Blue Badge Success

[Jezobelle]

I have today been given the honour of a Blue Badge...not sure if pleased is the right word, it's a bitter-sweet moment. But certainly relieved

[fairycazzie]

hi jezobelle,

ohhh very happy for you ! i just recently got mine too in past week

it is bitter sweet because when i got my letter then badge i smiled but tears rolled down my face lol as it is more or less thats it you got a Disability! and not sure how to feel but it will give you much easier parking that is for sure.

mind you twice i tried and could not get a place huh .

i had to go bank yesterday and usually no spaces and my legs are really not good at minute how i get about i dont know but i took my stick into the bank..i thought ahhhh theres double yellow lines i will use them if no spaces cos i have a Big Blue Badge now heheheh ...huh there was about 3 spaces out side lol ..

i was getting a couple of looks especially off litttle girls they kept staring at me but smiling..they were looking as if to say 'your not elderly lady' as you do stereotype and mainly elderly use as its normaly Arthritis or Angina or something.

Well... you can feel a little more relieved and that is one step done or have you applied DLA etc i am still in process ohhh the forms lol xxx

think because you gt the odd decent days you feel guilty in a way but when i have bad days (who knows quite regular these days) i cannot do anything so i will do it..

sorry i do blab on a bit xxx oOOOOOo happy for you toooo (((huggles))))

wellcome to ....i cannot say some may get offened

[beth2]

hi jezobelle well done on your blue badge I understand how you feel and what fairycazzie says is true some people stare I dont take it to heart anymore you take care love beth x

[Jezobelle]

Thanks, I refuse to feel guilty any more - if anyone wants to swap I'll take their ability to walk across a car park in exchange for my pain any day of the week! And I really believe now that prevention is better than cure, so it's just as important on a good day to have help as this could prevent a bad day...if that makes sense?

I am only 43, I drive a convertible so I'm bound to get some looks but I really don't care, there's more important things to worry about than ignorant strangers. My OH has also bought me a wheelchair as I struggle being stood up, let alone walking, and he's going to take me out for a bit of shopping and lunch at the weekend. So something to look forward to at last!

[pinkblossom]

Congratulations! I got mine about 6 months ago and its wonderful,I'm 46 and yes people do look but I don't take any notice anymore,its been a godsend,you'll wonder how you ever managed without it...xx

[theshadow]

I know how you feel! Relieved & yet feeling down at the same time. I got my first one 4yrs ago & cried when I took it out of the envelope. It was sadness knowing how disabled I'd become but freedom too which is so good!

I probably cried mainly at the awful "worse than my passport" photo! lol

It will enable you to get out & about much easier which is a bonus. Good luck, enjoy & just smile at the "starers". They either smile back, which is nice,or I find that makes them feel uncomfortable rather than the other way round, which is also one up to us!

Gentle hugs xx

[roundthebenz]

Well done! I have my form ready to send in but am concerned about the question, 'How far can you walk?' I just don't know what to put. I can walk sometimes but suffer badly for a few days after. I fear that if I put too far, they will deny me a badge. Too little and they won't believe me.

The town that I live in is spread out and horrendous for parking and it's easy to walk quite a distance just going to three different points. Once you've found a space you daren't try and find another. My bigger problem though, is getting in and out of my car in car parks. They make them so narrow it's not possible to open the door very far even in a small car. It's not easy for me to enter or exit a car even when able to open the door fully.

I parked in the middle space of three empty ones today and when I came back there was a car either side of me so close I hurt my back getting back into my car. This despite the car park being less than half full!!! The only way that I can go into town is early before everybody is out. My only alternative, that we do at least once a week is a 30 mile round trip to another town with easy parking. This town has plenty of Disabled parking available.

Could you tell me what sort of dstance that you can walk did you put?

[Jezobelle]

I truly and honestly put that I couldn't walk as the pain starts from when I'm standing. But I think it helped because I have chronic pain syndrome as well as fibro, and the nurse could visibly see the damage...I have two huge scars running down either side of my leg, from knee to ankle, and by the time I'd walked from car part to the assessment room I'd had to remove my shoe due to the swelling in my ankle! I have found exactly the same problem with opening doors, and for the last few weeks I've parked in parent and child spaces, which I know is naughty but I had my stick with me and nobody ever challenged me.

Good luck with your application and let me know how you get on

[strother]

so glad you got ur blue badge,was just wondering do you have to be a driver to apply for it,i do not drive as i dont think i would be able to but my husband does.

soft gentle hugs((((((()))))

samantha

[Jezobelle]

I have no idea to be honest! But as it's a really simple form to fill in, you might as well apply and see what happens.

Good luck, and I'd be really interested to hear the response back from them.