Hi,
So it’s not been such a good day. As well as MS I have epilepsy. My epilepsy isn’t fully controlled but I only have really tiny fits called absence seizures (never tonic clonic). I can continue talking, typing, and basically doing things as normal whilst having them. With my MS, I have significantly weaker arms and legs than I used to, I get fatigued very easily (severely recently), have a constant soar (usually mild, but more intense at the moment) left foot, and currently have vertigo and double vision. Due to a combination of the current additional issues, but also uni and uni work to conserve energy, I have had a wheelchair assessment. Due to my fatigue and arm weakness, I require an electric one (I think I’d be worse off in a manual one than actually walking). So when I was rung today by wheelchair services to say their policy (note policy, not the law) was that they don’t give electric wheelchairs to people who aren’t seizure free - well f*ck them!!! (pardon my french, I’m a little angry at how idiotic they people can be).
What exactly do they want me to do? I cannot use a manual (and I’d think this would be more dangerous anyhow if I suddenly lost the ability to stop it. But in a year of wheelchair basketball, no stopped due to arm weakness, fatigue, and lack of mobility to get there, this hasn’t ever happened. An electric one would surely cut out the moment your hand comes away) because of my strength. I cannot walk everywhere. I cannot drive due to the epilepsy. And my seizures are negligible anyhow.
I asked what their solution was to this and they didn’t have one. They said go to a charity - oh but the charities have the same policies. Eh? Aaaaarrrrrrrgghhhhh!!!
Does anybody have experience of this, and if so, how did you resolve it? Or just any advice anybody can give. Thanks
Comet