Urine bottles are available for men and women!

By Wiremu Reedy

Tena koutou katoa ... and thanks for your Family Care magazines, which I enjoy reading and find very informative.

I am 56 years old. I was a Maori Educator for 20 years, and have been on the invalid's benefit for two years.

My legs are my problem especially my right knee, which can bend only 25 degrees due to a car accident more than 30 years ago.

It's hard when one has to walk with some difficulty from the garage to the shower and the toilet! During the winter months it's even more tricky, and terribly cold when you have to go to the toilet at 3am in the morning!

After years of being very independent and able, all of a sudden things are now a struggle.

I am very uneasy on my legs but can slowly walk to where I want to be. There are times though when one does not make it to the toilet in time.

Being self-conscious about one's standard of cleanliness and hygiene, one endeavours to plan things a little bit better than the last time.

But not all plans go to plan!

Spill proof urine bottle 

On the up and up, I can still breathe God's fresh air and see the sun rise daily.

Getting up is another problem. I have fallen a couple of times, but having a weak upper body and legs that sometimes give way under you can be frustrating, and your dignity is blown out of the window.

I walk with the support of elbow crutches and find these helpful. I have even begun to depend on them as an arm extension to pull and lift things such as clothing, helping me to dress myself (while pulling up my underwear and my trousers).

The crutches are also useful when undressing. I use a crutch to push my clothes down to my feet, then to hook them with the crutch to totally undress.

Another utensil I use to great effect are urinal bottles for men.

These are marvellous!

I have three, two beside my bed and one near the toilet.

The bottles were provided by the Tairawhiti District Health Board, and have a screw-on top.

I have to use these bottles, as I am unable to pee normally into the toilet bowl.

Washing and then keeping the bottles clean can be a worry, along with awareness of the smell (or even spillages) that can occur.

I have noticed in the Marketplace section of your magazine the many different kinds of services and equipment that are available to assist people like me. I appreciate being able to read about these, and where to get them.

I hope that sharing what I go through may encourage others to also be creative in managing their physical challenges, by using products like my urine bottles.

More of my story, written totally in the Maori language for Ngati Porou/East Coast whanau who are disabled like me, and who might need to hear about some of these services, can visit my blog at http://www.naatiblog.com/

Thank you for allowing me to share my story with others who may benefit. As I always say ... "Being an invalid is valid!"