So I got a wheelchair...

I've been downplaying how bad my ME/CFS is for a long time, even to myself. (ME = Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which is the proper medical name for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Most people with the condition prefer saying ME instead of CFS, as the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome makes it seem like it is just being tired, and it is so much more.) I can't stand for more than 5 minutes without feeling like I'm going to collapse (and if I keep standing/walking much longer after that, I actually will collapse). Whenever I have to leave the house, a few hours after I get home, my entire body is hit with intense pain everywhere. I had an appointment with a new doctor a few weeks ago that took a few hours, and it took me about a week to get back to my baseline afterwards.

I ended up sobbing to my mom and explaining how bad it's gotten, and we decided to buy a lightweight electric wheelchair. It only weights 26 pounds and can be folded up and put into the back of our car just like we were doing with the walker I've used for the last several years. It's light enough for my mom to lift in and out of the car, and we're hoping it will give me some relief with the severity of how horrible and exhausted I feel when I have to go out. It won't fix it, but it should help.

I've ordered a cute bag to hook onto one of the armrests so I can have quick access to my most important things, like medication and my wallet. For stuff that I need to take with me to appointments but won't need as often, I'll keep it in my backpack like I've been doing, but hook it onto the back of the chair. I took the chair out onto our driveway to practice, and although I couldn't stay out for very long because it was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and I can't regulate my body temperature very well, it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be moving around in it. I was really nervous, but it really wasn't bad at all.

Here's a picture my stepdad took of me in my wheelchair. I'm squinting badly because it was very bright and I'm very sensitive to light, but I still like the picture. I'm also enjoying the ability to wear whatever shoes I want now because I don't have to try to walk and balance in them, so I've got on my first pair of cute sneakers in around 8 years.