Category Archives: Disability

Disability

Planning ahead

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This Spec-Tran paratransit service has been a huge blessing after just a few days. I had a doctor’s appointment on Monday, which resulted in another appointment for today, and another one in a few weeks. Also, I have two doctor’s appointments next week. And none of this has required my husband to take time off of work. Hurray!

I’m learning quickly how it all works. All of the scheduling, confirming, and canceling of rides can be done online. Also, I’ve already emailed questions to customer service and was very pleased to have prompt responses.

Today I learned an important lesson: use the restroom before you are picked up. It’s not such an issue when they pick me up from my house, because so far I have been the only rider on those trips. It’s the rides going home that are more unpredictable. Especially if you are being picked up near the hospital, which is surrounded by medical offices. When the van arrives, it could be holding up to 4 more passengers, all of which may be getting dropped off at their homes before you. So you really have no idea how long you’ll be in the van once you’re picked up.

Today was a problem because my office visit/procedure required me to fill my bladder to the rim. And while I tried to empty it completely before my ride came to get me, I also made the poor choice of purchasing a large coffee at the cafeteria of the building I was in. I thought to myself as I was waiting for my ride, “Maybe I should go again, just to be on the safe side”. But then I was afraid I would miss my ride, so I ignored that wise thought. But then it turned out that my ride was running 15 minutes late. So by the time it came I was pretty ready to go, but thought I could hold it.

I was wrong. Very quickly, I began to be in some serious pain. After some bumps and turns and one more stop, we dropped off one woman at her house, and before the driver could close the door to the van, I looked at her with pleading eyes and whispered loudly, “I desperately need to use a restroom!” And she said, “No problem, we’re headed back to the hospital now”. Relieved (well, almost), I held it until the next stop. Which was not actually the hospital, but across the street, at the building I was just picked up from. Because she was dropping another woman off. I find this rather ridiculous, but I’m not complaining because I made it to the restroom without soiling myself, and I didn’t feel like I was inconveniencing anyone. Too much.

Altogether, the total travel time was around 45 minutes and only cost me $2.50. Not too shabby. Piper sure was happy to see me, as she also had a desperate need to relieve herself! 😉

Disability, Driving, Low vision, Multiple Sclerosis, Partial Blindness

A glimpse at regaining independence

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I received approval today to use the paratransit service, and I am beyond excited. The service provides people like myself with rides to pretty much anywhere in the city. All I have to do is schedule the pickup within 24 hours, pay the fare, and off I go! I can apparently schedule online, which I tried already for two of my upcoming appointments, and I’ll probably call tomorrow to confirm that I did it right.

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No more pulling my husband out of work for doctor’s appointments, dragging him and the kids out at dinner time for my support group meetings, and who knows what else? I can go on shopping trips, get groceries on my own (up to 8 plastic bags), even take the kids to the library or the museum on days off! Just dreaming of the possibilities is more excitement than I have had in a long time.

Be thankful for the independence you have, because it can be taken in a heartbeat. My optic nerves were damaged as they are in a matter of weeks. I used to enjoy taking trips, sometimes just driving for the fun of it. The second to last time I remember driving (and enjoying it) was when I went to the abbey for a weekend getaway with my sister in august 2013. Even then I should not have been driving. A week later I drove my kids to their first day of school, with one eye closed to reduce the cloud in my left eye’s  field of vision, scared out of my mind and feeling reckless and over the top stupid for putting my children’s lives at risk. And that was my last time driving.

So there goes my Nascar dream. Is there a competitive arena for bumper?

Okay I got off track, didn’t I? Here’s the lesson: be thankful for your independence, whatever form of it you have. It is a gift.

Anemia, Disability, Multiple Sclerosis

Three units short

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I went to see the hematologist today.  He seemed pretty confident that my anemia is a result of many years of horrifically heavy periods. I’ll spare you the details,  but will say they must be cause for concern if they have led to permanent loss of red blood cells.  As I was educated today,  those are the ones you need for energy,  and I happen to be three units short.  A healthy person should have at least twelve,  and seven is real bad.  I have 8.7.

Of course,  I have been taking iron pills for a couple weeks now, so it’s possible that number has come up.  They took more blood today to see.  When I told the doctor I was taking the iron pills with my meals because they upset my stomach, he didn’t seem very optimistic.  He said it’s best to take them on an empty stomach so the body absorbs them before they are digested. I’m not real crazy about that,  but if that’s what it takes then I guess that’s what I’ll do.  Worst case scenario, I’ll have to get the iron via infusion, but I’m a regular at the infusion center so that doesn’t bother me.

I should hear back from the doctor with the test results and his recommendation for treatment within the next day or so. Beyond that,  I’ll see the hematologist next month for follow-up and more blood work. He wants me to see my gynecologist as well to see if we can get those monster periods under control. (Mom, don’t say hysterectomy.  I know it’s a possibility.)

I was remarking to Mike while we were waiting that I don’t think I would know what to do with myself if I were healthy.  It’s just become such a normal thing for me,  to be dealing with health issues. But – with God’s strength I am still here, still living, still thriving, and still finding joy in the simple things. Still Mindy.

Disability, Domestic Engineer, Driving, Food, Multiple Sclerosis

Weekly update of sorts

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I am in some super slow recovery type mode, so writing (book, blog, Facebook, journal) is not really happening. And that irritates me, but then I get irritated that I am so irritated. Vicious cycle. So today I am just going to bore you with this…

I had a rough walk to the bus stop this morning. I think the dog has gotten too big for me, and with her energy and drive, I can’t hold her back. She throws me off balance constantly. And with my balance issues, that’s a recipe for disaster. So I think we’re done with that program until she gets a little older and can be trained to behave better while walking. That is a thing with dog training, isn’t it?

So after the rough walk I put the pup back in her crate and went back to bed. The sleep probably helped, but I can’t tell. I’m still struggling with fatigue. However, I have managed to do the dishes and make dinner. Chili in the crockpot, and it smells delicious so far. Ground venison, onion, diced tomatoes, black beans, and chili powder. A simple recipe I don’t remember ever trying before, so I hope it turns out ok. We will have cheddar cheese, sour cream, and Fritos to top it off, so that can help with flavor. I thought about adding the can of spicy chili beans that has been in our cupboard forever, but the kids really don’t like spicy, and neither do I. We’ll see how the chili tastes in a couple hours, and I may still decide to add some.

I mailed an application today for the local public transportation service for disabled people. They drive the van right to your door and take you where you need to go. I’m excited about it. As my husband put it, it will give me a level of freedom back. I wouldn’t need to rely on him to take me grocery shopping, or to my umpteen doctor visits. It’s hard to describe how helpless it makes me feel, not being able to drive. I don’t miss the driving so much as I miss being able to go where I want to go. I am an introvert, so one of my favorite things is to go do things alone. Sit at the coffee shop and read or crochet, walk around a bookstore or mall just to browse the merchandise. But if you always need a driver, someone is always waiting for you, and that’s pressure I don’t handle so well. I HATE feeling rushed.

But this Spec-Tran, you plan each ride one-way, so no one is waiting. You tell them when you need a ride back, and they’ll send another driver. At least that’s my understanding. We’ll see how it actually works, but regardless there is no cause for guilt because this is their job, and they aren’t just doing it out of the kindness of their heart. Why is it that we feel guilt when someone does something for us out of the “kindness of their heart”? I mean, by definition they are doing it because they want to, not because they feel obligated. I know it’s not just me. But that still doesn’t make it rational or right.

Oh well. I declare that today is not a day for solving things. It’s a day for reflecting briefly and moving on! Coffee is waiting!