A1) Where can I find scales to weigh a very large person?
One option is to use two regular bathroom scales. Put
one foot on each
scale and add the weights indicated on each of them. This method may
give you a slightly inaccurate
weight. To minimize the inaccuracy, put
the scales as close together as possible.
Another option is to find an accurate
outdoor freight scale, and use it
after hours to weigh yourself. You will probably need to bring someone
else along
to read the weight, since the display is usually physically
separated from the scales themselves. (One person uses the
freight scale
at a local hospital.)
A final option is to use a beam balance scale (the kind of scale in most
doctors'
offices). Beam balance scales have a hook on the end of the
beam from which you can hang a counterweight. This hook makes
it
possible to weigh a person who weighs more than the scale is marked up
to. Your doctor should have some counterweights
for just this purpose.
If they don't, you can kludge it. Weigh a person on the scale (one whose
weight the scale can
measure). Then, hang something from the hook (like
a stethoscope). Weigh the same person again. The difference between
the
two weights is the amount the stethoscope subtracts. Now, weigh yourself
with the stethoscope on the scale. Add
the amount the scale reads to the
amount the stethoscope subtracts, and you have your weight.
============================================================
A2) What
can be done about discomfort in hot, sticky weather?
Radiance Magazine has a good article on the web about hot weather
health
care for fat people ("Don't Sweat It"):
http://www.radiancemagazine.com/summer_99_surviving_summer.htmMany fat people get rashes on their thighs, under their breasts, or
under belly folds. Some folks experience discoloration
of their thighs
as a result of chafing.
To prevent thigh chafing, you can wear clothing that covers your thighs,
such
as:
* split slips (also called petti-pants, culotte slips, bloomers,
or pantaloons),
* cotton
or lycra bicycle shorts (split slips tend to be lighter
than bicycle shorts),
* cotton leggings,
* cotton
tricot drawers (underwear with long legs),
* anti-chafe shields (elastic bands that go around the waist,
upper
and lower thighs, and have a cotton shield attached to
protect the inner thighs).
Some women wear bloomers
over pantyhose (to prolong the life of the
pantyhose); others wear them under the pantyhose (finding it more
comfortable).
One woman wears a man's cotton handkerchief on the
diagonal inside pantyhose or tights, laying it on the crotch before
pulling
up the garment. This has the advantage of being easy to change
if it gets soiled.
Some people apply ointments to
the chafing surfaces, such as:
* solid anti-perspirant (with the theory that this both prevents
sweat and lubricates
the area).
* powder, especially cornstarch (this doesn't last all day)
* petroleum jelly
* thick moisturizing
cream (you can even apply it over
pantyhose): Eucerin (US), Johnson's baby cream
* zinc oxide ointment, or
diaper rash ointment that contains
zinc oxide (a layer of cornstarch on top will prevent its
getting
on your clothes)
You can use aloe gel at night to soothe chafed skin.
A medical note on thigh irritation from
md@wwa.com:
It is possible [...] to get an infection in the area between the
thighs, known as hidradenitis supportiva.
Hidradenitis is an
infection of a type of sweat gland [...] and may appear to look
like a bad boil. This is a serious
condition that can become
quite resistant to treatment, extensive in spread, and be
debilitating, so if you should
develop this kind of infection,
or think you may have, you must get good medical care for it
right away.
Embarrassment
about the size or skin condition of the inner
thighs must not keep anyone from getting in to see a good doctor
about
such problems. If a doctor chalks it up to weight or
suggests weight loss as a cure, find another doctor. It can be
more
common in people with large thighs, due to sweat issues in
the area, but it can affect anyone of any size -- and the
treatment
usually requires antibiotics and additional measures
to control the spread and recurrence.
There is a support group
on line for Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Contact
more information.
To keep skin dry and prevent irritation, some people
apply powder after
bathing. The powder absorbs moisture and acts as a dry lubricant,
preventing your skin from rubbing
against itself. Try:
* talcum powder (name brands may be less gritty). However, keep
in mind that talc
can be a respiratory irritant and may
contain trace amounts of asbestos and lead. There is research
suggesting long and heavy exposure to talcum powder may be
associated with reproductive organ cancer in women.
*
baby powder or cornstarch powder (again, name brands may be
better). Keep in mind that a rash in a moist area
may be a
Candida (yeast) infection and yeast like to eat cornstarch.
* anti-bacterial powders (US: Gold Bond
Medicated, which has
some talcum powder but not much, Mexsana)
Some fat people get rashes where they have
folds of skin (e.g., beneath
breasts or stomach). The general rule about skin fold irritations is
that if an irritation
itches, it's probably fungal/yeast. If it doesn't
itch, it's probably bacterial. If you're not sure, try treatments for
both
and see what works best.
There is an article on the web by a doctor that addresses
yeast/skin infections
in fat people.
People deal with rashes in the following ways:
* tucking a piece of cotton or linen into the fold.
In the U.S.,
Amplestuff (see Other Resources)
sells cotton bra liners.
* using a fan or hair dryer
to thoroughly dry the area after
bathing
* anti-bacterial soap (US: Dial liquid soap)
* anti-bacterial
liquid -- but note that it stings (US:
Absorbine Jr.)
* white vinegar (not red or cider vinegar) and water--weaker
for
the worst rash and stronger as it gets better. After applying,
let the area completely dry and then cover the
area with cotton.
* 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
* Betadine Surgical Scrub or another scrub containing povidone
*
baby wipes
* anti-fungal (athlete's foot/jock itch/anti-yeast) medicine
containing chlortrimazole or undecylenate
(US: Mycil, Lotromin)
* prescription anti-fungal or anti-bacterial medications
(US: Nyastatin, Bactroban)
*
prescription anti-perspirants (US: Xerac AC)
* for Candida (yeast) infections, lactobacillus acidopholous
powder
(this is the bacterium that turns milk into yogurt). It
is available in capsule form and usually sold in health
and
nutrition stores. Open the capsules and sprinkle the powder on
affected areas before bed.
*
hydrocortisone cream (US: Cortaid). This may help the
symptoms, but will not cure an infection. And hydrocortisones
are nasty drugs, so probably best not to use them for extended
periods.
To avoid reinfection, it is helpful
to disinfect clothing that touches
the area. You can wash the clothing in hot water and bleach, iron it, or
saturate
it with isopropyl alcohol (not denatured alcohol), let dry, and
repeat. (This will not harm elastic, so it is useful for
bras.)
Socks that are treated to absorb foot sweat and reduce food odor work
surprisingly well.
============================================================
A3) How
can I make traveling on an airplane more comfortable?
The two main things that affect the comfort of big people who
are flying
are seatbelt extenders and seat space.
SEATBELT EXTENDERS
If the seatbelt on an airplane
doesn't fit you, you need to use a
seatbelt extender. All airplanes carry them -- flight attendants use
them to
demonstrate how to fasten your seatbelt. Airlines win points for
being discreet and polite with seatbelt extenders. If
you get a
pre-assigned seat, you may be able to ask the airline or your travel
agent to put an extender on the belt
for that seat in advance.
Otherwise, you can ask the flight attendant for one.
If you prefer to bring your own
extender. Amplestuff (see Other Resources) sells two styles of
seatbelt extenders that work with most airplane seatbelts
(ones with
square or teardrop style fasteners -- note that Southwest and Qantas use
non-standard fasteners). The ones
they sell are somewhat longer than the
ones passed out on planes.
SEAT SPACE
Airlines win points for being
polite and helpful about trying to save an
empty seat beside a big person, and for telling folks where the roomiest
seats
are and trying to seat them there.
A book called Airline Seating Guide lists the measurements of every seat
in
every airplane, including which seats have extra leg or hip room.
It's available from Carlson Publishing, PO Box 888, Los
Alamitos,
California, 90720.
A republished copy of the old Consumer Reports article on airline seat
widths is
on grandstyle.com at
http://www.grandstyle.com/roomycoa.htm.
Seat size varies from plane to plane (even within the same airline and
model). New planes are likely to have similar-sized
seats. But if an
airline uses older planes or a variety of models, there's no predicting
what size the seats will be.
Try calling the customer service reps and
asking them about the seat sizes on the plane you'll be flying (you can
find
out the type of plane from your travel agent or the airline).
Propellor and turbo-prop planes tend to have narrower seats
than jets.
Bulkhead or door seats do not have a row of seats in front of them, so
you get more leg room, and no
one will lower their chair into your face.
However, the tray tables fold out of the arm rests and you can't raise
the
arm rests.
On a small plane with no physical divider between first class and coach,
the seats directly behind the
first class seats tend to have the same
pluses and minuses as bulkhead seats.
Exit row seats sometimes have more
leg room.
First class or business class seats tend to be wider with more leg room,
but the arm rests can't be raised.
Frequently the arm rests are wide
enough to put drinks and food on.
If you prefer first or business class, you
may want to ask about the
possibility of an upgrade. Some airlines will let you upgrade for a
small charge, some will
upgrade you for free; some will let you upgrade
if economy class is full. Frequent travelers report that it's easier to
get
an upgrade if you wear business clothing.
To get a few extra inches of space, board as soon as possible, and when
you
sit down, immediately lift the arm rest. If someone sits next to
you, they generally won't bother to put the arm rest back
down, and
you'll both have more room.
To increase your chance of having an empty seat next to you, try the
following:
*
Travel on middle of the week flights and red-eye (late
night) flights, which are rarely full.
* Ask to be
seated in an aisle or window seat toward the back
of the plane (they fill the plane from front to back).
However, note that the seats in the last row usually don't
recline.
* If you are traveling with someone, ask
for a window and an
aisle in the same row. If someone ends up in the middle, they
will probably be happy
to switch with one of you.
* Tell the airline when you make your reservation that you're a
large person and
ask to be seated next to an empty seat. (One
person says, "I'm a large person, and while one seat is
plenty, I know I'd be more comfortable, and so would the
person you place next to me, if I could be placed next
to an
empty seat instead.")
* Check in early (usually the gate check-in opens an hour before
the flight) and ask to be seated next to an empty seat. You
don't need to explain why you want one. People of all
sizes
want to move their seats and asking to be seated next to an
empty seat is a common request.
*
Ask if you can buy an empty seat or upgrade.
If you are very large, some airlines require you to buy two seats. Call
ahead
so they don't surprise you at the gate. Some airlines will sell
you the second seat for half price. Others will only make
you buy the
second seat if the flight is full.
If you think you may have trouble negotiating the aisles, get on
when
pre-boarding is announced. On many planes, you can fold down a seat by
pushing on the back, which can provide extra
room for settling yourself
in your chair.
Airplane tray tables get in the way of the stomachs of some fat people.
Try
these solutions:
* If you're seated next to an empty seat, use that seat's table.
* Tilt your seat all the way
back.
* Balance the tray on a pillow on your lap.
* Bring your own food and avoid using the tray table.
* Ask
the person seated beside you if you can put your drink on
their table.
============================================================
A4) What
models of cars work best for big folks?
The consensus on cars is: there is no consensus on cars. Everyone is
shaped
slightly differently, and what one large person loves, another
large person hates. That said, here are some guidelines
on buying cars,
followed by a list of makes and models that some big folks have found
work (or don't work) for them.
Test
drive everything you can lay your hands on. Avoid preconceptions --
check out all the cars in your price range. Once you
find a car you
think you like, try to rent it for a week or so. You learn much more
about a car when you spend some
time with it.
When you check out a car, here are some things to think about:
SEATING
If the fit is almost
there, an auto upholstery shop, body shop, or shop
specializing in modifications for special needs (such as Mobility
Systems
in Berkeley, Calif.) can move or lower a car seat, add or
take away the seat's padding, install pedal extenders or a smaller
steering
wheel, and so on. All U.S. car companies will help pay for
adaptations in new cars for the physically handicapped.
*
Can you extend your legs fully? If you have to fold up your
legs too much, you'll get a cramp over long distances.
* Is there enough room for your hips? Do your hips or thighs
touch anything sharp or hard on the sides
of the seats or on
the doors? Some bucket seats are too small for big folks to
sit comfortably in.
* Does it feel claustrophobic with two people in the front
seats? Manual cars may have more room between
the front
seats, to allow space for the gear shift to move -- but a
large person's thighs may interfere
with the gear shift.
* Is there room for your thighs and stomach the steering wheel?
A tilt steering wheel
may help.
* Does the the front seat support your back sufficiently? If the
car has adjustable lumbar support,
does it fit you?
SEATBELTS
Many car companies offer seatbelt extenders and some will customize
seatbelts
for free. Unfortunately, car seatbelts vary a lot, even within
models -- there is no universal extender. The only way to
get the
correct extender for your car is to go to the parts department of your
dealership. Honda owners may be able
to sweet-talk a Nissan parts
manager into trying to figure out which is the corresponding part (but
recently people
have run into trouble with this--a Nissan Vehicle
Identification Number may be required to order an extender). Nissan and
Honda
buy their belts from the same belt makers, but Honda does not
offer seatbelt extenders. (If you do this be very sure you
are not
voiding your insurance coverage, your warranty, or you right to sue if
the belt breaks in an accident.
You have to get everyone's permission
in writing, and this procedure can cost you a few hundred dollars.)
Here
are some web sites which may help anyone trying to get seat belt
extenders:
HREF="
http://www.ifisher.com/nhtsa/index.html">
http://www.ifisher.com/nhtsa/index.html-- Elizabeth Fisher is petitioning the US government to change the
current regulations regarding seatbelt extenders.
(The current
regulations require seatbelts to fit people up to only 215 pounds!)
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/standards/chapt301.html#30116 http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ivoq/default.htm http://www.nsc.org/traf/sbc/sbccrash.htm http://www.nsc.org/traf/sbc/sbcoal.htm http://members.aol.com/nobelts4usIf you haven't bought the car yet, get it *in writing* (very
important) that they will provide you with extenders,
or replace the
belts for long-enough ones at no charge to you.
Companies reported to be good about seatbelt modifications
include:
* Toyota (they measure you and custom-make extenders for free,
but this may take a while; they'll
also give them to you
without measuring if you want, but they claim measuring makes
the belts safer).
NOTE: one person said that a dealer
told her extenders were not available for one of Toyota's
two-door
cars.
* Dodge (they offer seatbelt extenders at no extra charge)
* Ford and Mercury supply free extenders upon request
(however,
you may need to be persistent. One person reported that a Ford
dealership said seatbelt extenders
are no longer available)
* Chevrolet (GM) (seatbelt extenders at no charge)
*
Chrysler (seatbelt extenders at no charge)
* Mitsubishi (fed-ex'd seatbelt extenders for free to a customer)
* Mazda
(ordered them for a customer free of charge)
* Volkswagen is now offering seat belt extenders for 99 Jetta
and Golf models.
* Saturn is now stocking seatbelt extenders (you may have to pay
$30 or so for them)
*
Volvo is reported to supply metal extenders
Companies reported to be bad about seatbelt modifications include:
*
Honda does not make seatbelt extenders and may make you buy a
whole new seatbelt.
* Subaru is claimed to be
unhelpful about seat belt extensions
and pedal extensions.
Kia probably doesn't offer them either.
Note that dealers may be willing to bargain. One person told her local
dealer that she'd buy a Honda from them
if they could put longer
seatbelts in the back. They installed new seatbelts at a local
customizing shop for no extra
cost.
Other solutions for too-short seatbelts:
* Buy oversized van seatbelts at an auto parts store.
*
Have an auto customizer or auto upholsterer modify or replace
the seatbelts.
* If you know how to bar tack
and feel comfortable messing
around with safety equipment, you can modify seatbelts
yourself. You can
buy the 2" flat webbing used for seatbelts
at climbing stores for about $1 a foot.
service
1-312-431-6129 parts and application info) offers
inexpensive (~$20) seatbelt extenders. You have to bolt them
onto the wall or floor of the auto compartment. So you need to
have seatbelts that attach to the car with a bolt
(as opposed
to those spring-recoil or automatic slider-thingies a lot of
new small cars have).
*
If the seatbelt fits with the seat back, consider pedal
extenders (see the Resources Part 2 FAQ). They cost about
$60-$70 per pedal, are standard (fit most vehicles), and you
can install them yourself. They also allow you to
sit farther
back from the wheel, which is recommended when driving cars
with air bags.
Other
seatbelt considerations:
* Do you have to fight to pull the belt out far enough?
Automatic seat belts
that attach to the doors may be difficult
to maneuver around, but they tend to be on the long side.
* Does
the seatbelt rub against your neck or choke you? Some
cars have adjustable seatbelts. Other solutions:
* Fasten the belt, pull it out an inch more, and attach a
safety pin or bulldog clip where the belt
retracts.
* Tuck the seatbelt underneath a fanny pack worn around your
waist.
* Buy a velcro pocket that you can thread the seatbelt through
so it sits lower on your chest. It's
available at auto parts
stores. It's marketed for children, but can be used by
adults too.
AIRBAGS
Airbags may be dangerous for people who sit within 10-12 inches
of the steering wheel
(measured from the center of the wheel to
the center of the chest) or the passenger side dashboard. This
includes
people under 5'3" and many large people. If a person
sits that close, the airbag may cause serious damage because it
opens
explosively.
The US federal government has issued new guidelines for airbag
on-off switches to be fitted to some
vehicles. To obtain the
switch, get a safety brochure and form from the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration,
a dealership, repair shop, state
motor vehicle office, or other location. The form requests
information on the vehicle
and the reason for fitting the
switch. It also contains a section where the consumer
acknowledges the risk of turning
off the air bag. The NHTSA will
then send an authorization letter so you can have your air bag
switch installed. They
will begin processing these forms until
Dec. 18, but the switches won't be available until after the
first of the
year.
Also consider pedal extenders, which may allow you to sit
farther back from the steering wheel. Note that
even without
airbags, people who sit close to the steering wheel may be at
greater risk for injury from the steering
wheel itself.
REACH, ENTRY, AND EXIT
* Can you reach the steering wheel easily? A tilt steering wheel
may help. You can raise the steering wheel to get in and out,
then pull it down for driving.
* Can you
reach the radio, lights, mirrors, glove box, door and
window controls? Can you reach the seat adjustment controls
while you're seated?
* Is the car door low, so it's easy to bump your head when you
get in or out carelessly?
*
Can you get out of the car in a narrow parking space?
Four-door cars work better in this situation.
* Can
you and your passengers get in and out of the back seat
easily? Four-door cars are easier to get in and out of.
*
How far does the car sink when you get into it? If you use a
driveway with a high incline, a lot of sinkage may
cause the
car to scrape the ground.
CARS SOME BIG FOLKS LOVE
The makes and models listed are for the
U.S. market unless so noted.
BMW 7-series
Buick: Century '85, Crown Victoria '92, Riviera '84
Camaro Z28,
'94
Chevrolet: Caprice Classic, Cavalier (but not the '96 model),
Lumina '93 Malibu '98, S-10 Extended Cab
Truck,
Chrysler: Town & Country, LHS (Canada), Le Baron '85
Dodge: 600SE '86, Caravan '94, '97 Sport, Dakota,
Durango,
Intrepid '95, '96, Canadian model, and others, Ram '94, Spirit
Eagle Vision
Ford: Aerostar, Crown
Victoria (US) 92, Crown Victoria (Canada),
Econoline Van 1978-1985 E250 series and 150 '87, Escort '97,
Expedition, Explorer '91, Festiva, Ranger '95 and F/250,
Taurus 90, '94, '98, and others, Windstar, F150 '94, '98
Geo Metro
Honda: Accord '89, '92, CRX '90, Civic (hatchback, sedan, and
station wagon), Civic Del Sol,
Prelude
Infiniti G20 (larger than the J30 and Q45)
Integra
Isuzu Trooper
Jeep: Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer '85
Mazda:
323 2-door hatchback '91, '94, 626 89, '91, pickup, Protege
Mercedes: 300, ML320 (M class), S-Class
Mercury: Cougar,
Grand Marquis (Canada), Marauder, Sable, Tracer '91
Nissan: 300ZX '91, Altima, Bluebird (U.K.), Maxima '95, Quest,
Sentra '89, '91, and others
Oldsmobile: Calais, Cutlass Supreme '89, Delta '79
Plymouth: Acclaim '93, Breeze, Caravan,
Voyager '92
Pontiac: Bonneville (Canada), Firefly, Grand Am, Grand Prix '94
Saab 900, '92
Saturn: SL '94, SL-1
(4-door has more headroom than 2-door),
SL-2, L
Subaru Legacy L '98
Suzuki Sidekick JX, '90
Toyota:
Avalon, Camry '88, 92, 94, 95, 99, Corolla, Previa '92, Sienna
Volkswagen: Campmobile '78, Golf '85, '89, Jetta, Model
412 '72,
Quantum '83, Rabbit
Volvo: 300 series (U.K.), Sedan '82 '95
CARS SOME BIG FOLKS HATE
Chevrolet:
Cavalier, vans
Eagle Talon
Ford: Bronco, Crown Victoria, Explorer, Escort, Neon, T-Bird,
Tempo '93 and
others, Taurus '97 and others
Jeep Cherokee
Lincoln Town Car, 88
Mazda MPV '91
Mercury: Lynx, Tracer
Mitsubishi
Galant
Nissan: 240SX, Sentra
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (Canada)
Plymouth Reliant Station Wagon, '85
Pontiac
SunBird
Saturn
Subaru Outback
Toyota Corolla '90
Volvo station wagon
============================================================
A5) What
can be done about pants prematurely wearing out in the
inner thigh?
There are several theories on why pants wear
out prematurely in the
inner thigh:
* The fabric rubs against itself.
* The fabric is stretched tightly.
*
Perspiration gets into the fabric.
* Skin rubs against the fabric.
Some possible solutions:
* Buy pants
with flexible loose material (i.e., sweatpants or
harem pants).
* Buy pants that are generously sized.
*
Line the crotch area with cotton to absorb perspiration (a
tailor can do this).
* Wear shiny lycra bicycle
shorts under the pants, to minimize
friction.
* Wash the pants frequently to remove perspiration.
* Buy
inexpensive pants that you don't mind tossing when they
wear out.
* Buy pants you can patch easily, and don't
feel stupid wearing
patched pants. If you have the pants hemmed, save the extra
fabric for patching
later. A tailor can patch the pants for
you.
* Wash pants inside out to slow the wearing process.
* Avoid
napped and nubby fabrics, which may wear faster.
* Patch the pants on the inside to reinforce them. You can use
iron-on patches for this purpose.
============================================================
A6) What about
recreation and travel for big folks?
TRAVEL AGENCIES
Access First Travel
Malden, Mass.
Phone: (800)
557-2047.
This is a travel agency specializing in travel for people with
disabilities. They publish a newsletter.
A poster writes: "I
found no references of course to access for people of size, but
there is mention of inclines,
doorway widths and the like. [...]
Maybe someone who has the time and inclination can
call/write/whatever and ask
them to include accessibility notes
of interest to fat people."
Flightbookers
London
Phone: 0171 757 2702
Email: flightbookers@dial.pipex.com (Put 'To Grace' in the subject heading)
Flightbookers has a fat-positive travel
agent who goes by the
name "Grace." Her personal web site with travel notes for large
people is at
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Boardwalk/8904/index.html.
Greater Salt Lake Clothing Company
P.O. Box 171422
Salt Lake City, Utah 84117-1422
Phone: 801-273-8700
Fax: 801-273-7700
E-Mail: sales@gslcc.com
Web: www.gslcc.com
Sponsors ski and river trips for plus-size women.
Travel
Enterprises
Phone: 800-239-8269
Specializes in discount first class and business class airline
tickets.
CRUISES
Many
cruise ships have very small bathrooms and a lot of stairs. A few
ships are wheelchair accessible (standard adult wheelchairs
are 26
inches wide). Check for ships that offer elevators, roomy bathrooms,
larger staterooms, seating for large people
in the dining room, etc.
NUDISM
You may be able to charter a boat for a day, and hang out with your
friends
nude there. Many charter captains and crews are discreet. Check
first, though.
See also the section on nude beaches
and resorts in the Other Resources
for Big Folks FAQ.
============================================================
A7) How
do I find pants that fit my waist both sitting and
standing?
If your waist size changes when you sit, consider
buying pants that fit
comfortably when you're sitting, and wear suspenders to keep your pants
up when you stand. Suspenders
with leather straps and buttonholes stay
on much better than the ones with metal snaps.
Wearing elastic waist pants
with loose or stretchy fabric also works for
casual dress purposes.
============================================================
A8)
Our bed frames keep breaking, help!!!
The first recommendation is to get a very high quality bed frame. No
duh.
(See U.S. manufacturers in the Resources FAQ.) Enlist the sales staff
in helping you find a bed that won't break. They
should know their
products, and what is best-made and strongest. If they can't help you or
look at you funny, go somewhere
else.
There are two kinds of bed frames -- bed frames with legs, and platform
beds.
BED FRAMES WITH LEGS
Bed
frames with legs usually have legs at the corners, a rectangle of
wood or metal on top of the legs, and slats or springs
across the
rectangular frame, on which the mattress rests. Some folks think the
wood is stronger, some folks think the
metal is stronger. Some like
antiques (particularly cast iron.) When buying a bed frame, pay
attention to the thickness
and weight of the slats and legs, and the
strength of the attachments.
To strengthen a bed frame with legs, you
can:
* Add slats to strengthen the frame. If you have a metal frame,
you can attach extra slats
with machine screws or weld them
on. One person's suggestion: "Create two or four X's of
plywood that
reach from the floor to the bedding foundation.
You cut a notch in each piece so that it slides into each
other to form the X. If you are unsure, visit a local waterbed
store and ask."
* add extra feet
* buy a
bed frame with six feet or extra supports underneath,
such as a frame for supporting a waterbed.
crossmembers with feet that stablize the bed and cross the
outside frame for extra support. One source is:
http://www.beachcomber.com/Aladdin/albed.html#linwood.
PLATFORM BED FRAMES
Platforms are usually used with waterbeds or futons, but you can also
put a mattress
(or a mattress and box spring, though that may make the
bed very high) on a platform. Waterbed frames are very strong,
made to
hold hundreds of gallons of water. Solid wood (or plywood) is stronger
than pressboard (one person reported
that after a year of use, her bed
fell through the pressboard platform). A frame with drawers underneath
may be stronger
than a regular frame.
If you want a single- or double-bag waterbed, get a bag with lap seams
and not butt seams.
(Lap seams are stronger and harder to make "run" if
there is a leak.)
You can also buy a water mattress with several
tubes, rather than one
big bag. There is less turbulence in a tube-style waterbed and you don't
push all the water to
the sides as you get out. Tube-style waterbeds can
also be filled so one side of the bed is firmer than the other.
You
can stiffen the sideboards of a platform bed with metal rails
attached at several points. This will help minimize twisting
of the
sideboard as you enter or exit the bed.
OTHER SOLUTIONS
Sleep on a pair of twin beds pushed together.
There's less dip in the
middle, and less stress on one bed. You can use king-size linen and
blankets to cover the whole
bed and add eggshell foam to the section
where the beds meet.
Sleep on mattresses on the floor (if you don't mind
getting up off the
floor!).
Put the whole works -- mattress and box springs -- on the floor. "Pillow
top" mattress
sets are especially thick and the bed may not be much
lower than a standard mattress set on a frame. The side rails hold
the
mattress on the box spring.
============================================================
A9) My tie looks
funny for some reason.
Reasons why a tie might not look right on a large man:
1) Your shirt collar is not wide
enough for your neck. Try the
following:
* Move the collar button over 1/4 of an inch. This should not
affect the fit of the shirt, because buttons are placed at the
center of the button hole.
* Buy shirts
with expandable collars whose top button is on a
length of fabric mounted on a piece of elastic.
* Use or
make a "magic button" or "shirt expander" -- a button
attached to a loop of elastic. Place the elastic around the
collar button, then put the button through the button hole.
(If the elastic stretches too much, gaps or folds may
occur.)
2) The knot in your tie does not cover the whole collar area.
Try using a half Windsor or full Windsor
knot. Both take up more area
than a traditional American four-in-hand knot. (A full Windsor takes up
the most area and
looks more symmetrical. However, it may cause your tie
to be too short.)
Gregor (gregor@nando.net) describes how
to tie a full Windsor:
Wrap the tie around your neck, and cross the ends with the
wide side
in front; then bring the wide end up and through the
opening formed; wrap around to your right for TWO revolutions,
and finally bring the end up through the loop formed and under
the outer layer of wrap. This differs from the commonly
used
Windsor knot in having the second wrap around the knot. This
makes a significantly bulkier knot.
You can also get a little
extra width by making sure the end tucked through comes
through straight;
holding a finger raised under it as it is
drawn through seems to help. Don't over-tighten the knot; the
looser the better for bulk.You'll probably need to shorten the
narrow end, and may have little of it left when
you're though.
I will sometimes paper clip the tiny loose end behind the tie.
3) Your tie is too short to
reach your belt. Sometimes this also makes
the tie look funny up at the knot, because you're knotting the tie up
where
it's skinnier, so the knot takes up less room.
This one is easy to fix: Buy a long tie (made for tall men).
============================================================
A10)
Where can I find medical products for large-size people?
(wheelchairs, blood
pressure cuffs)
NOTE: For specific companies, see the "Other Resources for Big Folks" FAQ.
Wheelchairs
Standard
wheelchairs are 22 inches wide. It's not easy to find a wider
one. Here are some suggestions:
* Call your local
hospital and asking for the home care
division. The nurses there should know local sources for
larger-sized chair rentals.
* Call the Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy departments of
large nursing homes.
* Several wheelchair catalogs carry large-sized chairs. In the
U.S., SIZEwise Rentals rents wheelchairs.
Their parent
company, Wheelchairs of Kansas, sells custom-made wheelchairs.
(See the "Other
Resources for Big Folks" FAQ.)
PDG Inc. sells wheelchairs for big and supersize people.
In the U.S., contact their distributor at 888-433-6818. In
Canada, contact their distributor at 800-387-9113
or contact
them directly at 604-323-9220 (Vancouver area). (More
information in the Other
Resources FAQ.)
Home Blood Pressure Monitors
The standard size blood pressure cuff should not be used on a person
with
an arm bigger around than 14" or so. It will give a falsely high
reading.
Options are to use a large size cuff (most
doctor's offices have them)
or thigh cuff on the upper arm, use the standard size cuff on the
forearm, or use a wrist
cuff.
The most economical monitor is a cuff and stethoscope, available at
medical supply companies. Some home models
come with D-ring cuffs that
are easy to put on with one hand, and have the stethescope diaphragm
screwed into the cuff
so you don't need a hand to hold the stethescope.
You can buy these with a regular or large cuff. Learning to take your
own
blood pressure by stethoscope takes some practice, but once you
learn, you can better gauge the accuracy than with an automatic
model.
Wrist monitors are simple and easy to use. They fit wrists up to 8"
around. Omron offers several kinds. They
pump and give you a reading
automatically.
A nurse wrote: "Healthcare professionals will offer varying opinions on
their
accuracy....but at least it gives a supersized individual ease and
comfort of keeping tabs on their pressure at home....I
would suggest to
anyone using a wrist blood pressure machine to take it when having their
pressure checked at their
physician's office, health fair, drug store,
etc., to see if there is any difference in readings."
MRI machines
are tubes and some big people can't fit into them. Some
"open" MRI machines are available and may be able to accommodate
big
folks (as well as folks with claustrophobia).
Hayward, California. Call 1-800-OPEN-MRI.
tend to be overbooked
with appointments because they only do them
on Mondays.
Open Advanced MRI. (415) 956-2525. 490 Post #323 (@
Post & Mason) (San
Francisco. They also have a facility in Emeryville in the Emery Bay
Public Market Bldg.
============================================================
============================================================
SECTION
B: Information about this FAQ
B1) Are there other related FAQs?
There is some overlap
in the topics covered by the FAQs. If you don't
find what you're looking for here, try the other FAQs.
The latest
version of the following FAQs can be found at:
http://www.cat-and-dragon.com/~stef/Fatfaqs/ alt.support.big-folks newsgroup FAQ
soc.support.fat-acceptance newsgroup FAQ
soc.support.fat-acceptance.moderated
newsgroup FAQ
Clothing for Big Folks in Canada
Clothing
for Big Folks in the U.S. (parts 1 and 2)
Organizations for Big Folks
Online Resources for Big Folks
Other Resources for Big Folks
Publications for Big Folks
Resources for Dealing With the Physical Aspects of Being Fat
Size-acceptance
The following FAQs can be found at:
http://www.sover.net/~astarte/fa/faqs.html Big Folks and Fitness
Big Folks and Health
Big Folks and Sports
Research on Big Folks
The latest versions of following FAQs
can be found at the following
locations:
Clothing for Big Folks in the U.K. at
http://www.thegrapevine.co.uk/Avalanche/FAQ-UK.htm Clothing for Big Folks in Europe at
http://www.thegrapevine.co.uk/Avalanche/FAQ-Europe.htm Plus-Size Pregnancy Website at
http://www.teleport.com/~rvireday/plus/You can also find (sometimes slightly older versions of) the above FAQs
(except the plus-size pregnancy FAQs) at
the following locations:
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/fat-acceptance-faq/(Note: The big-folks FAQ is listed separately at these locations.)
You can also get FAQs from rtfm.mit.edu
via anonymous FTP or via the mail
archive server. For information about the mail server, send email to
mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu
with the word "help" (without the quotes) in the body of the message.
============================================================
B2)
Posting information
This document is posted bi-weekly to alt.support.big-folks,
soc.support.fat-acceptance, and
soc.support.fat-acceptance.moderated.
Stef Maruch (stef@cat-and-dragon.com) maintains this FAQ.
