Tag: wheelchair

Having conversations as a wheelchair user

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Me in my wheelchair

As a wheelchair user I sometimes find having conversations in public.  Not because I can’t speak or am very shy, but because it’s hard to hear.

Being in a wheelchair means that you’re lower down than everyone else. I’m only four ft 10in but I don’t find this quite so hard when I’m on my walking frame but I still sometimes struggle.

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Allow me to introduce…

Hi everyone, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! I’ve chosen a name for my new wheelchair.

So, I would now like to introduce you all to…Agatha.

My new wheelchair Agatha

Don’t ask me why I’ve picked this name because I’m not entirely sure, but for some reason it just seemed to fit.

I’ve been out in the new chair a few times this weekend and I’m really happy with it. It’s comfy to sit in and easy enough for me to push myself. It’s going to take a while to get used to the fact that it’s slightly bigger than my old one though!

I’ve also found that when I sit in this one, I see the world from a slightly different angle than I did previously, and that feels a bit strange at the moment, but I’m sure I’ll get used to that in time.

My new wheelchair has arrived

I kind of already mentioned what today’s post would be about on View From a Walking Frame’s Facebook page and on my Twitter, but I am now pleased to tell you all that my new wheelchair has arrived.

It looks pretty much like my old one, which was silver and black, but I don’t mind that because I always liked the way that one looked anyway. Not that it really matters if I like the colour at the end of the day as long as the chair can do its job, but it’s always a nice little bonus.

I haven’t really had much of a chance to have a go a pushing myself around it in yet because it’s quite rainy and wet here, but I’ve had a quick try and wheeling myself around the kitchen and it seems like it’s going to be fairly easy for me to handle.

Just in case you’re wondering, I haven’t picked out a name for my new wheelchair yet, but as soon as I do, I’ll let you all know. Feel free to leave your suggestions.

In other news, I’ve also got my night splints back with my walking grip now re-glued back on too which I’m also really pleased about because I enjoy wearing those.

That’s it for today, just short and sweet. Have a good day guys,

Nic

Saying goodbye to my current wheelchair

Although I don’t remember exactly when I got my current wheelchair (which sometimes call Louise) I think it was some time while I was in Sixth Form, so between the ages of 16-18.

Although I try hard to use my walking frame Martha as much as possible, my wheelchair has still had rather a lot of use over the years. I use it if I know I’m going to be walking longer distances or out of the house for a long time. It’s also really handy when ill, tired or having one of those things that I personally like to call ‘a bad CP day’.

Lately, I started noticing that it was in need of a service for lots of different reasons. It had been a while since the last one, so I got in touch with Wheelchair Services and asked them to take a look.

They came out and did what they could on the day (tightening things up and so on) and then told me that they’d organise for me to get a new chair, which it has to be said, I’m strangely feeling quite excited about.

Usually when it comes to having to get a new walking frame I always feel quite sad about it. I never really want to stop using the one I have, and there’s usually lots of memories attached to it. The thing is that there are lots of memories attached to my current wheelchair too. I took it to university with me as well as my walking frame, I took it on my recent trip to London and I used it in a play that I did with my university drama society. Yet, I think that part of me is looking forward to the prospect of getting a new chair. I want to see what it will look like and I want to see how easily I will find it to push myself around in. I want to see how small it will fold up.

Looking forward to getting a new wheelchair is a new feeling to me, and one that’s taken me by surprise if I’m honest with you. I won’t be sad to see my old one go, I’m just curious to find out what my next one will be like. That’s okay, right?

I still plan on using my walking frame as much as possible though. I love walking around and knowing that I do it as much as I can, but maybe a change of wheelchair won’t be such a bad thing?