SPD sufferers - how do you get a wheelchair?

[duzida]

I'm 30 weeks, and have pretty bad SPD. this is my 2nd pregnancy, I had it last time as well. With DS it began at 20 weeks and I was using crutches a lot from about 27 weeks till the end.

This time it began at 16 weeks, and walking more than 5 mins is already extremely painful, and I don't think crutches will help this time - I need to be off my feet. I've adapted pretty well to this, since I was sort of expecting it, and just know that I need to avoid walking as much as I can. So: lots of time at home playing on the floor with DS/inviting friends over/friends take him out to the park, and if we go out, I drive, and hobble a bit at either end. Boring and frustrating, but I can take it.

I would really like to get a wheelchair for the next few weeks, though. DP has lots of annual leave to take off over Xmas and we really need to get out as a family if we possibly can, it's lonely for all of us if I can't come out of the house.

I've asked GP and midwife if I can borrow a wheelchair. they said 'talk to hospital physio'. (I think they don't really believe it's this bad, they always say 'but you look really well and cheerful' and I can still walk 3 mins down the road to get to the GP practice).
Hospital physio (this is UCLH in London): no, I can give you crutches, but we have to order wheelchairs and it's difficult and takes several weeks. Contact the Red Cross.
Red Cross: No, we used to loan these, but we don't any more. Contact the Disability Living Foundation in Harrow.
DLF: No, you need to ask your GP.

Aargh! I will look into this further, and speak to my GP and midwife again. I've also posted a request on my local Freecycle group, and will contact some local mobility shops and find out what they charge to hire a wheelchair.

How did other people get hold of wheelchairs? I realise that I'm not as deserving/in need of a wheelchair as people with long term disabilities and/or who really cannot walk - I can walk a little bit, and this should only last another 10 weeks. But I do need to get out of the house and the car! Any ideas?

I got mine from Red Cross, but I think you can often buy them second hand more inexpensively than from a mobility shop.

I feel for you, having big issues walking and generally getting about. My husband mentioned wheelchairs but didn't knwo we could get them so I have spent the past 10 weeks (am now 36) using crutches and hobbling very slowly.

I appreciate the need to get out - I am going friggin mad.

Sorry to be no use, but I do sympathise.

The red cross hire them out

Have you looked on ebay to see if you can find one cheap anywhere nearby? You can search by distance.

My physio told me to contact the red cross for a wheelchair. Couldn't get hold of them so I hired a wheelchair from a company on the Internet.
It was £30 delivery and £12 per week for a minimum of 2 weeks.

It was this time last year, I was going to get my hair done for Christmas but treated myself to a wheelchair instead

Try your local Freecycle / Freegle - a few come up on ours now and again and can't hurt to ask. Hope you manage to get one, sounds yuck!

thank you for replies! I spoke to Red Cross yesterday, they say they've recently stopped this service
But...a friend of my mum's has a wheelchair lying around that her elderly mother uses occasionally, and she says I can borrow it, so I think that may sort me out.

I had similar difficulties getting a wheelchair for my dd when she was very unwell a couple of years ago,in the end i hired a brand new one from a company called wheel freedom.The cost was extremely reasonable and they deliver/collect.