My New Quickie Q50R Powerchair - Discovering New Freedom and Discussing Internalised Ableism
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- Опубликовано: 6 авг 2023
- I have just purchased the Quickie Q50R all-terrain folding powerchair. Changing from a mobility scooter to a wheelchair, I have far more freedom and comfort in the powerchair compared to the mobility scooter. However, I have noticed a lot of internalised ableism surface again that I have had to deal with, about whether I am 'disabled enough' to need a wheelchair and so on. I discuss this honestly in this vlog, along with loads of clips of me joyfully loving the freedom this new wheelchair has brought to my life!
Previous blog I wrote about using a mobility aid: finlaygames.com/why-i-began-u...
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Chris is a fantastic partner. He just seems to be a wonderful patient person.
He really is. I'm very lucky
I have M.E but I've been putting off getting a scooter or a wheelchair for a few years for a couple of reasons. 1 being my internalised ableism 2. The cost with being on PIP and being a single income household. 3 woried about comments and staring but the way you described having freedom and feeling like yourself again makes me think there's a bit of hope that things can get better.
I'm glad this gives you hope, that makes me happy to hear. It makes me sad how many times l hear people say they are scared or holding off, or dont feel able to use mobility aids, like sticks and wheelchairs. We feel we need to push through, or that we are not disabled enough, or that using them makes us weak. These aids are there to make our lives easier and more fulfilling. We wear glasses when we strain to see, so why not use a walking aid when we strain to walk?! It took me a while to see the sense in this and I'm so glad I finally did. Stigma can do one, I'm too busy enjoying my expanded life!
As for the cost, there are options. There are many grants available and you can also pick up decent scooters and wheelchairs low cost second hand. Molly my scooter was £250 off Facebook marketplace!
I've been a powerchair user for about 11 years now and it has increased my independence a lot. My powerchair is a Quickie Salsa M and I've had no problems with it, I know my local wheelchair services mostly use Sunrise for their powerchairs. It's much easier to get the powerchairs on and off the buses/trains than scooters. You'll get better at handling it with practice :) The number of times I ran over my poor mum's feet when I got my first powerchair (she always stood too close to me!).
Oh your poor mum! I've not run over Chris yet....but there's still time 🤣. And yes, so much easier to manoeuvre on transport. I haven't tried yet, but already seeing the difference in shops, just being able to turn on the spot is a massive bonus. I'm loving it!
Hi Finn. I am a trans man and have been following your channel for a few years. I also have long COVID since 2 years, I struggle with fatigue and an intolerance of standing for any time longer than 15 minutes. That is so hard because I was a lot into sports before and now I can't even stand.
I was very surprised to see your videos about long Covid at some point and it feels like such a rare coincidence that a fellow trans man is in a similar position. Your happy attitude helped me tremendously.
I do not have a wheelchair or similar aid yet but was thinking about it. I am also struggling with this idea that I am not disabled enough.
Anyways, I can't thank you enough for putting these videos out there. It must be hard besides getting just through the day with fatigue. Maybe I find the strength to get a wheelchair now. Thank you!
Bless you my friend. Yes, Long Covid and ME are very similar. Losing our capabilities is so hard. I loved exploring, walking miles, and now I can barely get from the house to the car! Getting the scooter, and now the wheelchair, really has changed my life so positively, but yes, getting over the internalised ableism was hard at first. Society is still really backwards when it comes to mobility aids, especially around amblatory wheelchair users and invisible illness. I just remind myself that nobody lives my life except me, and when Im whizzing through the forrest with my fiance and my puppy, rather than being stuck indoors, I could care less about what anyone might think! Ive realised mostly its my own worry and nobody is thinking anything! Its just like being trans, there is no "trans enough" or "man enough" we simply are who we are and have to do what we need to do, and if a wheelchair improvs our quality of life that is all that matters! Good luck wheelchair shopping!
Hi @@FinnTheInfinncible . Thanks a lot! I got my wheelchair roughly 3 weeks ago, partially because of you, and I am so incredibly happy about this. :)
Thank you!
@@MalwareAnalysisForHedgehogs oh my goodness this makes me so happy! Wishyyou many happy wheeled adventures!
I was fortunate enough to live with my grandmother for several years when I was young. She had been paralyzed from the waist down before I was born from a car accident. She always had an extra wheelchair she kept in the storage room so I use to use it to play when I wasn’t having fun pushing her around the grocery store. My brother and I would take turns rolling around the long driveway in her wheelchair. It was the best toy ever, like roller skates for you bum (but much safer than skates!). So every time I see a chair all I can think is, oh that’s awesome! Wish I could have one! And now finally I get to have one! If I had been able to have one when I first fell Ill with me/cfs I wouldn’t have had to drop out of uni and could have completed my degrees and have decent employment. But at least I can get relief now. Just am so grateful for these inventions! What huge blessings they are.
Roller skates for your bum! Love that! What a lovely positive way to see a wheelchair 💜 it's incredible the freedom they give isn't it? It's opened my life so much and now it's hard to see why on earth l worried so much about needing to use one
Hi Finn! Fancier is awesome! I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your vids, and your incredible humor and kindness 🙏 I’m neurodivergent (CPTSD, PTSD, OCD, depression, anxiety) and sometimes I struggle to leave my home and even my bedroom. You and your channel are so inspiring for me to start my own channel and share my experiences. I’m so happy when you upload - your content is such a highlight of my life these days 🙏 thank you for all you do for us and I hope you and Chris and Pip have a lovely time in Wales ❤
Oh my Finn!!! I love love love that you shared these new wheels with us!!!
I loved seeing Chris cheer you on and see you dare to adventure. I just love you so stinking much. The two of you are infectious as is that furr baby.
Love the old school t shirt too. 😊😊
Ah buddy! I love you too! Although l am so bad at messaging, l do keep an eye on you on social media...in a non stalkerish way 👀🤣. I'm loving how many adventures I can have with these new wheels! We are off to Wales next week and l can't wait for all the places we can get to!
So, so happy for you Finn! I hope you continue to find tools and resources to help you have an easier time so you can free up energy for all the gorgeous things in your you're life!
Bless your heart what a lovely comment, thank you! This is exactly it isn't it, tools to free us to live our life tivthe full, love this! Thank you 💜
That was so well articulated and very relatable. Thank you for sharing and also encouraging.
Thank you for watching and for your lovely comment!
Hello lovely man! 😀 I was just going to say, so far, I've had to look up a few things like "camber" and see what you mean by them. You;d be laughing if you saw me watching your video, pausing, and going to google to see what words mean lol! Education is wonderful! I got my partner calling a shopping cart a trolley 😁
I love how Pip is all excited to see you when you come around a corner with your new scooter, tail up all happy! I also love to Chris for being so encouraging, Hi Chris! 👋
Hello gorgeous fella! Lol at you looking up words! Its funny how much I dont realise is so English! Pip is hillarious when Im on my wheelchair, he always chases me, so poor Chris gets his arms yanked off! Im licky to have two amazing men in my life I hope ypu are well my friend!
@@FinnTheInfinncible Pip is so adorable, I always tell my kitty "It's a good thing you're cute, or I wouldn't let you get away with that!" I wouldn't do anything to him anyways, he just puts up his tail and trills at me ☺
I'm hanging in here, I don't know if you have EMG tests in the UK, but if you have any time, look it up, it's pretty rudimentary, but my legs have decided to randomly stop working, then they're fine again! 😱
Finn, I'm so happy for you brother! Molly was brilliant for you but now you need something different and Fancier is the aid you need right now. I totally hear you about internalised ableism (our society *sucks* for supporting folks with invisible disabilities) but I'm so happy you, Pip and Chris are now able to have so many more choices as to what you do and where you go. YAYS! 🥰
Thanks lovely. Absolutely yes, it's a hurdle in itself getting over the ableism! This chair has given me a whole new level of freedom, l can't wait to share our Wales adventures!
@@FinnTheInfinncible Can't wait to see your Wales vlogs! 🤗
massively helpful, so informative plus I understand that wanting to feel in the world, wonderful thank you so much
Thank you so much, Im so glad it was helpful! Is amazing how this char has actually made me feel more in the world!
Thanks for the wonderful chat. I'm so glad your new wheelchair is working out for you. It makes me think what I could do if I had one...
I'm glad you enjoyed the chat, it was a long one wasn't it! I'm very lucky it be able to afford this, it's really only because of the backpay after winning my PIP appeal . After 13 months of hell, this wheelchair makes it worthwhile! I hope you have the means to be able to do this glfor yourself. Are there any grants you can access?
@@FinnTheInfinncible Yes, it has been a long road to this point, and you deserve it. I haven't really looked into it much. I'm not working at all and I'm not sure I could at this point, and without the lever of getting to work, I'm not sure I would be applicable (hehe, not the word, but close). But I should look into it, right? There is so much I should look into!
Thanks for the video i am getting my q50 today ,you have said a lot of what i was feeling inside your words have made me realise i have made the right decision for me for my independence and my mental health so thankyou. it will be interesting to walk my border collie by my side he is very lively so we shall see. good luck to you
I am thrilled my video has helped! Good luck with your chair! Take some time to learn it on your own before trying with your dog, Id already trained Pip with my scooter, but I had to relearn how to drive this quickie as it does have its quirks, so I took time to feel confident before taking Pip out on my own, now we are fne!
Eeeeyyy!!! Loving your new wheels Finn!! Great to see ya crazing along and so to see you out and about with a smile on your face.
Im sure you'll be racing about with the Lovley Pip & Chris in no time, conquering the beautiful countryside one grassy hill at a time. 🥰🐏🐩
Wish you all the best (DWP is a nightmare at the best of times.) and look forward to hearing of your adventures buddy.
6.40p.m. thank you for your video. Just brought a power chair as I was unable to manage my mobility scooter without help. A lot of what you said about your feelings around getting a chair echo how I feel. After being almost housebound for two years, for my own mental health I realized I needed something I could manage by myself, hence getting rid of the scooter. Power chair being delivered on Wednesday , and taking your advice I will give it some test runs round the block and in the local park, where there is less chance of running into anyone. I hope these will make me confident with the handling of the chair. Thank you for sharing.
Bless your heart l am so glad this video helped. I'm loving this chair so much, I need to make an update! It's so much better than the scooter, takes far less energy to drive, much move manoeuvrable, more comfortable, wish I'd got it sooner!
If you have a folding chair like mine, no doubt you'll have the same quirks, the issues with cambers. That does take some getting used to. You'll need to learn to steer away from them to compensate , and you'll learn how your chair responds and steer according. It is the only annoyance with this type of chair but I've just learned with practice where and how to drive it to manage this quirk and it's fine. Otherwise, they are fantastic chairs!
I wish you much freedom and joy! I'd love to hear how you get on if you feel like sharing!
Thanks for this great video! Glad the chair is helping you live your life. It's something I need to start looking into for myself (waiting for a diagnosis but almost certainly have ME/CFS).
Thanks for watching! Yes, this chair, that once filled me with fear and shame, is now a thing of joy!! Perspective is everything eh! Im sorry you have this awful condition, good luck with your diagnosis, I know what a pain it is to try and get one of those!
Wow Pip doing awesome for a puppy! I had to giggle when you ran into the sign with your wheelchair, I have never done that lol At least I have never hit anyone.. Healthy ppl to not understand the level of fatigue that hits us plus when we hit the wall where toast!
Oh hitting that sign was so embarrassing! This wheelchair turns whenever there's a camber and I came out of that gate too fast and did not steer into the camber to compensate and...wham! 🤣🤣🤣 oops!
Pip is very good really, we've worked hard with him and he learns fast. He's hit teenage years though so there is some rebellion going on 🤪
And you are right. There is no way healthy people could ever understand the level of fatigue and general feeling of sickness we live with everyday, it's utterly exhausting, physically and mentally to cope with, and then when the PEM hits...wham...toast indeed!
Thank you for watching and for your lovely comment. Much love!
Love this. I have M.E and other chronic illness and use a wheelchair so I don't miss out....I'm fed up of missing out so my lovely hubby pushes me around areas I want to go and see. Initially, I felt awkward or vulnerable but now I love it. I'm usually dressed up, make up on and stunning in my wheelchair (that's what I think anyway haha!) You rock that wheelchair. ❤
Ah thank you so much! Yes, I felt so awkward using mobility aids in the begining, but I am so over it now. I wouldnt struggle on without glasses and squint my way through life, so why should I struggle on without a chair?! If it means we can get out, interact with the world, see people , then who cares eh! Keep on rockin!
I have the same condition as you. The past 4 months I have signed up to integro clinic for medical cannabis and the pain and fatigue are still there but not in the front of my mind. It’s such a great relief. Also I had my pip renewal and actually scored extra points as my cannabis vape is classed as a medical device by the home office. Bonus :)
Hey sweetie, thanks for the video, watching it now
Hi lovely! It's been a long time coming....and it's a long vid to make up for it!
Thank you for your review. I saw when I was scrolling down your video's you're living with ME/CVS. I have been dealing with Long Covid for nearly 2yrs and I am trying to either be approved for a wheelchair or a mobility scooter. I live in The Netherlands, you sort of have to prove these will help you with your everyday life. Rather then being able to go out and about. So I am just hoping for either atm. Anyway, I must say I am quite charmed with the Quickie wheelchair. But it also seems heavy to load in and out of a boot. And I've real low energy. With a mobility scooter I could go to town, but that's like an hr drive away on a scooter. By car it's just 20. Since you got both, which of these would cost me least energy to operate and get from A to B. A long drive without having to lift. Or lift to make it all a lot shorter? So I know which one I should make my case for. As I doubt I'll get approved for both. With kind regards, Rianne
Could you hear me shouting "YES!......YES!......Preach it!" at the beginning when you were talking about self care, vs. leisure and hobbies and the importance of prioritizing time for them!? I've literally only watched one other video (it was camping with your new tent and the other scooter...I think you call her Molly?) Anyways...between camping (and you saying in that video that your 6 person tent is actually a '2 fat gay person tent' for people who can't pack light) your easy approach on videos like this one AND you have a poodle!!! OMG! I LOVE YOU! I can so relate to how you are struggling with explaining it because I went a couple years wanting one but didn't because of abelism. Totally dumb. Side bar... I love the t shirt that reads..."A lot of disabilities are invisible. Your reaction to them isn't."
Haha! I love you too! Thank you for your lovely comments. And yay to poodle love! They are the best dogs right! I'm so glad you got yourself a wheelchair and conquered the ableism, it's hard, isn't it! Daft, but understandable in this current world we live in. I need that Tshirt!
And yes, t's taken a LOT of work to get to the point where I can prioritize leisure over everything else. It's easier to do when you have limitless spoons, but when you have so few of them, that often means work then suffers, but I have to say, so be it! Because right now, putting my life first is key. Self-care is vital, but leisure should be seen as a separate thing that we set aside for and when we have chronic illness it's often the first thing to go. Did you see my vlog on it? I'll link it here: ruclips.net/video/9SHFquxe3wQ/видео.html
Love this video, thank you. I bought a mobility scooter a year or so ago and now realise a power chair will suit my needs much better, I had the same thought process as yourself. Did you comparing power chair brands before settling on this particular one?
So glad this was helpful. Yes I did look at some other folding chairs, the Pride I go and a couple of others. However, I discovered that these folding chairs can be very problematic if not made properly. A lot of them are made very cheaply overseas and then shipped back in bulk and just have different manufacturers labels stuck on. The difference with the quickie is that it is made by sunrise mobility whi have a solid reputation, and so in the end I went with this one for that reason, knowing what l was getting and I'm glad I did!
These chairs do have quirks, the rear wheel drive of these folding chairs means they do tend to turn towards cambers , you learn to work with it and it's not a problem for me now, but having a solid chair You can trust really helps with this! I also like how robust this chair is, I've thrown it over gravel, stones, tree trunks in the woods, and it hasn't failed me at all!
@@FinnTheInfinncible Great thank you for your response.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the chair. I am considering this chair myself as I am fortunate enough to have the same condition as you. Been putting it off for many years. Through pacing I was able to improve my condition quite a bit over about 9 months. I achieved this by avoiding all crashes. However, I still ended up relapsing and I now realise that pacing becomes almost impossible once I reach the point where I start walking again outside. I therefore have decided to get a wheelchair as it certainly will help me stay within my energy envelope, with is crucial. I do have a some questions about this chair: 1) Can it be used in rainy weather (I live in western Norway and it rains all the time)? 2) Can it be used on off-road terrain such as gravel etc.? Also we who suffer from ME have a need to be able to access nature, not only city environments.
I didn't know you got a new chair but this is the one that I was recommended to get. I'm just not sure how secure it would be if you had to leave it in public for any reason.
I got it after a recommendation too, Im so glad I did! Wow this chair manages A LOT! I dont think any chair would be secure if left in a public place. You could secure it with a bike lock, but Im not sure if you would be covered under your insurance, my insurance states that for theft coverage, it must be locked in my shed or in my car boot, so its best to check!
It took me years to realise I could use a wheelchair. I thought only paralysed people used them! So I got a scooter instead for first year. Then realised a powerchair would improve my independence.
I also understand I feel more me in a wheelchair than a scooter.
Not just me then! I really just thought that I wasn't "disabled enough" to use a wheelchair., I also saw a scooter as a lower stigma vehicle somehow, which I know arms awful, but that's internalised ableism for you! This wheelchair suits me so much better, it uses far less energy, l can get around so much easier and l actually feel much more independent! Isn't it daft the things we allow ourselves to be swayed by!
Hi Finn thank you for posting . Please can I have your opinion on the wheel chair now , I’m looking at getting the same one but I’m worried about small curbs and gravel and I can’t find anything to give me peace of mind before purchasing
Hi my friend. I love it. It handles small curbs really well. It's also very good on rough, uneven terrain. It can handle gravel, as long as it isn't too deep and the wheels can get enough purchase.. I found sometimes its been useful for me to bounce or wiggle in my seat just to help myself along if I get a bit stuck. We do a lot of the nature trails, woodland paths and it manages those well. Wet grass is ok, as long as it hasn't got really sodden and muddy or you'll just stick. Remember this isn't a true off road wheelchair, but as things go, it does handle really well for a lot of different terrain types.
As with all these folding chair types, the thing that takes practice, is managing cambers as due to the rear wheel drive, any camber makes the chair want to turn towards it to right itself. All pavements have a camber so it's about learning to steer away from that. And then, when using the drop down curbs, learning how to position yourself to turn into those cambers. That was the trickiest bit to learn for me. I just took my time practicing around my neighbourhood and soon sussed it out.
Now I can go to so many more places, and driving it is like second nature now.
If I can be of any more help. Please do drop me a message
@@FinnTheInfinncible Hiya thank you so much for getting back to me , I tried it in the shop yesterday and loved it so came away to do more research about it before committing and I really struggled finding proper videos about it being used you were the only one that gave a proper demonstration so I really do appreciate the help and the reply 💞 I'm going back next weekend to test it out again outside so hopefully it goes well . I did notice reversing was a little tricky so I'll definitely need more practice I currently have the Gogo traveller elite and it's starting to really hurt my shoulder and I've noticed I've not been going out as much
@@Fairybrook2 I'm happy to help. It's so hard trying to find the right things for our needs. I found the swap from a scooter to this has been so much better in terms of comfort increasing and pain levels decreasing. It takes far less energy to drive too.
.the learning curve is quite big, it takes skill to master the joystick as it's so much more sensitive than driving a scooter I too struggled with reversing. But, you'll soon get there.
The other stuff, the cambers and so on , is quirks of the chair and you'll soon master those too.
As long as you are realistic about what you want it for you can't go wrong with this really sturdy reliable chair. It's brilliant for nipping around places, town, shops, on and off buses, and happily manages to take me and our pup on light nature trails, uneven ground, and won't run out of battery easily.
I've been meaning to do an update and I do have some more footage. If I have time this week and I find it (my video footage is a mess at the moment 🤣) I'll pop another message here as I could always just email you some.clips for.now
@Fairybrook2 I have found some footage of me on loose gravel. if you would like to send me an email at finlayjgames@gmail.com I will reply with some footage for you to look at
Just found your video. I've been considering this chair for myself but I live in quite a hilly area with lots of uneven surfaces. Can it really handle that? My mobility scooter is pretty good but I can't take it on the train to visit my boyfriend, they dont accept it unless it folds and is stored as luggage, I would struggle travelling on my own with a folding scooter. I've seen people getting on the same train on a powered chair and they occupy the wheelchair space, they don't even have to fold them
I know how you feel about the feeling embarrassed or guilty for using mobility aids. It took me a while to accept that my independence matters more than what people think of me
Hello! Thanks for watching, and for your comment, absolutely yes our freedom and independence matters far more than what people think of us!.
And yes, this chair really can handle so much! We are currently on holiday in Wales, it's doing multiple trips per day and no sign of running out of battery, hills are no problem whatsoever, and I've had it along some very uneven rough terrain on the Gower peninsula coastal paths and it's handled everything I've thrown at it!
It does take some.practice to handle . Especially with how it manages cambers, you learn to steer into them and the same goes on rough terrain, the chair can handle it, we just have to learn how to steer whilst driving through it if that makes sense, but you'll learn quick.
It's a joy to drive and you can nip about and around spaces so easily. I love it. Best decision ever!
Hi Darling Finn. Congratulations on being more comfortable physically and emotionally on your new Power Chair. I got a Pride Victory 10 heavy duty 4 Same size tires it's for very heavy people so it's extremely sturdy. and I want to tell you that it has given me a life. no joke about that. I am basically bed-bound at all times Now, unless I'm on my pride mobility scooter out and about with my dog I wanna say something to you. I don't know if it applies to you because I cannot walk my dog to the park to let him run free I can put him next to the scooter and let him trot beside me for as long as I wanna take him and myself around the neighborhoods It truly has changed my life because I'm free now to get out and most importantly let my service dog run by my side and I can get him to the park on the scooter and then he can run like a maniac. you know I wanted to tell you Finn I used to train dogs I hope you don't take this as me telling you what to do it is a very loving suggestion. Pip has a lot of energy that needs to come out. so because he is what he is he needs to run Finn, like really run, not on a leash. I hope you can Get him to a place where he will come to you when you call him so that he has a free run in a safe park or some land that he could run around in. my dog must run at least 45 minutes 5 days a week he's 2 and a 1/2 years old And he is all puppy in his energy levels and what he needs, and he's a fast very fast little guy, this is not a big dog but he is one fast little adorable miniature schnauzer mix. Finn I wanna tell you I'm scared. I'm very scared Because my ME is getting worse and worse and I had a mini-stroke on Sunday. That really threw me for a loop because the following day I texted a friand I never knew I texted them I have no memory of it nothing. and later that evening I read what I wrote and it was so cringy and creepy and just so embarrassing. I truly have no memory of it at all. I want to address the tingling burning sharp pains that are going on in your hands. that is called peripheral neuropathy so you now have neuropathy. I have severe polyneuropathy. which means it can be anywhere in the body. I have it in my hands So bad that I scream at night it's like they're in a fireplace with electrical bolts and I'm holding on to little tiny rocks all the time. that's exactly what it feels like. so you are right that is from nerves and nerve damage coming from the spinal column So now I have severe Neuropathy,it's just all really not good ME is not for sissies. it is a serious serious condition. I've been learning so much and I watch RUclipsrs have ME. not people that say they have cured people. people led me down some very Unfavorable Roads. so just today I was saying I need to hear from my friend Finn he'll understand. thank God I have a fantastic psychologist and I talk to her for 2 hours a week 2 sessions 1 hour each and she's incredible Just about helping me learn how to live like this Finn do you ever feel like killing yourself not because you want to die at all life is something you want to live. but do you ever have suicidal ideation because you do not know how to live with this condition? So right now or whenever you go give that boyfriend of yours that husband of yours a great big thanks a gratitude hug whatever because I am isolated and being alone with this problem and this condition is horrible. I love you I want you to feel as best as you can And don't expect a miracle buddy people don't really get better from this not that I know. We can just do our best I guess but I'm not doing well I don't know what I would do without my service Dog I love you take care and I'll see you at the next video
Hello lovely! Im sending you a giant hug. Yes we are working a lot on Pip's recall, he is doing really well actually! Chris lets him off leash every night when he walks him, and we let him off leash at the weekends when we wak him together. Im still only able to get out on my own about once or twice a week and as yet Im too nervoius to let him off leash on my own, just in case! Im working up the nerve!
Talking about nerves......yep...its so incredibly painful. I had to see a GP who wasnt my usual one and he was ...shall we say to be polite...less than helpful. He has at least now prescribed Gabapentin, which has started to help. Its taken the edge of it which is a relief because there have been nights where I would have quite happily have asked somoene to amputate my arms the pain was that bad. Ive been referred to the pain clinic now.
I completely understand what you mean you know, I want to live, but often, on days where the fatigue means I can barely breathe and the pain is like a hot knife, I have no idea how I can go on. But we do dont we? I grab onto little joys on those days, birds on the bird feeder, butterflies on the budliiea bush, wind on my wind spinner, Pip chasing a fly and his ears flapping maddly, anything to keep me going to the bigger joy days.
Sending you so much love my dear friend, to you and to Finn! xxx
@@FinnTheInfinncible So happy to get a reply from you it really brightens my entire day and I'm just thrilled that you wrote back to me thank you. so about pip this is wonderful news you guys are really you know teaching him some really good skills and his recall Is moving along great so I'm very happy to hear as a one time dog trainer long ago that you are putting effort into this. Because the effort that you put in and the consistency and doing things correctly all the time and giving him his praise and his treats however you reward him You guys will have such a great amazing bond and connection with that beautiful little dog you have. Please tell me again what breed is he the way you cut him he looks like a poodle but I wasn't sure if he was mixed. congratulations On being a dog trainer! It's a lot of work it is not easy but it's worth it and of course you never let him off the leash by himself until he absolutely knows that recall 100% even when he knows it 100% I make sure I'm in the park where hes not near the street and hes not super far away from me. I don't know about pip but my little one loves and when I say loves, I'm talking ecstatic to run as fast as he can in big circles hopefully chasing another dog it's the most joyous thing I ever get to see it's so beautiful and exhilarating Now on to peripheral neuropathy just so you know I've been dealing with this for many many years and there is no treatment for it the only thing they give you is gabapentin but you know sometimes people will succumb to surgery to try to take the pinched nerve Or the root of the nerve is that damaged that's called ridiculapathy.
Now to the next issue, You know 10 it isn't like I said it isn't that I want to die hell no that is scarier than shit to me I don't want to die but can you understand buddy that I don't know how to live with this it is so difficult it is so agonizing and painful And I know you undad and I've had this a sound longer than you I've had it for 40 years try to wrap your ass around that brother so I do know as a fact in 2011 it just cranked out up and it was like 10 million times worse and it's done nothing but go downhill So that's why I asked you that question have you ever felt like you don't .....you don't want to die but you don't know how to keep going with something like this. anyways I'm really excited about your new powerchair that thing is really cool and there are a lot of things learning how to use these devices because if I go app a bump sideways a little bit it really messes with everything you have to go like directly up it you know it's not Easy all the time to use these chairs
However do not get me wrong it is a absolute miracle to have these chairs and I'm so glad that you are getting through the emotional parts a bit and all the things that were barriers in your mind because to me it's such a great thing anyways I've been going on on I love you please say hi to Chris And pip what a cool dog don't forget to tell me his breed
@@FinnTheInfinncible Hi there I want to tell you how much it meant to me to see your reply today it just put such a big ass smile on my face that you got back to me you know I am so pissed I just wrote you a long reply Talking about pip and the power chair and what you have is peripheral neuropathy in your hands and there is no treatment they just give you Gabbapentin. I know I said a lot of things that were coming right from the heart and all of a sudden it shot it over to you My reply and then it erased it absolutely erased my reply to your amazing reply to me. so this one will be shorter. I want to say first of all that what's going on in your hand I'm sure you know now is called peripheral neuropathy And it comes from the spinal column and it's a nerve condition of course because a nerve gets pinched or you know a lot of things can happen in the spine and where it is pinched is where you will have either the hands or the feet. now I have something called Poly neuropathy And with have it's all over it can go in your mouth like-mine did and I had a 3 and a 1/2 hour surgery that every root had to be pulled out. the oral neuropathy either way ate my jawbone so I'm a toothless fat homeless person. that's what I look like bro, Nice and sexy!! Anyways yep it's that burning like your hand is in a fireplace and then I get these electrical bolts do you get those? and I don't know about you but it's a very common sensation is that you're wearing tight gloves around your hands but it's like there is sand Or little tiny rocks all over. it's a drag man. anyways now to pip the amazing pip!! as a dog trainer a long time ago I am just so thrilled that you and Chris are training pip. It's so important that he understands what a recall is. not 50% of the time but a 100% of the time and that takes work and a lot of consistency. I wanted to say about the running free, yes dogs need that people think they're dog jestening like a walk A couple times a day and they're good to go but that is not true dogs need to run full out and let it just Rick that's my dog's favorite thing in the world he is an ecstasy when he can run as fast as he once and normally there's another dog and they play Chase and it is so joyous and exhilarating to watch. My service dog is a miniature schnauzer mix maybe a tiny bit bigger than pip what is pip's favorite thing to do? I would love to know if he likes to swim if he does like to swim Please always put him in a life jacket always people have no idea how often dogs drown because there are very few dogs that are natural long distance swimmers Anyways I am so happy that you guys are working with pip to make sure he has an incredible life and you guys will have such a deep bond whisper I'm curious have you ever thought of having pip betrayed as your service dog? I mean I have to have my service dog because he does certain things for me that I can't do anyways I'm sure there's lots of fields around for you then So the nextsaying is Your power chair I am so happy for you send that you have something now that gives you a lot more would you say a lot more options of how to use it that is just so wonderful that you're getting out and using your new chair I love my chair they're not always easy to use because any big dip or whatever and the chair I've literally had my chair turn on its sighed from hitting a little give it in the road so anyways Then I'm gonna Go For Now because I already said everything in the other reply to you today but just know I understand what it's like do not want to die but a deeper question for me is how do we go on when we're in a state Of agony pain sorrow you know we've lost who we were and what we can and cannot Do it's very disheartening sometimes for me so take care my dear dear buddy yes further a big hug from me and you better do it and please let me know what breed pip is okay I love you
@@FinnTheInfinncible I hope you can make sense of 2 replies that SENT themselves 😮🙃
@@kavitadeva lt does that to me too!!! Doesnt post what l wrote and l lose it all
You're gonna end up doing canicross with Pip in that chair! He looks like he'd love it 😂 I appreciate you talking openly about the internalised ableism you've got going on, it really helps to hear another person talk about it, especially another trans man. I don't always get through all of your videos as 40 mins is a lot for me, so apologies if you've answered this already, but are you going to train Pip to help you out at all? I bet he could, the little firecracker.
Pip is indeed a little fire cracker! I have thought about training him and it's something I'm going to look into asap!
The internalised ableism is hard isn't it? I think when it's so multi layered, added onto being trans and gay, it all gets so extra nuanced and the little micro aggressions You pick up, both overtly and subconsciously, really eat into your psyche, it's so hard! But ...I just hang on to the joy I feel at the freedom in this chair, being out with Pip and Chris , and that helps!
I shall try to make some shorter videos, l know I do waffle!
I hope you new wheelchair helps
It really does, thank you!
I have missed alot of your videos, what happened to you? Why the chair?
I have ME/CFS, an energy limiting condition, bringing with it many other troubling and anoying symptoms! ruclips.net/p/PL-xdbMjLqelJkN_Bw6mQUK-7WTbZtzPaX
I have ME and my life has got smaller and smaller and I’m still pushing through because I’m to embarrassed to use a chair i bought two years ago 😢
I can really understand having felt the same. However, I really encourage you to start using it, once I started using my scooter, and began enjoying time outside again, I soon stopped caring what other people thought. Its simply a tool to help us enjoy life, we use tools every day to make life easier and this is no different!
Here is a blog I wrote which might help finlaygames.com/why-i-began-using-a-mobility-scooter-how-it-helps-me-cfs/
@@FinnTheInfinnciblethank you so much I’m so happy I found your account and I’ll go over and give ur blog a read xx
@@Growingroot_allotment so happy to have you here! I haven't updated my blog for a while but there is still.lots of info on there
Finn, this is REALLY important to hear.... dogs and sticks.... please never give sticks to dogs.... I know it's a common thing, we think giving a stick to a dog is fine... but ask any vet, how many injuries and even deaths, caused to dogs from chasing and chewing sticks...
I used to be a pet sitter, I worked for one couple whose dog died because they threw a stick, he chased it and got impaled on it.
It tore his mouth and throat and he died an awful, painful death.
Traumatic for him and that couple who watched their dog die painfully from a completely preventable, unnecessary death.
Please, just give him a safe chew toy, NEVER a stick. 🙏
Thank you. The thing l throw for him in this video is his rainbow strong toy and his Kong fish.
@@FinnTheInfinncible
Yes! I know but I just thought I would mention it as he's chewing a stick as well isn't he?
Sticks can get very sharp so they're best avoided, best not to encourage them to seek them out, they love chewing on them but they don't realise the risks, but us doggy parents do so it's "no no no, here have this instead!" hahaha 😉
He is ADORABLE isn't he 😍 xx
@@FinnTheInfinncible
Kong toys are great!
FFFIIINNNNN!!!! You're pumping these out!!! Wooo!
l spy Lambyyy!!!!
l love how you're so GOOD at naming things!!!!
All those fears re the wheelchair/scooter are valid my friend. l would feel the same.
Well at least you can save on the batteries with Fancier, if you get Pip to pull you along. Get alawng little dawggie.
So so glad you're back enjoying life under your own recognisance. Very happy for you all. 🥰❤❤❤
Lamby is still here! He just has to hide from puppy jaws! And yes, the fact that this chair gives me so much, helps me to ignore what I think it takes from me, because realistically, it doesnt, its just the stigma that comes with it, but that is not mine to carry. I cant wait for all the new adventures Fancia is going to take us on!
@@FinnTheInfinncibleNicely said ;)
So late watching, but got to it eventually 🫣 💜xx
I'm late uploading so don't worry!