Wheelchair Chronicles: Getting Started

Driving a wheelchair looks easy. I'm here to tell you it isn't, at least not at first. Doorways feel threatening at first, because I was uncertain about being able to get through one without hitting the sides. I didn't have a good handle on exactly how much space I needed. In the beginning each time I made it through the doorway, I heard my mental voice saying "Good girl" like I was a trained dog jumping through a hoop. That lasted several days, nearly a week.

Then I started feeling like I was trying to thread myself through the eye of a needle. A small needle; a small needle that seemed to move. At least I wasn't saying "Good girl" each time I made it through the doorway without running into it. Most doorways are not a challenge for me now, but there is one door at work that is maybe two inches wider than my chair that I sometimes have trouble getting through. If it isn't propped all the way open, I'm going to rub the sides. It embarrasses me when I do that, especially when there is someone around who may see me goof up.

Doors, now that's a potential problem. I never realized how heavy most doors are until I had to open them sitting down. It is a real strain on the lower back. In order to get through the door, I have to use my right hand to maneuver the wheelchair and my left to open the door with some help from my feet at times. Combine a heavy door with a narrow doorway and you have yourself a real workout. I'm getting really good at backing in and out until I manage to find the sweet spot that will let me travel through the doorway and open the door enough to comfortably fit through.

I have a power wheelchair that I maneuver with a joystick on the right arm. I've never played games using a joystick so it was a novel experience. It's not easy as it looks. You can turn the joystick in the direction you need, but if the back wheels on the wheelchair are not pointed in the right direction, you are taken places you didn't want or need to be. The problem is I can't see my back wheels, so I don't know the direction the wheels are pointing. I'm having to remember how I turned last time, then compensate before figuring out which way the joystick should be turned. By the way, my memory isn't so good. So I'm fiddling with the joystick until everything feels as it should, then I take off. I almost get it right each time.

I'm still occasionally running into things like trash cans, boxes and the odd wall. But as I told someone the other day, I used to run into the wall when I was walking, why should riding around in a wheelchair be any different? It embarrasses me each time I do it, but in time I think I'll learn to either drive better or just get over it. Another thing I need to get used to doing is place items well away from the edge of the desk or counter. I never noticed how I tend to leave things hanging inch or two over the edge. When I go by things hanging off the counter or desk I tend to knock them off. I'm thinking of making a holster to carry one of those grabber things you see on TV so I have a way to pick up all the stuff I knock off. I like to be independent and don't want to ask folks to pick up my droppings.

My particular wheelchair goes up to five miles an hour. I still am trying to figure out which speed is appropriate for each situation. I have learned by trial and error that going five miles an hour across a tiled floor is a sure way to skid out of control. The tiles on the floor are pretty to look at, but they are slick. I've learned that I can go no more than two miles an hour when going through the bathroom door at work otherwise I slam up against the wall; another optionally embarrassing moment. When going through doors with thresholds with a slightly higher elevation than normal, I need to go at least three miles an hour. This can be a little tricky when there is ice and snow on the ground; makes life a bigger adventure that I planned on having.

Until I got my wheelchair, I never noticed the condition of sidewalks. It is not such a big deal when you are walking and can get easily get around potholes, cracks and uneven spots. I have found that riding around on sidewalks is a bumpy ride. If I were to talk while using a wheelchair on a sidewalk, my voice would have hitches in it every time I rolled off one piece and rolled onto another piece of sidewalk. Surely there is a better way to connect sidewalk pieces together. I went over a sidewalk made of bricks the other day, talk about bumpy rides. It was beautiful to look at, but uncomfortable to drive over. It's been nearly a month now, and I'm getting almost good at driving my wheelchair. Only on the rare occasion do I run into doorways and walls. I usually drive about two to three miles an hour inside and five miles an hour outside, if it isn't crowded. I'm doing my best to pay attention to people, walls, doorways, potholes, cracks, tree limbs, and cars as I go about my business. No matter how much experience I gain, I still would recommend that you watch out for your feet when I roll by.