this evening I was out with wife at theatre,in Glasgow,went in early to go for something to eat,parked the car and looked for somewhere to eat,found an indian about 5 mins away,(my walking),Iwas totrally done in,and the walk back to theatre was even worse,I am now thinking,it would be easier giving in,and getting a wheel chair,instead of being a stubborn person,who thinks he is healthier ,than he really is,even a stranger asked me if i needed help,again I lied and said i was ok,:)giving in to wheelchair would make life easier,BUT,I dont want to,keep walking I tell myself,can I have opinions please
Hi there, I’m not diagnosed but have been really unwell with transverse myelitis which really left me very weakened in terms of mobility. I was housebound March-June this year.
My husband got me a disability scooter early on, and sadly my arms were too weak to steer ot for many months.
However, fair play to him as it means that we can now go out without me becoming instantly drained and I enjoy whatever activity we have planned to do as I haven’t “wasted” energy walking. Its now been to england, scotland and wales and Spain and I have really had value for money.
I don’t think I would like a wheelchair as I dont like to be controlled, if I get an MS diagnosis I would very carefully replace my scooter as I have learnt so much and only paid a reasonably small amount on eeeeebayyyy (is that banned?) my legs are a little long for the model I am using etc. Mine os too heavy for me to dismantle and store in boot myself so I would look for a lighter folding model like the travelscoot…drooooooooooooooool !!
all i can say is mine has been an absolute blessing x
I was like yourself a couple of years ago, got to the point where I had to stop every 20 yards or so and was falling so much.
I am in a wheelchair and things in many ways have become easier, less worries about trying to stay upright. Yes you need to stay away from the wheelchair as long as possible but it isnt all bad! I have a scooter that can take me 15 miles and that has been a major blessing.
I used to dread nights out for fear of walking and falling, now I only worry where the nearest toilet is! People are v respectful on nights out in fact a little over the top,thinking i am a china doll!But i suppose it’s better that way. I used to dread waiting for taxis, hoping I could stay upright until it came, now I just get wheeled in! You are way off this stage but just think about it in the future.
You have to still try and stand as much as you can and do your physio program when in a wheelchair. Of course I miss the days of walking but things are not too bad now!
I was like yourself a couple of years ago, got to the point where I had to stop every 20 yards or so and was falling so much.
I am in a wheelchair and things in many ways have become easier, less worries about trying to stay upright. Yes you need to stay away from the wheelchair as long as possible but it isnt all bad! I have a scooter that can take me 15 miles and that has been a major blessing.
I used to dread nights out for fear of walking and falling, now I only worry where the nearest toilet is! People are v respectful on nights out in fact a little over the top,thinking i am a china doll!But i suppose it’s better that way. I used to dread waiting for taxis, hoping I could stay upright until it came, now I just get wheeled in! You are way off this stage but just think about it in the future.
You have to still try and stand as much as you can and do your physio program when in a wheelchair. Of course I miss the days of walking but things are not too bad now!
Hi
Its seems its always hard with acquired disability to come to terms with things which make our lives easer, like assistive devices. Its not giving in if you choose a chair or any assisstive device, its using something which will vastly improve your life.
My chair made things so much less of a struggle that it surprised me that it didn’t take too long to just accept it is something I do need-end of. Same with using a scooter/sticks/crutches/rollators/ect.
Just make sure you get the right thing for you. And make sure you get measured properly and try some different ones out if you choose a chair.
S.
lts so difficult to get over this ‘barrier’ - we want to look as if nothing is wrong - but we have to be honest with ourselves - we sometimes need the help of ‘gadgets’. l have had an assortment of scooters for over 20yrs. Small ones that fold down to go in the boot of the car - to large all-terrain types that have there own trailer to go on and l can hitch them to the towbar of the car.
lndoors - l have gone from furniture walking to now using a rollator to get about with. My rollator [ Topro Olympus] is very sturdy and has a seat so l can sit down if needed. And it has storage which l can put up to 10kgs in. lt holds me upright - and allows me to move much quicker then with a stick. The first time l went ‘public’ with it l did feel very selfconscious - but seriously,l would have looked far worse struggling to walk without it - certainly l would have been mistaken for a drunk!!
l think we would all feel better about it if we could have a huge plaster-cast on one leg - [or both] in a wheelchair.
Make life easier for yourself - and family. My OH and daughter have gone to Weymouth for the weekend - sea fishing. And they are not worried about me falling about all the time now l have the rollator to get around the house and garden.
F.
This is all about mind set. To me, getting a chair wasn’t giving in; it was fighting back - for the simple reason that, without the chair I can’t do all sorts of things, but with it, my MS cannot stop me.
Go for it. You won’t regret it!
Karen x
BRAVO…You are definitley NOT giving in,but adapting. Lots of good advice on here,but if you cannot self propel in a wheelchair,you’re lady wife is going to be on duty.Have a long think about the implications of that.'Praps a fa-ty little collapsable buggy may literally be the way ahead, but it’ll need humping in and out of the car.Maybe a bigger buggy for you to whizz about on from home
You should keep walking and exercising your legs,but now, once you’ve worked out what is best,you’ll not be as knackered when you’re out and about. More energy overall.
Once you get into this your options and horizons will change.Peoples’ attitudes to those of us who get about is virtually always…“Bloody good show for trying”
Excellent, Wb
hi wellman
i am the same. still fighting to keep walking but sometimes i wonder who i’m trying to kid.
my lovely physiotherapist keeps urging me to build up strength in my legs and sometimes i feel that i’m winning but - hah! that doesnt last long.
what i WILL do is hire a wheelchair if i ever go abroad again, i’ll be a part-timer.
carole x
Allo. Now this is one of the things that gets me ``on me soapbox and shouting`
I totally agree with you that is damned hard trying to keep up the appearance of being fine, when inside we are screaming for help.
I was early on in my journey, when I found the need for a wheelie part time. ie within 2 years! The falls were happening more and more. I fell into a glass porch at work, splitting my lip badly. It felt like i had busted my whole face!
Then I fell on a bridge which was trying to close to allow boats to continue up a canal, the bridgeman had pressed the signal for the traffic to stop, when he saw me flailing and landing heavily on the bridge. I could`ve been drowned or squished by cars, if he hadnt seen me.
One time i fell clean outside our front door and bashed my leg up so badly, that if I hadnt been so well padded, i would`ve broken my femur.
Family and friends were so worried about me and I knew my walking days were numbered or I mightve ended up dead!!!! Yes, thats dramatic, but so true too! Id just lost a friend with MS, who wouldnt admit she needed help, as her walking was frqaught with falls. She took a terrible fall and ended up on life support, which ended her life not long after.
OK Polly`s being melodramatic, I hear some of you saying, but truth is, this is how things could go for any of us who are so fragile on our pins.
Other benefits of using a wheelie, are that you can enjoy life soooo much more when not looking at every inch of ground incase it attacks you and you end up face to face with it. Then there`s the fatigue issue…horrid chuff that it is!
Why should we miss out on life because we can`t walk so well anymore? nay, lads and lasses.get your wheels and have a ball!
Enough already!
luv Pollx
Hi, Have you considered a rollator, I have one and it keeps me walking and if I feel tired (which is quite often) I just put the brakes on and sit down. Just another idea for you to mull over.
Janet
x
Well with the aid of my rollator - l have just been down to feed the chicks - stopped on the way back to clean up the dogpoo from the lawn. l can bend down - keeping one hand on the rolly quite safely.
And as it is a sunny day here - l have been washing all l can get my hands on - all the bath towels - throws etc - now without the rollator this would have been very tricky for me - now l can balance the washbasket on the rolly and feel very safe whilst pegging out the washing - and bringing it in. Silly me - these were jobs my OH was having to carry out prior to me getting the rollator!!!
F.
ty very much for all the replies,im deffo thinking of trying a rollator,i find when i go to asada etc,when 2 hands on trolley im better,but as you all say its a mind set thing,I will get there