Does anyone use a wheelchair when they can't walk?

[LadyKayde]

I have had a few run ins with the hospital lately because of Retention. Catheter in, catheter out, Foley Catheters, self catheterization so on and so forth.

Walking/standing ranges from painful to entirely impossible. My family would be content to hide me in the house, stuck in my bed, and bring me a pear every now and again so that I don't die.

Screw that.

I'm 24, have no life, no friends, and am sick of my boyfriend LITERALLY having to carry me around. I surfed craigslist and found a child size wheelchair for cheap. Everyone around me is freaking out. My stepmother said the wheelchair makes me an invalid and she doesn't want to see it, I should hide in in my room if I have to have it. I think being stuck in bed makes me an invalid, not the wheelchair.

I hear a lot of people say on the board they can't walk distances, so do you just give up getting around? How do you go shopping? I saw a problem, and came up with a solution, it boggles my mind how everyone is freaking out.

Am I seriously the only one who does this?

[maryla]

LK,

On the few occassions when I left my house to shop, I used the ones in the stores. Also, if we flew my husband pushed me to our planes. You would not believe, how different people treat you. Even the people we thought understood and were friends acted like they were ashamed to be seen with me????

I didn't get it either. As IF it is ALL about them!!!!!!!

I say do what you need to do for you!!!


hugs and blessings

[LadyKayde]

LK,

On the few occassions when I left my house to shop, I used the ones in the stores. Also, if we flew my husband pushed me to our planes. You would not believe, how different people treat you. Even the people we thought understood and were friends acted like they were ashamed to be seen with me????

I didn't get it either. As IF it is ALL about them!!!!!!!

I say do what you need to do for you!!!


hugs and blessings
I did that for a while, but I can't push myself in them for any distance. I'm really tiny and it took some wasted money and a few weeks renting wheelchairs in different sizes to realize I need a kids one.

I'm amazed at the lengths people will go to avoid it. I was asked to not help prepare, or serve, or clean for the holiday dinners so no guests would see it. I'd just sit in a regular chair and be stuck there, everyone thinking I'm an inconsiderate jerk making my parents get up and serve me.

My boyfriend will drop me off in front of places before he parks so I don't use it, and insists he can't converse with me in the chair because he can't hear me. We sat for 45 minutes in total silence waiting for a dinner reservation last week. :headbang:

Hopefully it will all become a non issue soon. Since Easter I've be able to walk semi normally ( Normal for me is not limping or hunching over) for short distances for the first time in over a month.

Before my hospitalizations, I was eating nothing but organic pear babyfood and bottled water. After I ate a little more, real pears, blueberries, bread etc. but for Easter I threw caution to the wind and ate everything in front of my face. I proceeded to get violently ill, throw everything up, and then have one of the worst bladder pain attacks I've ever had. My Mom carried me shrieking to her bed and gave me something ( not my own pills) for the pain. When it kicked in, and the pain slowed down and eventually stopped, the next day I could walk, and now it's been 4 days, and I'm still going. Wobbly, but going. Everything with IC is completely random and follows no pattern, so I guess this shouldn't surprise me either.

I guess it's possible whatever random thing she gave me calmed my body? Is there a *crosses fingers* smiley lol?

[ICNDonna]

One of the unfortunate things that can happen with a wheelchair and not walking at all is that our muscles can become so weak that physical therapy is required to begin ambulating again. We all know how it's difficult to move about after a bout with flu or any other illness that keeps us down for several days.

I do agree that there are times when a wheelchair can be a life saver for some of us, but please talk with your doctor before you make a decision to stop walking entirely.

Sending warm healing thoughts,
Donna