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Wheelchair trip out

Posted , 5 users are following.

karen94066
karen94066

Just had my first taste of going to dunhelms in a wheelchair  -weird experience as my husband had to push me around whilst pulling a shopping basket, he struggled with me not being able to make my mind up over cups.  Then left me stranded when he went to look at something else. It's such a vulnerable place to be sat in a wheel chair. Eventually we did our shopping & managed to get out without any injury to my poor feet & he only had two tantrums. Men, women shopping plus a wheelchair all just gets a bit much - bless them for trying 

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • dot_818161
    dot_818161 karen94066

    Posted

    Hello there,

    Well lucky you, getting out and about, albeit in a wheelchair. I can say that I too have had a very brief wheelchair experience, having been whizzed from the A&E dept to the Clinic where I had my foot re-bandaged, I had only had the osteotomy the day before so I think the need for the wheelchair was mainly to stop me doing too much too soon. Gives you a little window into how it must feel for people who can no longer walk. I did feel I was a non-person. I was wheelchaired into the lift and faced the wall, bit like being a child again in a pushchair? Way too long to remember, but I dont think I would like to be dependent on this mode of transport!

    My husband has mooted the prospect of wheelchairing me up to our local shopping centre. A very steep hill, and a number of curbs to negotiate, its unlikely to happen, but I think he views it as a form of exercise for him, rather than an outing for yours truly. I hope the tantrums didnt last long. Most of the ladies, and the forum does seem to be mainly female based, do seem to have very obliging partners.

    Mine is a very kind man, but not all that quick on the uptake when it comes to my heavy hints that I am supposed to be horizontal 99% of the time. If I were to ask him to hoover, in the nicest possible way, he would just say he didnt think it needed doing, so I dont ask. We have been married for almost 50 years, and I am still learning things about him that I didnt know before. He has just come back into the room and I asked him what he has been doing, cleaning the brass on the front door. I had to laugh, priorities....

    The weaker sex, I think not...

     

    • karen94066
      karen94066 dot_818161

      Posted

      Brilliant made me laugh!! Thanks mine is just the same  he keeps telling me about all the jobs he has to do & when I ask what jobs he has done he always seems to have jobs left I think he has been watching the golf in the kitchen where I  can't see him - he is very good but has no concept of time the leg of pork has just gone in the oven 7pm -  I'm easy everything will be fine - the priority is our feet at the  moment not worrying about house jobs. The wheelchair experience has left me thinking how hard it is for people in wheelchairs, I found that people didn't look at me but look at Neil with sympathy. It's so lovely to know that you have a lovely man looking after you & how wonderful after 50 years you are still learning about him - makes me smile xxxx
  • Jinny2
    Jinny2 karen94066

    Posted

    You've been OUT? That was brave! Is this in preparation for tomorrow's outing?! X
  • Jinny2
    Jinny2 karen94066

    Posted

    Sorry, your stitches out day is Wednesday isn't it? X
    • karen94066
      karen94066 Jinny2

      Posted

      Yes Jinny Wednesday is my unveiling, my feet feel good nit had any pain killers fir a few days now, the left one I can feel where the cut us & on the top of the foot there is some stinging but the right one feels like I could put it down (I won't chance it though)fingers crossed things will go well on Wednesday. I wish I had bought 2 waterproof foot covers as Neil put black bags over my feet/shoe this morning taping it to my leg with string silver tape, not a great plan apart from the much needed leg wax when removing the tape - the bags leaked. & my shoes got wet, however fortunately the bandages were ok phew!!i enjoyed my first shower since the op hence the day out. I think your unveiling us Tuesday?? Good luck ket me know his it goes x
    • Jinny2
      Jinny2 karen94066

      Posted

      No, unfortunately my unveiling isn't until Saturday- 18 days after tho op! So don't forget to tell all after your stitches out etc on Wednesday!!
  • lindleyk
    lindleyk karen94066

    Posted

    I have no experience with wheelchairs. Is it possible to push yourself with your arms or is there some kind of dynamic with the raised foot that makes it impractical?
    • karen94066
      karen94066 lindleyk

      Posted

      I only used the wheel chair that the shops provided & my husband pushed me. I havn't got my own but my husband has bought me a mobility scooter that he has polished & put a new battery on it, he wants me to go to our village beer festival on it next weekend but I'm a little scared that I will fall out on the middle of the road with my special shoes on haha - not a pretty site but entertaining for others x
    • dot_818161
      dot_818161 karen94066

      Posted

      Hi Karen,,

      Well that sounds like fun. Have a little practice before the weekend, I am sure you'll be fine, besides your husband will be near at hand, wont he?

      You'll be the talk of the festival and everyone will want to know why you are wearing such exclusive footwear. Mind, I doubt that many people actually know what a bunion is, and I doubt that they have any concept of how disabilitating the operation is. I think a broken ankle might elicit a bit more sympathy. Some of my friends assume I must be back to normal by now, two weeks tomorrow post op.

      Good luck

  • joanne77017
    joanne77017 karen94066

    Posted

    Hi I had both feet done and have got about quite well in small doses with some crutches. My unveiling is this morning at 8.30....!!!!! I am very nervous even more that when I went for the op..!! I did however invest in two covers for my feet and I have to say they have been fantastic as I have been able to shower daily smile

    Good Luck for Wednesday smile

  • angela43010
    angela43010 karen94066

    Posted

    Hi Karen.

    I agree, it is weird using a wheelchair.

    My husband took me to the supermarket and, after setting it up complete with fully extended leg raisers (he takes the elevation of my feet very seriously) and helping me from the car to the wheelchair, I felt vulnerable even though I can hobble aroung with my crutches at home.

    Fortunately the wheelchair I am using has the large rear wheels and inner grips that you can turn yourself so before long I was whizzing up and down the supermarket isles independantly, The freedom was amazing. Just having all that space to move around after being in the house for a week was a real tonic.

    After the sucess of that trip we took our granddaughters, age 3 & 6 to a cafe in a nearby supermarket on Saturday. The wheelchair was set up (with leg raisers) and the 3 year old sat on my knee as she wanted a ride in "Nanny's wheelbarrow" and the 6 year old held my hand as I was wheedled in to position. All went well until I decided to take them both to the loo. I sucessfully got in to the disabled loo with both of them whlst my husband finished his coffee. The eldest assisted the youngest and all was going well until we tried to get out. I reversed the wheelchair with waht I thougt was great skill and precision. Sadly I underestimated the lenghth with the leg raisers and got stuck in the passage way outside the loo whilst trying to turn. The passageway to the rest of the toilets was then blocked while my grandchildren tried to pull me into an escape position. Fortunately my husband arrived and got me out of there whilst people looked on and thought "Women drivers"!

     

    • karen94066
      karen94066 angela43010

      Posted

      Oh no that sounds like a comedy script - the childrens school essays would be a good read - "A day out with nanny to the toilet" we'll be independent again soon keep resting x
  • joanne77017
    joanne77017 karen94066

    Posted

    Hi Ladies

    Well I have to say that was virtually pain free....!!!!! I feel so free smile It did take a while to get the dreesings off as I had bled quite a bit. All I have now is a little dresiing that I have to keep on for a couple of days, I do have to wear a strap on my big toes to keep them straight with the super styling shoes for 4 weeks....!!!!! I have pysio tomo to get things moving but all in all I am a happy bunny smile 

    • karen94066
      karen94066 joanne77017

      Posted

      Wheeee! That sounds fab!! I'm excited for Wednesday now - well done another hurdle over come x 
    • Jinny2
      Jinny2 joanne77017

      Posted

      Great news! So you didn't have to have another plaster cast on then? Or maybe you didn't have one on in the first place?

       Did you have stitches on the top of the foot as well as the side of the big toe? Aaahhhh! X 

    • joanne77017
      joanne77017 Jinny2

      Posted

      Hi Jinny

      Yes I had plaster on which got removed today and yes I had stitches at the top too..!!

      He did say if I didn't keep the straps on my feet he would put me back in plaster..!!

      But I will be good as they looking fab..!!! Still a bit bruised and a little swollen but that only to be expected 😁 go meeee and my new feet x

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