Got A New (used) Power Wheelchair

[all4family]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to tell everyone that I had been using the scooter we bought from our neighbor for 100 dollars, and while it was helping a lot, the battery didn't last as long as me! So we went to a local second hand store, and they had 2 power chairs there. I had seen them there before, and asked about them, but they were practically brand new, and they wanted 2000.00 bucks for them! Wich I can say they were worth it, I have priced some, and seen a lot worse off ones for more! But this day we came in and there was a sign that said all reasonable offers considered. We shop here a lot, and the lady knows us, so when she seen us looking at them she said 500 dollars for either one! I got the bigger one, because I wanted the batteries to last longer! This was on Friday, and since then I have taken my kids bike riding to the park. Up to the store, and was able to actually shop, and make good decisions, downtown to our library, and I didn't have to sit on the couch right away. And that was just one part of the trip. I was in the chair for 7 hours that day, and it was just a beautiful day, (although I got sunburnt.) I also am driving it in my house. I threw a birthday party for my mom, and cooked dinner last night without running back and forth to the bed! My husband said that's the girl I married!! I can't believe I had so much stress over something that would make me be more like myself again! I can honestly say I am no longer worried about anyones oppinions. To be able to do things like I did before makes me very happy!!! And the cutest part is my husband takes the old scooter at night when he gets off of work, and we go for a cruise up and down the street!!! He said he has to keep up with me!!! All I can say is, just like others told me......

I LOVE MY WHEELCHAIR!

I just wanted to share my happy news, and say if anyone is thinking about a chair, and they are worried about what someone else will think, don't! Your life is worth living the best way you can, and if it takes tools to help you do that, then so be it!!!

Oh...and my batteries last from morning until night!! They never lose any power....

Suzy

[potsgirl]

Suzy~

Yay for you! I am so happy that you found a wheelchair for such a great price and that it's already expanding the things you can do. All my best that you continue to have a great time with it. Have you named it yet? Ya gotta have a name...

cheers,

potsgirl

[all4family]

Hi potsgirl,

LOL!!! No I don't have a name for it.....yet!!! Maybe you all could help me!!!! What's another word for gives life!!!

Thanks!

Suzy

[EarthMother]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{[yeah for you}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Thanks for sharing!

You go girl!!!

~EM

[janiedelite]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO happy for you! Janie

[all4family]

Hi EM, and Janie,

Thank you, thank you, thank you! EM, I read your post about your wheelchair getting taken away...I'm sorry you'll be without it, but congratulations that you will own your new one, and can deduct it on your insurace premium! How long will it be before you get that one?

Thanks!!

Suzy

[babettess]

Suzy,

WOO-HOO!!! I would name your chair "Spot"! No just kidding- how about "Robin" cause you will be free as a bird!!

I'm sooooo happy for you!

Babette

[ana_22]

yay for you!!!! keep it up xxx

[firewatcher]

Hi potsgirl,

LOL!!! No I don't have a name for it.....yet!!! Maybe you all could help me!!!! What's another word for gives life!!!

Thanks!

Suzy

In Latin "gives life" is dat vita (according to an online translation, but it sounds correct, its been years) so you might name it Vitali! I vote for "Bolt" (zoom-zoom!)

Jennifer

[potsgirl]

Suzy,

I like either 'vida' or 'bolts', or even 'POTSPOWER, aawaaaaayy!'

Here's a big hug,

potsgirl

[mrsdavidson8605]

Glad to hear that! Sounds so encouraging that you are able to do those things again! Can I ask how debilated you are from POTS? The reason why I ask is i'm kinda in the middle where i'm not bed ridden but i'm also not able to leave the house more than a few times a week. Sometimes, when I am really sick, I think a power wheelchair would be wonderful, but I also go back to the what will others think bc I live in a very small town and I know people would be talking about why one day I would be using the wheelchair and the next I could be riding my bike. that is the most frustrating part for me! Your story is very encouraging! I may think of at least getting a manual wheelchair for the house when i'm really bad.

[all4family]

Hi everyone, thank you all so much!!

Babette, I love the names!! I can see me saying come on spot...lets go for a ride! Leaving anyone in a ear shot looking for my invisible dog !!! And I love Robin! because I do feel free as a bird!

Ana, thank you, thank you! I won't quit till my wheelchair does! (which I hope it doesn't!)

Jennifer, I like Vitali! Now just got to learn how to pronounce it!!! I love your name of Bolt! I can hear me calling onward bolt!!!

Pots Girl, POTSPOWER away!! Love it! Do you think I could get it on there in neon lights?!! LOL!! Big HUG back at ya!

Kansasgirl, I live in a small town too. We only have one hospital in our town, and everyone there who seen me WAYYYY too many times when I was first sick, think I am just a big hypochondriach! I live very close to my hospital, and have driven by in my wheelchair already twice. I did feel like that when I got the first scooter. I put a post in here, and everyone helped me out so much. There will be lots of "opinions" of others to deal with your whole life, but they don't have to live your life. I spent 5 years missing things, because I just was so sick, and didn't know what was wrong. I was told it was anxiety. One of my most public episodes was when I felt "weird", and like I needed to lay down. I was in a big gymnasium, with my kids at a fair type of thing. I felt bad before I went, but had always taken my kids to this, and I really didn't want to miss out on one more thing. So I left my kids at a stand and sat on some bleachers. Everything in my whole body said to "lay down you've already overdone it" but I fought that feeling, and talked back to it, and said "the doctors have told you it's just anxiety wait it out, anxiety passes...you don't want others to think you are "weird" by laying down in public." Next thing you know I woke up, and had EMT's working on me and giving me asprin etc. I got to the hospital, and guess what they told me......you guessed it it's just anxiety. Your heart was racing pretty fast, and now look here you are, and your heart rate is fine!! (yeah...in bed!) So that was it for that gym. I just quit going. My very intelligent (IMHO) daughter said to me mom which looks weirder? You in a wheelchair? Or you sprawled out on a floor?!

As far as my symptoms go I can say that I am not as bad as I could be. I know this, because I was WAY worse in the beginning. I fall down a lot from being imbalanced, or dizzy. I walk into things when my head feels weird, and still have a bad bruise from the last door I slammed my knee into. And worse of all if I get my "feeling", that I at least understand what is causing it now, and don't sit, or in some cases, if it's bad enough, lay down then I faint. I also have really bad pain all over my body. So the wheelchair helps a lot with that. But even if I didn't have that if the only benefit would be to be out somewhere, and not feel spacey, or to cook dinner without having to lay down between each thing I do just so I can think long enough to do the next thing, then It would be worth it to me. I used to think I had a brain tumor or something because of the way my head buzzes. Well brain tumors don't go away when you lay down. I have to admitt, I thought that if I got the chair, that I would still have the episodes in "public", because it is so ingrained in me that it is anxiety. But I don't get them if I stay in the wheelchair.

Ask yourself this. If it makes even one day of your life better, and easier to live, then would it not be worth it to you? And as far as people go they are going to think what they think. The people that matter more in life is the ones that except you with the limitations that you have. And the ones that will be happy for you to be able to do things that make you happy. And if someone sees you in a wheelchair one day, and not the next maybe they can ask you, and you can explain, then you may make a friend that will understand you. At first I felt guilty, but knowing what I know now, I am no different from someone else who uses a wheelchair. There are all kinds of reasons for using them. I think that if you think it could help you, and you can get like you said a manual one to try then give it a try. You can pick up manual ones kind of cheap used. If you want to read about how I felt before, here is the post I put up when I was really upset. http://dinet.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtop...p;hl=wheelchair

Sorry didn't mean to go on so long, but I had a lot to say on this subject, as I wish I had known sooner that this one tool would have made my life so much better!

Thank you everyone for your constant support, and encouragement, and for sharing your lives and experiences!!

Suzy

[Sophia3]

WOW! Fantabulous news and FREEDOM for you. glad to hear it is helping with your quality of life.

I would need one that fully reclined But we live on a hill anyway so wouldn't help around this subdivision.

But it's so NICE to read this has made such a HUGE difference for you.

You go girl!

[mjan]

WOOHOOO!!! GO BOLT GO!!!

ANd to think you were so upset before..now you SEE what your husband had in mind for you!!

I can only picture you and your kids playing.. shopping..but the fun scene is YOU and your HUBBY having races!!!

Glad things are looking up somewhat.

Warmly, Jan

[BelieverEM]

I'm so happy for you! I remember the day I got my power chair (also used, from a popular internet selling list). If you want a name that menas "new life," how about "Zoe"? I didn't name mine (it's just "my chair"), but it is life-changing, that's for sure. Enjoy!!!

[all4family]

Hi Sophia, Thank you. The back of my chiar reclines a little, but it is just enough to make a difference, and still leave me to where I can see where I am going. The difference IS HUGE!!! Thanks so much.

Hi Jan, yes my husband was so right! (but don't anyone tell him I said that!! ha ha!!) Thanks for the encouragement!

Hi BelieverEM, Thanks! I like the name Zoe. I didn't know it meant that! Yes it is definatly life changing!

Well I think I have a name for it. There is a little story I have to explain how I got it. Not being afraid to be seen in my wheelchair has brought me a lot of unsolicited advice, and critisizm, but has also helped me to see what matters more. I have a neighbor actually the one I got the first scooter from. He is in a wheelchair, I think for arthritis. Well he has his grandkids come over, and I have always talked with the daughter when she is there. I don't usually let my kids play in the street, because it is dangerous. Lots of people fly down our street. But when they are there, there kids play all over the street, so I allow it, but I stay right with them. Well everytime they are over I stay with my kids, so I automatically end up taking care of there kids too, which there are 3 old enough to play in the street. Then they will decide to go inside there house, and they just tell me, (they don't ask) to watch the kids, or even better like this weekend just go inside, and the kid tells me I am watching them. But the kids are playing in the street, and don't listen to me. But I do it anyways, and never stand up for myself. Well this happened again this Easter weekend. So here I was in my wheelchair trying to keep up with all the kids so they don't get ran over, and the neighbor came out in his wheelchair, and began to tell me about his daughter. (earlier she had invited my daughter to go watch a movie, but we already had plans to go to my moms for dinner.) He said how great she is, which doesn't bother me. But then he told me they are rich, and that I need to let my daughter go with her, that she needs that. He said she needs time out with the "girls"(What am I a guy?)and that the college is begging her to go work for them, but she is just such a great mother, that she is all about her kids. And if she likes my daughter that I should let her go, because she doesn't like everyone, and can buy her lots of stuff. (I wouldn't have let her go anyways, because they don't keep a close enough eye on there kids, and they ride without a seatbelt, and are allowed to climb in their mothers lap while she drives, as far as I have seen. But I actually would try not to say anything rude.) Anyways this lecture went on and on, and he began to include other neighbors and what profession they do. (the funny part is I had done all the same professions before having my kids, I chose to quit working when I had them.) But all the positive inner talk wasn't making him stop, and this felt like a dagger through my heart. He just didn't quit, and when I was on the verge of crying, and certainly didn't want to let him see that, I said oh...gotta go. Oh...and my daughter heard this whole demeaning conversation. I went home and needless to say was very upset. I know I am a good mom. I don't need someone else to tell me that. (But luckily my family does all the time, including my kids!) At home I had a lot of encouragement from my very loving family, which helped me so much, and I thought how luky I am to have them. Then the next morning we went to an Easter egg hunt that involved going into shops to get "prizes". Everything was busy and hectic, and people stepped in front of me, and if I got in line people would just walk up and stand in front of me, like I wasn't even there. Even if I got right up next to the person in front of me. And this happened every time I was in line. In one building I was just trying to get out of everyones way, and found a quiet corner, and parked there. Well next thing you know everyone was walking by becuase it was at the bottom of a stair well, and I was stuck there. I couldn't back out, and there was even a lady who was very rude to me. So finally when I was able to get back out I was really relieved, but my husband was just getting really irritated with how rude people were being to me. (I was just glad I wasn't the only one who noticed it.) I was getting very discouraged at this point, and really just thought I should just sit outside. But then we went into a jewlry store, and the first thing I seen was a young (I'd say 8 or 9) girl, in a wheelchair. Well she seen me, and her eyes lit up, and she got a sucker, (the prize they were giving out at this store) and made a beeline for me, straight through the crowd, and asked would you like a sucker?(Which they weren't giving to the parents, and she didn't give one to anyone else.) She had a grin from ear to ear, and I said thank you, and I like your wheelchair. She went back in, and I left and thought to myself how lucky I am. I have a family who loves me so much,and I am lucky to have the support of friends like you guys on here, and I am luky to have had a chance to understand what is important in life. And I am lucky I was able to afford the wheelchair when we found it, and I am lucky that I can get up out of it when I need to, and I am lucky that I have it to sit in, to give me a better life, and I am lucky to have met a girl, so filled with love, and understanding at such a young age, that you could actually see the love in her eyes, and through her own struggle to get along that day, she offered me friendship, with a smile on her face.

After the insults of the weekend, and the fighting of the crowd, I was ready to give up, but this just made the rest of my day so much better. All I could think of was girl you are so lucky. So....the name for my chair is Lucky!

Thanks all for all your support!

Suzy

Thanks for

[janiedelite]

Oh wow, Suzy, you got me crying at 10:30 in the morning... Thank you for your beautiful attitude about your situation, family, and all the rude, insensitive people out there. We can all relate, if on a smaller degree, and your gracious way of handling these difficulties (with your family's help) is really inspiring. I'm so glad you're on this group...

We're all "Lucky" in one way or another, Janie

[BelieverEM]

Suzy,

Thank you for sharing! I think we all know oblivious people like your neighbor, who insinuate that the only way to be of worth is through wealth or professional achievement. I also know what it feels like to be ignored and elbowed aside while in a wheelchair. I commented to my dad a few months ago that since being in my chair, I've come to see people at their best and their worst, every day. Some people do go out of their way to help me (most often, kids and old people!), but so very many others are shockingly rude! I have a power chair, which can go quite fast, and yet people step in front of me, cut me in line, and worse. Sometimes I wonder whether the majority of people truly don't see me! When I'm in asemi-crowded place, it takes me at least 3x as long to get across a room as someone on foot. People bump into me constantly, they lean on my joystick (sending me flying) because they walk too close, and I lost count of how many times people have actually fallen on me because they don't see me (this is when I am at a stop! not like I snuck up on them or anything!). We all like to think that our society is kind and condiderate to the "handicapped" or the "disabled" or whatever you'd call someone in a wheelchair, but it's just not true. The GOOD news is that I try to just laugh, and try as often as possible to help people become aware of their behavior. Sometimes that means allowing someone to have their feet run over by my 250 pound machine and not apologizing (I just look at the person and wait, and after a minute they realize that they are supposed to apologize). Sometimes it's refusing to park in the corner, and allowing people to look silly for tripping over me. It's not easy, and I'm not always up for it, but unfortunately, as someone in a wheelchair, if I don't help people to change, they never will. Welcome to the ranks.

Erin

[all4family]

Hi Janie, I'm sorry I made you cry (I hope it was a good cry.), but thankyou so much for your kind words. I'm so glad your on this group too. Every time I see a post from you I can't wait to read it, because I know you will have some very kind and understanding words to say!

Hi Erin, thanks for sharing that! That made me laugh what you said about running them over. My husband yelled really loud when 2 girls about 18 years old walked in front of me for the 3rd time, and the worse part was there wasn't a sole behind me. AND they cut me off so short by jumping in front of me that it was hard to get stopped, so he yelled just run them over if they do it again. They heard him! I love what you say about teaching them, but it is so true. I couldn't imagine if one of my kids acted that way. We have always taught them (way before I was in one) to hold doors for someone in a wheelchair, with a walker or a cane. We tell them they have a much harder time getting around then us so if we can help then that is one good thing we've done for the day. I also wonder if they don't see me. But I know that is not the case for all of them. I was in front of a store one day, and there was a lady campaigning for something, and every person that walked by her she said hi, how are you, sign my petition. She didn't let anyone WALK by without saying hi. She walked by me 3 times, and each time she did I would smile at her, but she never said a word to me. She stood not 10 ft away from me. I thought wow, am I invisible? I probably didn't want to sign her petition anyways! Anyways thanks for sharing.

Suzy