Re: Handi cap parking (long)

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna and all,

I encourage you to ask your doctor if you are tempted.

We need to conserve your energy for the actual shopping

and for putting away the groceries, if necessary, when

we arrive home, let alone cooking and homemaking.

If your husband is dropping you at the entrance, uphill

has become too much and you are tempted, I'd say it's

time. Don't be shy. Explain your needs. If your

doctor doesn't understand, you need a new doctor.

Yes, I use everything available. I'm 54 now and have

had FMS 30 years. I was able to do without them for

nearly 20 years.

I've also been doing the impossible taking care of my

father with Alzheimer's Disease the past five years

and am quite stiff. It's difficult to get around

the house so much and I use an electric wheelchair

around the house about a third of the time.

If I can walk in fast for a few or several things,

I'll grab a cart using it for support. Most of

the time, however, it's best for me to " jump " in an

electric wheelchair. It saves me much wear and tear.

I should have asked my doctor sooner. I waited until

I was already attempting to use the electric wheelchair

but couldn't sit up long enough in it to shop. That

was in 1993. Once I had the placard, I had more

strength for the actual shopping instead of walking

from and to the parking space. I explained that to

my doctor.

Later while living in the mountains, there was no

wheelchair at the local market. The weakness was

excruciating and I needed to lean heavily on my cart,

and sit frequently next to the bread aside the meat

department. I live in town now and am not that weak.

Now, I can sit up long enough, but have greater pain.

I have more energy now that I have a fentanyl patch.

I prefer large markets that have a few wheelchairs.

Large craft stores seem to be the worst for me, esp.

if they have no wheelchair. The weakness in my legs

when standing still is intolerable.

I also get help out with the groceries whenever needed.

There will be plenty to lift when I arrive home. I

need to conserve every last drop of energy for later

when I have no help or need to rest. Furthermore, I

find it better to use proper exercise equipment so

I'm not straining myself lifing things incorrectly.

For 30 years, I've had to sit on the floor in stores,

particularly when the items are on the lowest shelf.

If I don't have to think or make a choice, as at a

grocery store, I can grab something and keep walking.

This is especially the case in the craft stores when

I have to contemplate, decide, and select. I cannot

stand up and think at the same time. Then, there's

the getting up off the floor again, another struggle.

The last time I was at our large craft store s,

there was no wheelchair, so I requested a metal chair

and pushed a cart at the same time!

Since then, I've purchased a couple carry around seats

for shopping in large stores without electric carts.

I was walking on our street, but it's a hill. Since

caring for my father, too much up and down, I've been

able to walk less.

As we age, if we can walk, we need to walk in moderation.

Too little exercise weakens us; too much wears away at

us. Conserve a little now, walk longer later in life.

Go for it,

Sandi

>

> I was just wondering if any of you use handicap

parking? I am really tempted to talk to my doctor

to see if I can get a permit on those days when it

seems the entrance to the stores is miles away. My

husband noticed that alot of the parking lots around

here seem to be up-hill. On bad days he'll drop me

off at the entrance but usually I try to walk it.

Also do most of you walk around in the stores or

> use one of those electric carts to get around?

>

> Donna