Going out for the first time in a wheelchair

saving_pennies

On Saturday I am going out for the day and will need to use a wheelchair for the first time in public. I have long term mobility problems and have used crutches for many years, but a significant change in my health means now I need to use a wheelchair for anything more than walking from the door a few meters to the car (with crutches). Recently I have been using the wheelchair indoors - well my carers have been pushing me around due to me not beign able to propel the chair (this is another long story!).

Although I will be with some friends on Saturday, there will be many people who are acquaintances who I haven't seen for a few months and who do not know of the decrease in my mobility. I guess I am worried about all the questions about why I am now in a chair or people talking over me etc. My friend has agreed to push me so she will be close by for support.

Just wondering how others felt the first time they used a wheelchair in public?

Chorlie

Not sure if I can remember that long ago. Like you I used to walk with crutches, than after yet another operation spent 3 months in a wheelchair and never fully got out of it.

I was 10yrs old at the time and at a school for the disabled; I found life easier in a chair, I could do more, go faster, play sports and carry things. The school Physio used to kick me out of the chair, put me back on my crutches, I'd walk around the corner and just get into another chair...lol

One day aged 11 the Physio had another and told me straight, if I didn't keep walking I'd have hip problems, kidney problem and die young; I told her I'd rather have a short happy life than a long miserable life....I never had physio from that point on, I still used my crutches a little, mainly to get around the house, and than later just to get into/out of my car. I did this until a couple of years ago, but always used a chair when out.

The thing is that physio was right, my hips won't straighten, my kidneys aren't great (lots of infection), but I'm still here and I turned 40 this year; but I was also right, I've played lots of different sports, been to lots of places and worked for 20yrs which I won't of been able to do on crutches...

As for going out as a group, I never really liked it, pubs and clubs were always crowded, the time people (drunk normally) knock into me and spill drink on me, most places didn't have disabled loos and the issues of parking and getting home afterwards....but I'm also a non drinker and always drove. So now I tend to stick to quieter place, with good access and with friends who know me well.

I guess it depends on the type of person you are and your friends, if your outgoing and your with good mates who are also outgoing you'll have a great time, a real laugh. It's never as bad as you expect it to be and in the last 20yrs since I was clubbing a lot has changed; I grow up in the 70's when everyone stared at the handicapped boy and people asked my mum if I wanted a drink. Shops weren't accessible so I was left outside in the street...


One other bit of advice, if pushing your chair is hard make sure your tyres are pumped up, it makes a real big difference; it will say on the tyre what pressure should be in them, standard tyres are normally 60 to 80 psi, my tyres are 80 to 120 psi, so I have about 100psi; when they drop by half I can really tell. Also try it without the armrests if they are on, makes the chair lighter and gives you more movement to push and lastly, don't do little pushes, do nice big longer pushes, then keep the momentum, a chair is easier to keep moving than it is to start moving (you soon learn that playing sports).

jetta_wales

I've got a similar hurdle with accepting a cane (white stick not walking aid). Our friends never really see me as blind because I,m very comfortable being led and trust my partner 100% (though one time he did let me run off over a 2ft wall to land on concrete that hurt like a b*tch but was just a one off). We hold hands or I hold his arm but So do many young couples (why do older people hold hands less? It's nice). They're also more used to seeing me out at night when I wouldn't have need for it as my sight is much better in the dark. Even my brothers don't ever really 'see' how poor my sight is they are just all very used to seeing past it which is great and that's what I've always wanted, but how will they get their head around me practically wearing a big blind badge on my forehead?

The issue's probably bigger in our own heads than it is in theirs though and I'd hope that anybody with an ounce of common sense would realise that we wouldn't use such things just for the hell of it.

birkee

Don't make a big deal out of it! Treat like you have sprained your ankle and need short term support.
Those that care, will ask about why you need the chair, those that don't care won't.

Do watch out for the clowns that are totaly unaware of anything around them (tunnel vision). They have a habit of just turning round and trying to sit in your lap. I've even had one woman who got her pushchair with child) tangled up with my wheelchair wheel, when she just walked into me without looking.
Supermarkets: There's a reason why they put all the stuff they are trying to shift at eye level, it's because thats where most people focus their eyes. I'm afraid WE are on the bottom shelf when it comes to people looking what they're doing with their trolleys.

pwales_2

you will get used to it self propeling will be batter to keep u fit( when u are well enough)
people will talk to u slowly and like u are a bit thick but just ignore it, if u are in it from now on in a few months apply for a lighter weight one alot easier.
wish u all the best in ur new adventre :-)

Mupette

I love being in my chair especially in the supermarket, i take on a persona of a gumpy old woman, i raise my voice and make comments about the parent ignoring their children who are busy runnong amok, whilst they text

Invalidation

My first ever 2 hours in a wheelchair put me in bed in blinding agony for 2 weeks.
End of that idea. The wheelchair is still in the shed.
I wont do that again and Im not going to look a muppet in one of those powered things.

jetta_wales

Mupette wrote: »

I love being in my chair especially in the supermarket, i take on a persona of a gumpy old woman, i raise my voice and make comments about the parent ignoring their children who are busy runnong amok, whilst they text

I don't need a wheel chair but I'm pretty good at doing that anyway lol.

mary-op

I have to admit I don't like being taken out in my wheelchair (don't feel confident enough to have one I can use myself). I felt it tells the whole outside world that I can't walk..........not strictly true as I can walk very short distances with my sticks. With my sticks at least I'm the same level as everyone else..........in the wheelchair I'm not. But having said that I've met people in the town and they've just chatted, asked how I am and passed time of day as normal so really I think its me being too self concious:)

mitchyjules

My first time in a wheelchair was on holiday 2 years ago. We had spent all day sightseeing, and the next day i was in so much pain and could barely manage a shuffle, and my hubby wasn't going to see me spend the rest of holiday in bed. So he hired a chair for the rest of the week so we could go to the attractions.
Anyway - i hated it. I felt so helpless. It wasn't even a self propel one. At the zoo - i had to keep giving instructions (left a bit, right a bit etc) just so i could see the animals. I also felt invisible, as people proudly stood right in my view or stepped out in front of me.
I now have a smal mobility scooter. At least i'm slightly higher and can manouver myself to where I want to be!

Careful_with_that_Axe

I don't use a chair, but walk with crutches. I've found being over-weight, a woman of a "certain age" and being disabled, makes me pretty much invisible