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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you what you TRUTHFULLY think when you see a 'young' and 'healthy looking' person on a mobility scooter?

252 replies

fassbender · 27/04/2015 10:16

I have multiple sclerosis and am 36 years old. Over the past year my walking has got worse (I use crutches) and I am now thinking that I need a mobility scooter. It sounds silly, but I am so nervous! I know that I should have a 'screw what everyone else thinks' attitude, but I think that I am going to feel self conscious. I live in a small town and have been well until recently so I know that I might get lots of questions/pitying looks. I also wonder what people will think if they see me at the park, for example, and then I get out of the scooter to play with the kids, then get back in to go home.

OP posts:
ragged · 27/04/2015 17:59

Regardless of age, if I had to summon a thought (beyond 'Please don't run over me') it would be "Whatever they've got I hope I don't get it soon."

I know a healthy guy exactly my age who had a stroke at 42yo with lots of follow-on problems, he gets tired very easily. Says that he gets a lot of funny looks for using his scooter which is a shame. :(

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 27/04/2015 18:11

I would assume you needed to use it.

Marynary · 27/04/2015 18:12

I think that the vast majority of people will just think that you need to use a scooter if they think anything at all. I don't know what people mean when they say they would assume you had an "invisible disability" as it is not really invisible if you are using a mobility scooter. I have MS and although I don't tell people about it and I don't use walking aids, people certainly notice that something isn't right (I'm often asked if I have a bad back etc)

Portobelly · 27/04/2015 19:26

Get one. Do everything you can to have the energy and physical resources to do the fun bits of life. Rather than wasting the strength you have on getting places.
My god sister has MS and is 34, she is fortunate enough to be very mobile still, but can't feel her feet. A blue badge and driving to work instead of getting a packed commuter train has given her more energy.
Why wait until you 'really' need it.

chickenfuckingpox · 27/04/2015 19:30

well in my area young on a mobility scooter usually means teen on a mobility scooter and they are usually stolen

they still dont get a second look

Hannahfftl · 27/04/2015 19:53

A young healthy looking mum in my school uses one. I never thought anything of it, other than, how can I ensure she can access my classroom! Honestly nobody is judging you or thinking it odd.

SeenSheen · 27/04/2015 19:55

I'd assume you had a disability unless you were seriously overweight when I'd assume you were lazy.

TheCatsMother99 · 27/04/2015 20:02

Truthfully.... That that poor soul probably has some form of hidden illness and the poor sod probably gets abuse from people who assume they're ok.

I have a bad knee and prior to an operation I found it extremely painful to walk up and down stairs, it would take me ages too. I got a mouthful of abuse from a guy with a buggy once because I used the lift to the car park in a shopping centre rather than walk as I was apparently using up space for people with buggies.

Stillyummy · 27/04/2015 20:06

Honestly, "that looks fun" would be my thought.

treesntrees · 27/04/2015 20:21

mobility scooters don't have brakes as such, the motor stops when you take your hand off the lever, the same applies to most power chairs. Manual wheelchairs do have brakes

windchime · 27/04/2015 20:26

The majority of people I see on scooters look really happy so I feel happy for them. It must be great getting some independence back.

DixieNormas · 27/04/2015 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

samithesausage · 27/04/2015 20:42

I'd assume you had a disability. I've used one before and didn't get any funny looks. My dad was left stranded at the doctors by the local taxi firm and needed to get home. So I drove it all the way there (with my 2 year old DS between my legs). It was very easy to drive and to be honest... I loved it! DS then got grumpy with my dad because my dad couldn't cope with passengers and he had to walk home!
Go for it. It does take a lot of the struggle out of the journey and you have more energy at the end.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 27/04/2015 20:42

There's always one goady fucker isn't there?

TiggyD · 27/04/2015 20:45

There's a young(ish) and fit chap near me who uses one. The first time I saw him I thought "ooh, there's unlucky". Unlucky that he has something that requires one at his age.

Charlesroi · 27/04/2015 20:52

I'd assume you had something like MS or arthritis. Don't worry about it, just do whatever to make your life easier.

CrapBag · 27/04/2015 20:55

"That looks fun!"

I'll tell you what I think looks fun, people out jogging and people in the gym. I'd love to be exercising but I can't and have to accept to have a day out with my kids means hiring a wheelchair or scooter. Fun it certainly isn't!

I know you probably didn't mean it but it was a thoughtless and fairly ignorant comment.

Grin mrsjay yes dumping ground is probably right. Last time though my 3 year old saw it as a great opportunity to sit on my lap and be wheeled around with me. My 6 year old wanted in on it but he's far to heavy to sit on my aching legs!

Cushionmonster · 27/04/2015 21:28

I would assume the person using it was disabled. When my 4yr old DD has asked me recently about why people are using mobility scooters I usually say that probably the person has legs that don't work very well or they are ill and can't walk very much. I sometimes add "it looks like fun" or "that's a good idea isn't it" to my DD as my way of making it seem more normal to them rather than something potentially to be worried about, maybe I shouldn't?

Mrsjayy · 27/04/2015 22:12

crapbag we were away over easter the sun came out off came the jackets dd1 dumped her bag on my knee to look for something i drew the line when they all started taking jumoers off i mumbled oiy from underneath the pile Grin

Mrsjayy · 27/04/2015 22:14

What you said to your Dd is fine honestly Smile

Chchchchange · 27/04/2015 22:24

I've used one aince I was 23, don't worry, there are other young people using them. It will change your life. You do get idiots who stare and gawp but you learn to ignore them and the freedom it gives you is so worth it.

HouseHubs · 27/04/2015 22:25

I once went with my children and parents to a theme park. My Dad needed a mobility scooter to get around, but at one point he and my son wanted to ride on a train that went from one side of the park to the other, and the scooter wouldn't fit on. So I offered to drive the scooter across the park and meet them at the other end.

I was having great fun, having people kindly move out of my path and giving me sympathetic looks as I trundled past. Then I realised we were there on Armed Forces day, and the park was letting service personnel and their families in for free, and people must have been assuming that I (an apparently healthy chap in my late 30s) must have been an injured veteran. I felt very, very guilty. But my son and his Grandpa had a memorable moment together riding on Thomas, so I didn't feel too guilty.

ragged · 27/04/2015 22:27

If you're leaning on crutches when you hop out then people will not wonder why.

Chchchchange · 27/04/2015 22:27

Yeah, fun? Really? Not being able to walk much, fun? Disability is anything but fun

And I feel sorry for those who are seriously overweight who need them. Do you have any idea the pain people can be in when seriously overweight? That they might have been disabled first and become overweight second? That maybe they have a food addiction and would give anything to be slim and well. Fat does not equal lazy.

Jux · 27/04/2015 22:34

Yeah, they are fun! I have one (ms) and it's brilliant, I love it! And yes, I would say fun!

Fassbender, get one, it will change your life, really it will! I tried them out at shopmobility before I chose my own. I tried a power chair for the day first, then a very small scooter and then a medium sized one. I plumped for the latter, though it's a bit big really. The small ones don't seem to have enough to get up the hills round here, and their seats seem to be less comfortable than the medium sized ones.

Whatever type you plump for, enjoy it!