isaiahNov 4, 2023

so… this is hard for me, but i’m starting to think it may be time to consider getting a permanent wheelchair. i have a loaner. it’s old, squeaky, judging by weight it’s apparently made of lead.

google seems lousy with enshittified ad pollution.

anyone out there have any good info/advice/love of a particular chair?

also any advice for coming to grips with this transition in my mobility would be greatly appreciated.

plz boost if you can.

Show threadJuli BaumlerNov 4, 2023
@isaiah I've been using a wheelchair for a little over a year now. The PT consult is the way to go. There are PT/OT's who basically just figure out what you need for a wheelchair. Ultralight is great, but it's still a struggle for me to get it in my car - there are lots of options to help with this beyond a wheelchair van if you can walk a little, PT can help w that too. Using a wheelchair lets me save my limited walking for when it counts ie a few steps to see a flower off the path.
Show threadisaiahNov 4, 2023

@competentgirl i’ve got a consultation on the books. just trying to get educated beforehand.

but i agree. i can walk. just not well or far. my recent experience being totally chair-bound (i broke a hip — fuck) has made me realize that i’m ironically *more* mobile now. and this takes the burden off of my relatives to wait for me. and yes —saves my legs for when i really need ‘em.

thanks for the advice. :-)

Show threadJuli BaumlerNov 4, 2023
@isaiah Feel free to ask any specific questions, but a lot of stuff is personalized - the features that make my life better would be torturous for some of my friends and vice-versa.
Show threadisaiahNov 4, 2023

@competentgirl i’m mostly looking for folks that like their own lightweight or small-sized self-propelled chair.

i don’t have huge needs at the moment. but small and/or light would be great. it’s just that i have a tiny car.

but even just your experience in buying a chair or any other surprising details a nooby might face would be appreciated.

Show threadJuli BaumlerNov 4, 2023
@isaiah my insurance would only cover rental of a honking heavy chair that hurt my arm to propel, so I ended up buying a used custom chair, that luckily has >75% of the customizations I need, including supports for my bad hip and was adjustable for most of the rest. It's 35# and initially I was lifting it into my car & my shoulder hated that. I thought I wanted folding for portability but it's not actually better & now I never fold my chair.
Show threadJuli BaumlerNov 4, 2023
@isaiah since you bike, you probably have tire opinions, make those known. Unfortunately, because of my shoulder, I needed non-bike sized tires, so I can't have the tires I want. But I've noticed my preferences are pretty close to my biking preferences.
Show threadisaiahNov 4, 2023

@competentgirl i still ride razor thin tubeless because im old and have opinions. 😛

these youngsters riding fat tires on road bikes give me fits.

but i live in austin so weather is rarely an inconvenience — im sure anything will be fine.

i just want it to be so easy and small that i don’t balk at taking it with me. i feet that i blow thousands on something that collects dust because it’s easier to hobble around with my cane.

Show threadJuli BaumlerNov 4, 2023
@isaiah I'm a fan of thin puncture proof tires and tubes, unfortunately my only option was Dutch cargo bike tires. There's definitely an element of this is more/less fun/hard to push around that goes to tires and thus my crutching vs wheeling.
That said, the biggest difference for me in using my chair was getting a hoist to make it easier to get it in and out of my car. I don't like taking my chair apart/folding it, even hobbling, I can be half way down the sidewalk before that's done.
Show threadJuli BaumlerNov 4, 2023
@isaiah or more likely, I change my plans to Zoom, drive thru, car side so I don't have to deal with chair or crutches. I know in my area, United Access has display models of a lot of their vehicle adaptations, it might be worth talking to them to get ideas.
Show threadisaiah

@competentgirl to be perfectly honest i have a very nice. it’s old now but i love it so very much. and it was expensive enough to be one time deal in my life. i think i might rather crawl, maybe over broken glass, before i give it up.

and there’s just not a big market for wheelchair hoists for a 911 🤣.

Nov 5, 2023 at 2:17amIvory for iOS
Show threadJuli BaumlerNov 5, 2023
@isaiah I get it, I'm still driving my early network install days work truck. Hot shit in 1993 but I still love it. But I know some folks have been pleasantly surprised to find something. Your best bet IS probably a rigid frame chair where you take off the wheels and fit in it the passenger seat. But I & several driving friends made assumptions about what we needed in a chair based on needing to fit in our existing vehicles & we just didn't know enough about our options.
Show threadisaiahNov 5, 2023
@competentgirl i’m trying hard to keep an open mind. it’s tough. it’s a change in my identity. but i’m learning to like this life too.