Why I'm using a power wheelchair
Feb. 7th, 2012 10:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrSince someone asked and I realised it probably isn't entirely clear! I know I took a long time to come around to the idea myself.
So: I can walk ok for short distances, but my energy levels vary dramatically, and even on good days I can't go very far without my legs feeling strained and then having my cfs symptoms flare up in response for days or weeks afterwards. If you see me looking energetic at a social event etc, know that I'll pay for it later. The wheelchair means I can travel long distances without hurting or fatiguing my legs, and will hopefully make me much less housebound.
For comparison, this is what happened the last time I went to Target without a wheelchair:
I waited until I was having a good day and had nothing planned for several days. Cam gave me a lift, I sighed at the "long" distance between the car park and Target. I walked up the women's clothing aisle and found a few items, I saw other promising looking things but ran out of energy to check them out. I collapsed into the changeroom, feeling sore and out of it, then stood in line feeling woozy, paid for my clothes, then limped back to the car. I then had REALLY sore legs, general pain, mental fuzziness and fatigue, that kept me in bed and meant I couldn't do anything else for several days.
With a wheelchair:
I was having an average day. I "walked" with Cam to the station/bus-stop where he caught the train to work. I caught the bus to Morley, checked out the used bookstore, then went to Target. I drove around the whole women's clothes section and got a bunch of promising looking things, tried them on and narrowed down the ones I wanted to buy. Standing to try them on was the most tiring part of my day. I swung by several other departments, then realised I was having trouble concentrating so went to wait in line and buy my clothes, feeling awake enough to snag a nice bag to carry the clothes in on the back of my chair (it didn't fit, but never mind). Then I ate the lunch I'd packed, and had a rest. I crossed the road to check out the Op Shop, misjudged the width of a footpath and got stuck, some nice men came and got me set back up. I was feeling kind of out of it at this point, but still checked out the clothing and books in the Op Shop, then went back to the bus stop and caught a bus back. Once at home I was pretty sleepy, so I had a three hour nap then woke up feeling fine (for me). Today I woke up in no real pain and feel ready for the medical appointment I have scheduled.
So: I can walk ok for short distances, but my energy levels vary dramatically, and even on good days I can't go very far without my legs feeling strained and then having my cfs symptoms flare up in response for days or weeks afterwards. If you see me looking energetic at a social event etc, know that I'll pay for it later. The wheelchair means I can travel long distances without hurting or fatiguing my legs, and will hopefully make me much less housebound.
For comparison, this is what happened the last time I went to Target without a wheelchair:
I waited until I was having a good day and had nothing planned for several days. Cam gave me a lift, I sighed at the "long" distance between the car park and Target. I walked up the women's clothing aisle and found a few items, I saw other promising looking things but ran out of energy to check them out. I collapsed into the changeroom, feeling sore and out of it, then stood in line feeling woozy, paid for my clothes, then limped back to the car. I then had REALLY sore legs, general pain, mental fuzziness and fatigue, that kept me in bed and meant I couldn't do anything else for several days.
With a wheelchair:
I was having an average day. I "walked" with Cam to the station/bus-stop where he caught the train to work. I caught the bus to Morley, checked out the used bookstore, then went to Target. I drove around the whole women's clothes section and got a bunch of promising looking things, tried them on and narrowed down the ones I wanted to buy. Standing to try them on was the most tiring part of my day. I swung by several other departments, then realised I was having trouble concentrating so went to wait in line and buy my clothes, feeling awake enough to snag a nice bag to carry the clothes in on the back of my chair (it didn't fit, but never mind). Then I ate the lunch I'd packed, and had a rest. I crossed the road to check out the Op Shop, misjudged the width of a footpath and got stuck, some nice men came and got me set back up. I was feeling kind of out of it at this point, but still checked out the clothing and books in the Op Shop, then went back to the bus stop and caught a bus back. Once at home I was pretty sleepy, so I had a three hour nap then woke up feeling fine (for me). Today I woke up in no real pain and feel ready for the medical appointment I have scheduled.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 10:03 am (UTC)Luckily my Dad's, my Dad, and he paid attention and by the time I left, he was the one reminding me about the cane.
Glad you're being that mobile. That wheelchair day sounds exhausting to me just reading it. And then an appt straight away the next day? Wow! :)
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Date: 2012-02-08 08:12 am (UTC)And then I went out again today! THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED. But it was just to the chemist on the corner, and then I had a nice long sleep :)
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Date: 2012-02-07 10:33 am (UTC)You were very wise to use wheelchair at WorldCon. The Exhibition Centre was so huge and everything was so far apart that by the end of the con, my plantar fasciitis had flared up again. You wouldn't have stood a chance.
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