7 Days In My Life (As A Wheelchair User)

By writing 7 days in my life (as a wheelchair user), I hope it may give you an insight into my life. Every day is different but there are certain things that are quite rigid.

I have a day and evening PA every day, do several hours of exercises every day, bed exercise, seated exercises, arm and leg exercises, standing and walking exercises. I also have an hour of my oxygen concentrator each evening. Below, I have tried not to repeat this too much. Nevertheless, it happens each day!

Organisation and Planning

Regularly, a day will start one way and then completely change. Some examples include myself feeling too unwell, my PA being sick and Mum coming to the rescue, my physio session being cancelled due to sickness, my powerchair or wheelchair accessible vehicle not working, meaning going out is not possible or restricted.

Planning ahead and organising is essential. An example being ensuring a venue or restaurant is accessible is a regular skill that is required.

Day 1

With assistance from my PA I make breakfast and get ready to go out with my PA and my Mum. I either go swimming/have hydrotherapy or a physiotherapy session. In the afternoon I have oxygen therapy in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which helps with my pain, concentration and fatigue. I use my time in the chamber to answer WhatsApp messages or do some studying (if I am studying). Often, I need to answer work emails.

I come home, transfer into my bed and have a sleep with a hot water bottle. My hot water bottle is my best friend! My evening PA helps me with physiotherapy exercises which help manage my pain and mobility, and help me get ready for bed.

I try and post a new blog every few weeks or share an old blog post several times a week on my social media accounts.

Day 2

My day PA comes and assists me with lots of exercises, standing and walking practice, washing and dressing and personal care, making breakfast and lunch. 

These things take a long time and a lot of energy.

Sometimes, it is frustrating to think I have just done the basic tasks of life, and nothing further is achieved.

However, sometimes I need to appreciate how much more of them I can do now, compared to what I used to be able to do.

I then go to bed and have a sleep. Late afternoon/ evening I try and participate in some life admin or accounting studying. When I am studying for an ACCA exam, most of my spare time is taken up with studying. Sometimes I see a friend in the afternoon instead.

Day 3

With assistance from my PA I make breakfast, get washed and dressed and do exercises.

In the afternoon after a sleep, I complete some disability related admin. Whether payroll hours submission for my PAs, applying for my new blue badge, emails or arranging insurance, fixing or servicing of equipment to name a few examples. In the evening we have a bit of family downtime watching TV.

Day 4

After repeating exercises, washing and dressing and making breakfast with my PA. I go to my physiotherapy session, use the Motomed bike and do stretches. Back at home after a sleep in my bed, I work.

Day 5

After breakfast in bed and getting ready for the day, I work. Generally, I work from home, although once every few weeks I go into the office. I try and stand and do a bit of walking practice at lunchtime with my Mum or PA and make lunch, although this doesn’t always happen!

After work I go to bed and have a sleep before my evening PA comes and I repeat my evening routine with standing, walking practice, exercises, stretches and getting ready for bed. I try and lay the tables for dinner most nights. Little things but trying to contribute to ‘normal life’ tasks and requirements.

Often in receipt to an unhelpful personal email response I end up singing along to ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten, a song that I can really resonate with.

After dealing with a battle, or having to fight for something I am entitled to, in relation to my disability but not getting, or some additional hurdle that has been put in my way. The song gives me strength to carry on and not give up. I especially relate to the phrase ‘And I don’t really care if nobody else believe. Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me’.

Day 6

After lots of work and sitting at the computer it is good to go swimming with my Mum and PA. They both help me in the water.

I love surprising people, as often they are so quick to make assumptions.

Once I have settled, I can swim well and love surprising people, as often they are so quick to make assumptions, I will be slow. The water is amazing. It gives me freedom, helps me stretch and is good exercise. I do a mixture of approximately 22 lengths, exercises and standing stepping practice. It is quite social; I often have a good chat with others. It is amazing how much people talk in the swimming pool! I catch up with a friend over coffee after swimming in the cafe and come home.

Exhausted, I often go to bed for several hours. When my evening PA comes, I repeat the evening routine. Sometimes, I try and write a little bit of my next blog post.

Day 7

After the standard getting ready process and exercises which takes several hours, the afternoon can be catching up on the to-do-list (which is never-ending), emails, studying, admin, a speech, a session on the bible course or going out! Then I repeat my evening routine.

It is pretty busy!

I normally sleep for about eight to eleven hours at night in addition to my daytime sleep, as well as a lot of pain, fatigue and exhaustion is something I struggle with.

I am lucky that Mum makes most of my meals as you may have worked out, I might be slightly undernourished otherwise, only making approximately seven out of the 21 meals we eat a week! With me making five to six breakfasts a week, one lunch and on a rare occasion contribute to one dinner.

The support my parents, especially my Mum gives me each week is so significant. Most people have no idea how much they do supporting me. I am so grateful to them. They are truly amazing and I couldn’t achieve half of what I achieve without their continuous incredible love and support.

Disability and chronic illness affect everyone differently but what many underestimate is the impact on the disabled person’s life and their close loved ones around them.

Hannah x

YOu may be interested in reading: Life As A Disabled Person Is Good But Can Be Tough