Many plastic bottles pose problems for those of us with ALS

If you’ve been keeping up with my recent columns, you’ve likely figured out that even though I have ALS, I maintain a glass-half-full attitude. So, today, I thought you’d enjoy learning how I deal with what has been a constant challenge for me: plastic bottles.

The trouble with plastic bottles is that they have lids — all kinds of lids. From pumps to screw-on caps, spray nozzles to flip tops, and a wide variety of other unique innovations, they all seem to conspire against my gaining access to the contents inside.

When my ALS symptoms first appeared in 2010, my weak hands struggled to lift and grip slippery, odd-sized bottles. Plus, my fingers and thumbs had the coordination of a confused marching band.

I remember how my fingers would struggle to press the nozzle on a lotion bottle, and I had to use a full hand instead. Now, a sturdy, long-neck pump bottle is my friend. I’ve perfected the full-hand press and even given myself bonus points for engaging the muscles of my upper arm and shoulder to join the movement. Who doesn’t need an impromptu fitness workout now and then?

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Bestie caps

However, bottles with flip-top caps remain my favorite. They’re so much easier to manage than twist-on caps. No pesky threads to line up, and no dealing with the cap getting stuck when those threads go crooked. Nope — just flip, dispense, snap back on, and go.

What’s more is that whenever a flip-top bottle is empty, no matter the size, I save the cap. Why? Even though plastic bottles come in many shapes and sizes, my observation is that the industry relies on several generic molds for the twist-on area at the top. This allows me to dig into my collection of used flip-tops and retrofit the errant bottle with a new cap.

A misbehaving mist

One time, I received a free gift tucked in with my order of cosmetics. It was a bottle of spray mist assured to make my face feel fresh, hydrated, and young again. Well, that was worth a go! But try as I might, my index finger was too weak to push down on the nozzle quickly enough to produce any spray. When I finally did press it down, all I saw was a sad little dribble running down the side of the bottle.

Not to be deterred, I discovered that my thumb could perform the required speedy-spray maneuver. In spite of this, it soon became apparent that using my thumb to push downward limited my ability to aim.

Suffice to say, I sprayed my neck, the bathroom mirror, and the air, along with a blast to my ear. I’m still finding dried droplets here and there in the medicine cabinet on a nearby wall. I now avoid purchasing anything in a spray bottle. I give them an evil eye in the store and have officially declared them my archenemy.

And don’t get me started on the tamperproof methods some companies use to protect their products. I usually don’t even try to open anything. Instead, I rely on my husband to assist, with the help of scissors and a pair of pliers.

All in all, I believe that living with ALS takes determination and a good dose of humor. I hope this peek into my life brought a chuckle to your day. Sometimes we just need to laugh together. That way, we’re learning to live well with ALS.

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.