I'm just back after nearly a week away. The first couple of days were spent at a conference in quite a nice hotel near Kenilworth. I enjoyed it even though I spent more time than I would have liked with my feet up in my bedroom. It was the first long (3 hours) journey I've done since we changed our car for a more comfortable one than the old one and it was OK which was good. From there we went to stay with my sister in law in Abingdon which was another hour away. The first day there we went to visit Waterperry gardens and I wasn't sure how I'd cope with the walking. It turned out that as well as wheelchairs they had mobility scooters that could be borrowed. I wasn't sure but my husband encouraged me to go for it. I haven't had so much fun for ages! Instead of doddering along from bench to bench I was putting it through it's paces, trying out it's top speed and seeing how tight a corner it could manage. Apparently i looked really hapoy!. Now I'm looking for other places with then but it looks as if the local National Trust properties only have wheelchairs unfortunately. I do feel so much better when I go out and do something but find it difficult to find the right balance. The journey home yesterday was about 4 hours driving, 6 hours with stops which was too long really but I survived.
This is the second time I've made use of mobility aids - the first was when I flew out to the US to visit my daughter when I asked for wheelchair assistance. Both times I've thought it well worth it at the time but afterwards when I think about doing this more often I get such mixed feelings. Is it a form of giving in that will mean my muscles will just get weaker still or is it being sensible and making the most of life? I just don't know 😀
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Louisepenygraig
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I would say well done! Save your limited energy for the things that give you pleasure and don’t waste it getting from a to b on foot when you don’t need to!
If it means you can get out and about and enjoy life better, then go for it! It’s not as if you are using a scooter all the time, so you won’t deteriorate.
I think that the joy you were able to have with a mobility scooter is wonderful!
With PMR and GCA we need to save our muscles and you were doing just that. Banish all notions of giving in, you are merely adapting to your present circumstances and getting the most out of life.
I agree with what the others have said. Just think of these aids as 'spoon savers' 😊 You made the mobility scooter sound fun! Did you try to do wheelies?
Not sure about trying a wheelie! I was relatively careful on the cornering as I didn't want to get tipped out. I did do a slalom between some newly planted apple trees though!
Haha it's kind of balancing on less wheels. With a bike, you would try to balance on 1 wheel so on a motability scooter try to balance on 2? Not recommended by the way 😉🤪
They really do whizz along. I used to borrow dad's and have been trying to get my friend to share one when we go to the peaks. On place rents then. I am rubbish uphill and she is rubbish downhill. A shared scooter seems ideal!!
If you ever visit Die Keukenhof in the Netherlands (spring flowers gardens--tulips from Amsterdam!) they have mobility scooters as well. The gardens cover acres of top class displays
Oh definitely worthwhile! Sounds like you had a great deal of fun too, which will also make you feel better!
I’ve had wheelchair assistance at the airport, it was a boon at the time, l don’t use it at the moment but if l needed it, I’d use it again for sure.
Nothing is ‘giving in’ other than staying home, we need a new normal & that can evolve so we need to adapt.
I always used to push a flat bed trolley (not the deep one) around Garden Centres, plonk my handbag in it & it was a huge help.
It takes a while to convince your head that your legs need help. Just think of the mobility scooter as an enabling act, not 'giving in'. I have a small one that can be taken into pieces and put in the car and my OH and I share it on days out. Enjoy.
There was a long discussion about this last year on the LupusUK forum. Many rheumies tell patients not to get scooters as that is the beginning of the end in terms of mobility. But then all that happens is that people don't go out at all because by the time they get somewhere they are so exhausted they only want to go home/sleep.
I had a period where I wasn't allowed to drive for another (incorrect) reason and I spent the entire time in the house - I could just walk to the end of the road to the bus stop but getting into the bus would have been interesting! Then at the other end, Town was all up and down (anyone know Durham?). Even getting from the bus to the nearest shop involved a hill! In the other direction was S'burys, M&S, Boots etc in a shopping centre - but I could barely stagger there never mind back. I was totally shut off - and became even more depressed than PMR and pain made me anyway.
The girl who started the discussion did as we all suggested and got a scooter to take on holiday with her friends. Instead of getting to the evening venue and then falling asleep on the table, she used the scooter to get there - and was able to dance with her mates. Someone on a PMR forum years ago got himself an off-road mobility scooter - which set him free to "walk" the cliff paths in Devon. He would park and walk a bit as well - but that wouldn't have happened without the scooter.
It depends how you use it - if you use it to go 50 yards when you don't really need to then you will lose fitness. If you use it to go places and then walk around it has got you out of the house and you have more independence.
I keep mine in the boot of my car. One of my best investments yet. I can walk a bit but get tired and in pain quick so it helps me get about and see things or do stuff with friends and family. Still keeping walking too, also have rollator and hiking sticks so got it all covered
Vroom vroom love the idea, in fact you are helping whoever you are with as they can enjoy the outing at a decent pace.
That's a good point. In fact I think my husband enjoyed seeing me enjoying myself. He has always walked very fast but he has been very patient with me. I think it helps that he has recently had two replacement hips so he had a couple of years of reduced mobility.
Why don’t you buy yourself one? They are a little expensive but you can get good second hand ones.
I bought one about a month ago and it has given me independence. I can go to the shops, the bank, hairdresser’s, etc etc without bothering my husband. Try doing that ‘walking’! I still use my rollator (walker?.) as often as I can, but I never manage more than one kilometer - 500 mtrs there, 500 back - sooo limiting.
I might consider it if I lived in a town but we live out in the sticks and have to go everywhere by car. For now I'll stick to using the ones provided if we go sightseeing. I have been googling wheelchairs etc enough that adverts are following me round on the internet! I hadn't thought about second hand ones though so if I change my mind I'll have a look, thanks
I live on the edge of a large park (also in the sticks - well almost, it’s a Spa ( dealing mostly with rheumatism/movement, etc). The paths are fine, though, presumably for “appearance”, they have cobble stones dotted around. You should see me shaking going over them.😏😏
Go for it!! I did 10 years ago and without it I wouldn't be able to do half the things I do now. There are still limitations but, life, albeit trash a lot of the time, is for enjoying!!
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