Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.

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Bath transfer chairs

brendacaytonwhite
brendacaytonwhite
I am in the process of moving, something which I truly dislike doing, but must. Anyways, I may have to go with a tub instead of a walk in shower since very few places have walk in showers, at least those which I can afford. Anyway, I was looking at some transfer chairs for tubs and was wondering if you all, my fellow suffers, and I know this isn't nice, but we are suffers when it comes to showers and baths, can give me some advise on which bath/shower transfer chairs are best.

I prefer a chair with a back support, but the one I currently use is a shower only chair, not a transfer chair, so I am lost. I want to order one within a few weeks so that it can go under this year's reimbursement for my insurance deductible. I want to make sure that it is comfortable and not the cheap one that I was given last year.

Thank you for your advice.
trpt1
trpt1
Hi Brenda, I found some good sources for bath chairs. Here are a couple sites that might be helpful:

www.andersonhomemedical.com Anderson Home Health Supplies (813) 289-3811 4063 Henderson Blvd. Tampa, Fl

www.abc-dme.com ABC Home Medical Equipment 7045 N. Armenia Ave Tampa, Fl 33604 (813) 936-1616

These companies seem to have a lot of products, but the main thing is price and customer service. Both companies have bath transfer chairs with backs. Be a careful shopper. I hope this is helpful.

Best Wishes.
nanny1611
nanny1611
This link will show you one similar to mine. The back is transferable to either side of the bench, so it doesn't matter which side of the bathtub you must place it in. Make sure it has adjustable height, so it's high enough to get up from. There are 2 very small bathrooms in my house, but the transfer chair still fits (part of it sits in the tub and a small portion is outside the tub). Even though I was able to save money to get a walk-in shower in one bathroom, I kept the transfer chair for the bathtub in the other bathroom. They aren't cheap, but are well worth it. BTW, sometimes you can find them in resale shops a little cheaper.
http://www.andersonhomemedical.com/Invacare-CAREGUARD-TOOL-LESS-TRANSFER-BENCH-detail.htm?productId=4880338&ez=Bath%20Chairs:%20Bath%20Safety~q=fidaa123zztidaa2364zz~r=~
lexisgirl
lexisgirl
I don't use one yet but I can tell it is getting closer. Are you planning for a bathtub only or a shower in a bathtub? At the TMA conference, they had a session on "Aging in Place". There was a company that specializes in adaption of homes. One thing they suggested is a chair that goes in the tub but has a seat part that goes outside the tub too so you don't have to get up over the edge of the tub.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srquPUJTZHg (video)
http://www.myositis.org/storage/documents/2014_conference/Presentations/Myositis_Conference.pdf (presentation)

Frankly, I want one that will lift me out of the tub so I can still take a bath but they are way expensive. I've not been able to sit in a bathtub for over 5 years. I would also prefer one that has a swivel seat so I don't have to twist out.
http://www.amazon.com/Snap-n-Save-Sliding-Tub-Mount-Transfer-Swivel/dp/B002HZY6BK

Good luck on our move!
brendacaytonwhite
brendacaytonwhite
Thank you all for your information. At this time I am thinking about just washing my body via the sink. I am tired of trying to climb in and out of the shower with fear of slipping and breaking again. I also would love the walk in tub, but would need to own my own home to have one installed which my daughter is always suggesting. My PM is causing me to feel weak and not able to able to stand due to balance problems. My history of fractures in both of my thighs last fall, makes me weak also since I don't feel as if I have healed all the way. I have a double whammy.
brendacaytonwhite
brendacaytonwhite
There is a lady who has PT and OT at the same place I have mine and her wonderful son who has left his home to come stay with her and bring her to therapy was telling me about a guy who lives next door to his mom and uses a transfer seat. Supposed the man has had some bad incidents with his chair where his skin has been sucked into the openings of the chair and his skin was cut or something per her son. I am going to be very careful with my purchase even of it means that I have to spend a little more. The condo I am renting has only tubs and no walk in shower. My currently apartment has a walk in shower, but it is small and I can't take a shower without my daughter being home and assisting me, which most days she is too tired and i still wine up taking mostly sink baths, which i feel leave me cleaner anyways and I am not as tired afterwards. Showering leaves me exhausted after dealing with the fear of falling, I can sit on my walker seat or another chair in my bathroom and wash myself. In fact I will probably put a special chair in my next bathroom and wash myself. We were out looking at furniture today for my bedroom and I will probably get a special seat for my bathroom. I also have one that I got for free that my daughte currently uses in her bathroom to do her hair and I may use it in my bathroom after I redecorate it and I can get a waterproof cushion or even make one just for that. Good night my friends. My brain is working on designs that may work just right for me. I am still going to look at some bath transfer chairs and price them out. Thank you my friends.