Very hard to know where to start. I've been chronically ill since I was a teenager. I'm three years off being forty now. Apparently this still makes me young, I don't actually know how I feel about it myself, to tell the truth.
Friends and acquaintances with one of my multiple conditions, or different ones, have been using wheelchairs and powered chairs for years and years, I never had the confidence, no money for anything powered, and for a long time I had no one to push me in a manual chair. I didn't know about these rollators (pictured).
It feels more embarrassing than when I've been pushed around in hired wheelchairs, but it's quickly becoming just an extension of me, and it's purple so yay for being nicely decorated.
I was pushed to decide I could get over the hurdle of buying one. When a review I saw by someone who was 20 or 21, said how it gave her life back, and confidence because it was a funky colour. She put a photo up and she looked so happy.
I took the plunge and I've had it a week and a half. I've used it every day. My only issue was I asked my partner to try out its 2 in 1 feature where it can be used as a temporary wheelchair - god only knows what he did but he threw me out of the chair. Made me laugh though.
So I'd definitely recommend this, or the much cheaper version which isn't the 2in1. Because I feel more confident to go out now.
We are also in the process of getting a purple wheelchair (manual) for when I'm at my worst and I do need pushing around.
I wish I'd done this year's ago though. I might have been able to keep being active for longer. And it definitely would have helped after my accidents which have caused some damage in my pelvic girdle and spine.
I'm trying to keep this positive but I'm also very low. Things aren't great at home, things with my health are a sight for sore eyes, I desperately don't want to be here but I have two kids who need me and I really know how much they need me because they're not neurotypical and I really get them, where as others don't. My partner would cope without me.
I have some hobbies but I lose the use of my hands frequently and often for long periods of time so it is very usual for me to only manage to sit or lay down and read, or scroll on my phone, or watch Netflix. I socialise once a fortnight but sometimes I'll go once a week, depending how I feel.
My partner works a well paid job and we aren't on any housing or child tax relief, I have minimal PIP. Though that may change depending on the form I've just sent back.
My mental health is a dustbin. I know what I want, which I think would help my mental health, but despite crawling through hoops I've been denied help and support from the job centre. I want to work but my chronic fatigue and mobility issues plus my currently uncontrolled adhd (nearly time for the appointment I've been waiting for to sort it out) are a huge barrier. Now, people will also see my walker, or at least see me with my stick.
I don't really know what I can do. I like to try and keep myself busy as a distraction. But I'd love other preferably nearby people to talk to, who are also reliant on walkers or wheelchairs, who are a similar age to me. I want to feel normal. As normal as a punky-haired indie goth type can be, that is.
Who knows, perhaps I'll make brand rep for the company I got my walker from. Not.
Don't know what, if anything, I'm asking here. Does anyone feel this resonates at all? Anyone able to signpost me to people or places where I needn't feel so outcast?