Hi all, Was thinking this morning that we probably all have to adapt our lives to some degree or another, and have probably found ways to make tasks easier. Let’s share and see if we can all have easier times. My life hack is, when you can’t pee but you know you need to, stand up and sit down a few times, and you should be able to go! Really useful, especially if like me you do ISC but don’t want to do it too often in a day. Thanks all, looking forward to your suggestions. Jen x
Hi Jen, One of the BEST changes I have made is to do my shopping online. I hated supermarket shopping. Even with a list, I got disorientated, forgot things, got generally stressed. All round horrible experience. I don’t know WHY I didn’t order it online sooner. You have a “favourites” list as well, so I just pretty much order the same stuff each week, then check what offers there are. I’m sure many of you already do it, but I avoid supermarkets as much as possible these days!
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Hi I’m always up for making my life easier, it’s getting harder to keep working full time plus kids, pets and husband (not necessarily in that order!) so the more hacks, the better 
I agree with the online shopping, I’m starting to do that again after getting frustrated at forgetting items. My mini hacks are that I use reminder alerts through my phone calendar for everything from having to call someone back to appointments or even monthly flea/worm treatments for the dog! I’ve found that ‘to do lists’ help a lot too as if I don’t write it down, it can be forgotten in an instant. I also keep a separate online diary to record changes in symptoms, MS specific appointments and how I feel in general. This way I can see if there are patterns for the symptoms or moods etc. Thanks for posting and I look forward to reading more hacks! Take care
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Hi Jen
My top tip is to get yourself a really good OH who can be relied upon to do all the things you once found so easy and now so hard!!
Seriously though, if you don’t have one of those, then life is really about pacing yourself. Don’t try to be superman/woman. Don’t rush to do everything quickly and in one go. The world won’t end if you fail to vacuum your floors. It’s possible to do little things each day rather than save all chores for just one day a week. And things like shopping on line are wonderful for saving energy. The same with banking, bill paying, ordering prescriptions, there’s not too much these days that can’t be done from home.
If you work, get your employer on your side if possible to enable you to manage to stay working as long as possible. Use Access to Work if you need to. And if you become unable to work due to MS, get decent advice on how to go about getting early retirement, or how to leave in the most efficient and economically effective way.
The last thing I wouldn’t want to live without now is my diary. I use an online diary app(lication) to keep a ‘health’ diary. I can look back on what happened and when, what symptoms I had, drugs I took, side effects, etc. And can recall these things for new doctors quite easily.
Sue
A good kitchen board with grips for peeling and cleaning has been a huge help.
Bed rails give help to steady the good ship me and help me stand up. Getting everything arranged to suit yourself may be a bit of an issue in a shared household but if you explain that it’s easier for the able-bodied to adapt it might help, especially if it means you can do more.
Best wishes.
a cleaner. she does all the cleaner, makes my bed and does my washing and ironing. BLISS. A halogen oven i use it to do a roast. I buy everything prepacked cut ready. I dont have to bend down in a cooker to get food out with a halogen it sits on top of my counter. I love it and have a spare just in case. a bed cradle keeps the duvet off my legs so they dont get too hot at night. bliss. yes and bed rails. a commode as i would be exhausted in the night getting up sometimes 5 times for a pee lol. besides which the first time i fell into the wardrobe hard was the time my doctor organised one for me. a grip opener for those jars. a slow cooker makes a meal with no effort. a light weight hoover. oh yes online shopping always. I buy bulk now and never run out lol. Scooter. Rollator perching stool electric wheelchair a laptop table so i can sit on my recliner and just play on my computer, or watch films on amazon or netflix. Alexa she reminds me to take my tablets A dosset box for all my meds is delivered each week and sorted out in days etc. great.
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Develop selected short-sightedness when it comes to household dust.
Alison
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An essential. Good one Alison.
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Also…dry shampoo!! I work Mon - Thurs. Wash my hair on Sunday night, then make it do until Friday!
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mine’s a psychological thing – for the last twelve months have wherever possible stopped making definite plans to do things. If I made a commitment to go to meet up with someone or booked to go to an event I’d spend ages worrying if I would be well enough to go. Now I accept invitations on the proviso that I may not be able to go. Trips to events etc are booked at the last minute.
Cook enough for leftovers to have for the next couple of days. And sometimes cook up a big chilli or something, and put portions in the freezer.
Dan
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Hi all, I shop on-line mostly, Superdrug, spend only around £20 max get free delivery!
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Don’t wear light coloured trousers.
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See a toilet, use it. Even if you think you don’t need it, as soon as you move away from one you’re going to need it! As stated, cook double and freeze half. The slow cooker is adored and revered in our kitchen.
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Get your son’s or daughter’s to make a few meals for you, plus don’t have to many nic nacks as they gather dust.
Have a dish washer and have your family empty it.
Kay
An electric commuter scooter Be grateful for all the good things in your life Love Adam
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I’ve got an echo dot and I use it a lot to remind me to do things. Freaks me out sometimes though when I think there is someone talking in the kitchen then I realise it was just Alexa!