Quadriplegic searching for a way to drink in bed

dbassman · 11-06-2009, 11:22 AM

I am a C4/5 quadriplegic, and I'm currently stuck in bed with a pressure sore. Any time I need to get a drink of water I need to call someone down and hope someone is here to help me. I'm wondering if anyone else has a solution where I can get a drink of water myself? I would think someone has to have encountered and solved this problem before.

When I am in my wheelchair I have a water jug with a long straw set on my lap tray, but I've not figured out a way to set anything up while I'm laying down. I usually lay on my left side for a few hours, on my back for a few hours and then on my right side for a few hours and then start all over again. I take oxybutynin which drives your mouth out very quickly so I drink A Lot of water.

Oldtimer · 11-06-2009, 11:56 AM

A piece of flexable tubing works great, the kind that is found on a bed bag.

Scott Pruett · 11-06-2009, 12:10 PM

I imagine a CamelBak would do the trick...

http://www.camelbak.com/en/sports-re...ion-packs.aspx

Eileen · 11-06-2009, 12:37 PM

Scott beat me to the Camelback idea, but it is definitely the easy way to go. They even sell a tube that is bendable, so you can hang the camelbak on whatever (bedrails, or just even on the floor) and have the tubing come up to your mouth level. They come is lots of different sizes too, all the way up to three liters, but I have a couple of one liter that I like a lot because it is a good size and doesn't weigh a ton with water in it.

jsd · 11-06-2009, 12:51 PM

I agree with using a Camelbak, only pain is keeping it clean, Camelbak makes a few things to help clean the bag and tube.

dbassman · 11-06-2009, 12:56 PM

This is kind of what I was thinking about, I recall seeing these a while back but did not know what they were called. I also did not know if they had the bendable tubing or not, which is something I would definitely need. I assume you can pack these with ice and water? Are these the ones where you bite down and it releases the water?

Thanks a bunch for your help!

jsd · 11-06-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbassman

This is kind of what I was thinking about, I recall seeing these a while back but did not know what they were called. I also did not know if they had the bendable tubing or not, which is something I would definitely need. I assume you can pack these with ice and water? Are these the ones where you bite down and it releases the water?

Thanks a bunch for your help!

Yea you can pack these with ice. To drink you bite down and suck.

quad79 · 11-06-2009, 01:38 PM

I haven't read other peoples responses but when I was first in icu & worse than now I used a camelbak(hydration bladder/bag that you wear on your back while hiking).They hung it up and it has a tube to drink from.It worked great & keeps water cool.Good luck

sjean423 · 11-06-2009, 01:43 PM

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/...CS_010=67607WC

The flexible straw for the Camelbak is called the Camelbak tube director. If you google, you can find it lots of places. Amazon even has it. I have ordered from Campmor lots of times, they are fast an usually a good price. It should be available in camping supply or bike stores too, if you can send someone out.

smokey · 11-06-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Pruett

I imagine a CamelBak would do the trick...

http://www.camelbak.com/en/sports-re...ion-packs.aspx

Man.....those things look like snazzy jock straps! lol

11-06-2009, 11:22 AM	#1
dbassman Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: South Bend, IN, United States Posts: 69	Quadriplegic searching for a way to drink in bed I am a C4/5 quadriplegic, and I'm currently stuck in bed with a pressure sore. Any time I need to get a drink of water I need to call someone down and hope someone is here to help me. I'm wondering if anyone else has a solution where I can get a drink of water myself? I would think someone has to have encountered and solved this problem before. When I am in my wheelchair I have a water jug with a long straw set on my lap tray, but I've not figured out a way to set anything up while I'm laying down. I usually lay on my left side for a few hours, on my back for a few hours and then on my right side for a few hours and then start all over again. I take oxybutynin which drives your mouth out very quickly so I drink A Lot of water. __________________ ~ I'd Rather Be Fishing! ~

11-06-2009, 11:56 AM	#2
Oldtimer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MN. Posts: 328	A piece of flexable tubing works great, the kind that is found on a bed bag. __________________ From the time you were born till you ride in a hearse, there is nothing so bad that it couldn't be worse! If God brings you to it, He will bring you thru it.

11-06-2009, 12:56 PM	#6
dbassman Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: South Bend, IN, United States Posts: 69	This is kind of what I was thinking about, I recall seeing these a while back but did not know what they were called. I also did not know if they had the bendable tubing or not, which is something I would definitely need. I assume you can pack these with ice and water? Are these the ones where you bite down and it releases the water? Thanks a bunch for your help! __________________ ~ I'd Rather Be Fishing! ~

11-06-2009, 01:38 PM	#8
quad79 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia-USA Posts: 2,096	I haven't read other peoples responses but when I was first in icu & worse than now I used a camelbak(hydration bladder/bag that you wear on your back while hiking).They hung it up and it has a tube to drink from.It worked great & keeps water cool.Good luck __________________ "I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contained, I stand and look at them long and long." ~ Walt Whitman

11-06-2009, 01:43 PM	#9
sjean423 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: connecticut Posts: 6,475	http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/...CS_010=67607WC The flexible straw for the Camelbak is called the Camelbak tube director. If you google, you can find it lots of places. Amazon even has it. I have ordered from Campmor lots of times, they are fast an usually a good price. It should be available in camping supply or bike stores too, if you can send someone out. __________________ T7-8 since Feb 2005 Last edited by sjean423; 11-06-2009 at 01:48 PM.

11-06-2009, 12:10 PM	#3
Scott Pruett Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NC Triad Posts: 6,997	I imagine a CamelBak would do the trick... http://www.camelbak.com/en/sports-re...ion-packs.aspx

11-06-2009, 12:37 PM	#4
Eileen Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Under a toadstool Posts: 4,793	Scott beat me to the Camelback idea, but it is definitely the easy way to go. They even sell a tube that is bendable, so you can hang the camelbak on whatever (bedrails, or just even on the floor) and have the tubing come up to your mouth level. They come is lots of different sizes too, all the way up to three liters, but I have a couple of one liter that I like a lot because it is a good size and doesn't weigh a ton with water in it.

11-06-2009, 12:51 PM	#5
jsd Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 97	I agree with using a Camelbak, only pain is keeping it clean, Camelbak makes a few things to help clean the bag and tube.

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