands were back to normal it would be fine but there not yet. Hoping they come back real soon.