kaberett: A drawing of a black woman holding her right hand, minus a ring finger, in front of her face. "Oh, that. I cut it  off." (molly - cut it off)
kaberett ([personal profile] kaberett) wrote2012-10-04 03:56 pm
Entry tags:

Wheels!

1. A week ago Friday, I picked up my wheelchair. It is blue! And foldy! And comfortable!
2. ... and... really big and heavy compared to the RGK sports chair I've had on loan from a friend since about March. So, I, um, asked eBay how much titanium chairs cost second-hand, and uh. Now I kind of own two chairs.
3. Right, so, my normal walking speed? Over any distance worth noticing? Is "slower than that. No, slower than that. No, really." On wheels, I routinely overtake people.
4. I can keep moving when through abdominal pain spikes. I can keep moving faster than I can walk on a good day through abdominal pain spikes.
5. Have I mentioned upper body strength? Have I mentioned how good it is at reducing my dysphoria?
6. I can GO PLACES: I pushed myself three miles yesterday, plus about 1.5 miles so far today (and planning more!), and I am not any more tired than normal. This included BIMBLING AROUND THE BOTANICS. I can't DO that walking. I get to enjoy museums and gardens again! It's BRILLIANT.
7. I get to try ceilidhing in them soon :-)
8. One of the other things I picked up a week ago Friday was a Bambach Saddle Stool, which is making my body SO much fonder of me for the sitting-at-computer stuff.
9. The second wheelchair? Means I'm getting the pay forward the favour done me by the friend who loaned me her chair.
10. I never need to worry about where the next place I can sit down will be again.


(In less good news, I appear to have developed a slightly worrying latex allergy. I knew I was having contact issues with it in summer 2011 - there is a REASON I spent lab budget on a box of nitrile gloves for myself instead of using the existing latex ones - but um I was not expecting this degree of breathing difficulty from handling a bike pump then scratching my face? HEY HO OFF TO THE DOCTOR WE GO)

[personal profile] mfb 2012-10-04 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I kind of realized the other day...week... that I would benefit a lot from a wheeley-chair-device (for starters I wouldn't be in the achey pain I've been for the past two days). This depressed me a fair amount at the time. So this is a Good Post for me to see. TY.
stephdairy: (Default)

[personal profile] stephdairy 2012-10-04 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Facebook has mangled my brain to the point where I look for the "Like" button, but this is great news. You can get about, and get about well, and happily. Hurrah, cheers, etc.

I think you can get non-latex (butyl?) inner tubes, which might help with the allergy problem.

(S)
damerell: NetHack. (normal)

[personal profile] damerell 2012-10-05 12:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Essentially all inner tubes are butyl rubber. Latex tubes leak air quickly (days, not weeks) so are only used for racing in the probably misguided belief that saving 50 grams will make a difference. Hence, I'm not sure why this happened.

[personal profile] amethystfirefly 2012-10-04 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay for being able to move around!
batrachian: (Hi Frog)

[personal profile] batrachian 2012-10-04 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
That is amazing and awesomesauce and it's fantastic to hear that you have the tools you need to be happier.

<3
littlebutfierce: (antique bakery eiji op)

[personal profile] littlebutfierce 2012-10-04 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! This sounds fabulous!!

[personal profile] sorrillia 2012-10-04 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! Congrats!

[personal profile] merryway 2012-10-04 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Very cool :D. Hope to be making a similar post myself at some point.

And omg bambach, they make such a difference :D.

#incoherentsquee
jamfish: (Default)

[personal profile] jamfish 2012-10-04 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahhh fantastic!! :D Huzzah!
inoru_no_hoshi: The most ridiculous chandelier ever: shaped like a penis. Text: Sparklepeen. (Default)

[personal profile] inoru_no_hoshi 2012-10-05 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
Eeeeee! You sound deliriously happy and I'm so glad! :DD (WHEELIES. That sounds fun. Though, you know, I'd be too terrified of falling to try it myself, but wheelies. :D)

Booo for the latex allergy tho! :(
inoru_no_hoshi: The most ridiculous chandelier ever: shaped like a penis. Text: Sparklepeen. (Default)

[personal profile] inoru_no_hoshi 2012-10-05 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Well in that case, bring 'em on! \o/ :D

[personal profile] swaldman 2012-10-05 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
huzzah!
forthwritten: stained glass spiral (Default)

[personal profile] forthwritten 2012-10-06 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds like an excellent thing to have in your life :)