~Manual vs Power Chair~

I have both a manual and power chair , (well a shower chair too)..but I
stay in my manual chair 99% of the time. But I thought -- well I have this
great power chair, why not use it.. And it WAS alot easier to carry stuff
and saved my arms, specially if I have to go all the way down to get the
mail, which involves travelling 3 hallways.but I found I didnt have the same
instant control I do with my manual.. I would forget and try to move
via the big side wheel which of course isnt on a power chair, well not mine
anyway. Its like going from standard shift to automatic on a car. With my
power chair I had to fumble with the joystick, find it etc. With my manual
I'd already have been moving. And I liked the instant control, sometimes
I have to move fast and just a push will move a manual chair instantly.

When I do go outside I did take my powerchair. There is not alot of nice
outdoor space here and very few that live here congregate outside to talk
or whatever. I think because there is such a turn over of residents here.
So no one really knows anyone. Everyone stays to themselves.. And
there really isnt too much to see outside here anyway unless you like to
look at garbage dumpsters from the stores or now at the apartments
they built next door. The walks coming into the building are slanted and
are NOT easy to maneuver with a manual chair anyway.. its easy to get
OUT but hard to get in.. I guess they figure out is more important than
IN ..and in case of a fire that would be, but IN is important too..

Its easy to transfer to my powerchair. I just pull right up to it and lock
down and scoot across. Easy. I have to admit, I am a bit dangerous when
I am in my power one. It seems they didnt program it correctly when I
first got it.. Awhile back I had to have the 2 flat tires replaced and was
time to get a new battery. At that time I told the guy mine is doing weird
stuff like power surges.. and showed him a few dents in the wall...well..
just cuz you take your finger off the joystick doesnt stop you INSTANTLY
you roll a tad..so I run into the walls. :-) and if It did do one of the spurts
I ran into alot of stuff. My boys see me in that chair and DO NOT come
near me.

I accidentally ran over Dutch's tail..and he screamed so loud that LB came
running and I thought was going to attack me..lol, talk about protecting
his brother.. And Donnie? sometimes he asks before he comes over what
chair I am in.. I got his toe once, well I forgot to say "beep beep" and I
got the very tip of his shoe, and the tip of his toe. lol He yelled, and I
moved the joystick the wrong way and went over it TWICE lol.. He
HATES my power chair.. Its a strong chair.. I can move any piece of
furniture in here with that thing, I ran into the wall and I swear it was
gonna CLIMB the wall- it started to! - tipped me back a bit...I got power
here ...:-)

I used this chair for about a month.. then one night I was transferring
onto my bed, and had my hands on the sides ready to move foreward
and noticed my arms felt kind of weak. I thought "hmmmm, THIS
is NOT good".. I felt alot weaker, my arms were not as strong. I moved
around my bed and could feel I did not have the same strength as
before and I didnt like that feeling at all. The next morning I transferred
back into my manual.

When I started rolling in that chair. the feeling was "ARGGHHHH, this
got harder", I wasn't rolling too easy, well I didnt like that either. My
arms in just that short a time had lost alot of the strength they had. I
was surprised at how fast they went from strong to weak. You have
to keep your arms strong..they served 2 purposes now, they did the
usual arm & hand things but now were my legs as well, and if I was
going to get around I needed them with as much strength in them
as possible. I stay in my manual now, but I keep my powerchair
charged up in case I need it.. and I do move it just to keep the tires
ok on it. Its good to have just in case I need it tho and have NO
choice but to use it.. Last time I had a heart cath when I got home
I had to use it for a few days, as they had to get access to the artery
thru my arm not my groin, and why I had to stay over night because
of using my manual chair.

Jane called a bit ago.. said shes was all shoveled out and today we
got another 4 or 5 inches more of snow but she will be here for
sure about noon, we just got so much so fast that they just couldnt
keep up. I'll be glad, Ive done good , but she will do better especially
on the floors.

Well I need to get this chair rolling again, I was lazy all day and did
not take the time to cook and just snacked all day and I am a bit
hungry . I have some great shrimp in the freezer and that sure
sounds good, might have some of the cookies my sis brought too..
Yesss I know, I really dont need COOKIES..but they need ME :-)

Y'all have a good one now y'hear? Luv ya.. and Thanks... :-)
Always, Lois ***

May God Bless you today,

I'm so honored to call you friend,

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until I write again...