Last week I has a hysterectomy, so can’t do much walking through that, never mind the MS!!
Anyway, I was desperate to go out, and knew there was no way I could walk around shops… so I thought I’d use a wheelchair…
But let me take a step backwards for a mo… before my op, If I went to the shops, I could only do one shop, and by the time I’d walked around it, I’d get back to the car and my body would give up!! I was completely knackered and my body would turn to jelly, no energy whatsoever, feel dizzy and ill and completely drained. I’d have no option but to go home and collapse on the couch or go to bed…and feel ill for the rest of the day… there is no way on earth I could do a second shop!!
Back to now: I used the wheelchair to go around a decent sized supermarket. I quite enjoyed the experience, I got round the shop without feelin ill or dizzy (and strangel I always but my dizzyness in supermarkets down to the lights… obviously not!) plus, everyone got out of my way!! People made room for me… allowed me through tight spaces first… amazing!! And no one looked at me strange as I though they might (well a small boy aged about 4 had a stare, but that’s allowed )
I got to the end of the shop and felt fine!! In fact I didn’t want to go home, so we went off to a local retail park and went to a few more shops… then went to another retail park in a different area and done a few more shops!! I was absolutely amazed on how many shops I’d been round and felt fine… I was tired, but I didn’t have all the energy zapped out of me, and I didn’t feel ill or dizzy… just a ‘normal’ amount of tired after a day in the shops… all in all we were out in shops for about 2 hours!!! There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY WHATSOEVER I could have done that without a wheelchair … operation or not!!
I just want to say to anyone thinking about… just do it!!! Please! You’ll be amazed of how much energy you can reserve and how much more to your day you can get!! It’s took a major op to make me realise it. But realise it I did!!
I am so pleased with myself… although my head is still struggling with the concept… On one hand I KNOW how beneficial it is… And I am so happy about it. The other week we took our grandson to a large Aquarium centre… I just couldn’t do it… I was crying most of the way round it was awful!! But now I know I can go there in my chair… on the other I am thinking I am admiting defeat!! I know I know… Still don’t want to go to my own local store in case I see anyone I know… again I know… stupid!! I’ll get used to using it out of my own area first and then gradually get closer. One step at a time eh!!
I had my first chair (Gertie) a few months ago and posed the question, do I walk as much as I can looking daft pushing it until I need to get in,or send hubby back to fetch it?
Karen wisely pointed out that the point of it was to conserve energy and use it from the start.
Like you I did one of the huge shopping malls and then came home and cooked the tea…a big change from the needing bed after one shop.
I can quite happily push myself all day now round shopping malls so hubby can be at the side. The first time I went out in mine I saw the company finance director and one of my staff which I thought may be uncomfortable but it was fine. It gave me the opportunity to explain I can walk short distances but not trogging round the shops.
While I am glad you have seen the positives of having a chair please remember you are post surgery and it is important not to overdo things,and allow your body time to heal.
I supose once you’ve seen a few people out then it gets easier… just that first encounter eh!
Yes, my husband is making sure I dont overdo things. He keeps telling me off if I try and do anything!! I know I should be wallowing in not having to anything… but its very boring… and even though I get told off if I do the dishes (for example), the family aren’t too quick on doing them either… it’s quite frustrating watching them pile up!! Plus all other housework… I think it takes something like this to realise how much stuff you actually do!!
My word of caution is based on an experience at work and of cause this is only one person.
One of the ladies in my home had to have the full works and everything was taken,but this was complicated by the fact she has a profound learning disability,and some degree of physical disability although she could walk with assistance. She has no communication other than body language,and no capacity to understand what we are saying to her other than general routines.
She made it through surgery,but immediately refused to move from a lying position for 5 days.Then she tried to carry on as normal,which for her was down on the floor chewing everything in sight and crawling about.She accepted regular pain relief but refused to sit in chairs or lie on her bed.We had no means of stopping her from doing whatever she wanted to however much it hurt.
We were so scared of hurting her when doing personal care as she was crying more often than not.The consultant even came to the home as she was a very special case to him,but the end result was she can no longer walk or weight bear. They can find no reason for this on physical examination but accept it is too much of a coincidence for it not to be post surgery related.
I appreciate you are a very different person but overdoing it and failing to heal properly can have significant long term consequences.
When you want to wash up because it annoys you think of ####.
I didn’t think this thread would be relevant for me to comment on or gain from looking at the title but having read it all I started thinking about Sunday when I went into Reading Christmas shopping - one shop and I was ker-nacked and dragging myself around like an old old woman feeling far too heavy for my legs (that’s probably the mince pies to be honest). I couldn’t carry my bags and clung to Nigel like I was a weak timid person not the strong independent woman I actually am. I slept the rest of the day and was pathetic yesterday. It’s now Tuesday and I’m ok again.
Do people actually use wheelchairs to avoid those situations? I can walk pretty well really - slow but ok for a bit - so would feel a complete fraud. It’s definitely a headf*k to think I might ever need one.
i would like to thank you for your post, i funny thing to write??? let me explain, although i have no dx one of the fears i have, and i expect many others to, is that i will end up using a wheelchair, in the past year i have gone from walking without assistance to using a cane, then elbow crutches. both aids resisted at first, then i realised how much of a help they were. still the wheelchair is a frightening thought but now i am going to remember your words and your courage, and that of every chair user if i ever need one. hope you feel better soon,
I have been banging on for years, letting folk know how much my wheelie has improved my life.
If it wasnt for wheels (scooter or wheelie) I`d never get out of bed, let alone the house!!! Correction…my commode has wheels, so I would at least get into the shower!!
Not using a chair to help you do more, would be like not using the washing machine and washing by hand, if an aid is there, and it makes life better, then that is progress is it not? :), oh hi by the way, I am new, and started with your post gotta start someplace hey lol I was happy to read that you had agood time shopping, I always think people should do what they feel at the time on that day why not?
)
gotta start someplace hey lol I was happy to read that you had agood time shopping, I always think people should do what they feel at the time on that day