Comments on: In the Deep End: Part 1 http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/in-the-deep-end-part-1.htm Talking about Body Integrity Identity Disorder - Just another disability! Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:50:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Chloe http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/in-the-deep-end-part-1.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18860 Chloe Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:41:55 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=817#comment-18860 As Sean suggested to me, I'm reading my posts a year later. This was my second post, describing my first significant wheeling experience. It is interesting for me to see what I was, or am, surprised by, what has changed, and what has not changed. A lot has changed. The sense of fear from a year ago has gone. That's nice! The naivety about expecting everything to be accessible has gone. I just deal with stuff as it comes up, without excessive frustration. I don't curse at myself any more. Thank you Sophie! I am completely surprised that a wheelchair has done so much to reduce my back pain. I don't need or use a back brace any more. Being in a wheelchair has far less negative impact on my fibromyalgia than I thought it would. Sitting at my desk most of the day is very different from wheeling around most of the day. I'm no longer concerned about looking hot and sexy in a wheelchair. It's not appropriate at work in any case. Being chatted up by guys came as a total surprise. That hasn't changed at all, but I still find it surprising. For whatever reason, I am much more attractive and/or approachable in a wheelchair. A lot is still the same. I still have BIID. I still have OCD. I'm still very sociable. My favorite nail color is still metallic purple (what I'm wearing right now). I still cry a lot. Alicia and I are still there for each other. I'm still me. As Sean suggested to me, I’m reading my posts a year later. This was my second post, describing my first significant wheeling experience. It is interesting for me to see what I was, or am, surprised by, what has changed, and what has not changed.

A lot has changed. The sense of fear from a year ago has gone. That’s nice! The naivety about expecting everything to be accessible has gone. I just deal with stuff as it comes up, without excessive frustration. I don’t curse at myself any more. Thank you Sophie! I am completely surprised that a wheelchair has done so much to reduce my back pain. I don’t need or use a back brace any more. Being in a wheelchair has far less negative impact on my fibromyalgia than I thought it would. Sitting at my desk most of the day is very different from wheeling around most of the day. I’m no longer concerned about looking hot and sexy in a wheelchair. It’s not appropriate at work in any case.

Being chatted up by guys came as a total surprise. That hasn’t changed at all, but I still find it surprising. For whatever reason, I am much more attractive and/or approachable in a wheelchair.

A lot is still the same. I still have BIID. I still have OCD. I’m still very sociable. My favorite nail color is still metallic purple (what I’m wearing right now). I still cry a lot. Alicia and I are still there for each other. I’m still me.

]]> By: Claire http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/in-the-deep-end-part-1.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15581 Claire Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:46:17 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=817#comment-15581 Chloe, I **SO** relate to your having a completely miserable, inaccessible, eye-opening, difficult, exhausting day, and then being utterly thrilled with what you've learned that day. Being REALLY pissed off by life in a wheelchair and yet thriving on it, meeting each new challenge as if it were one big adventure. Beware, that wears off. There are days that I'm just pissed off at the inaccessibility, with no thrill of discovery whatsoever. Thanks for this, Chloe, I'm really enjoying it. Chloe, I **SO** relate to your having a completely miserable, inaccessible, eye-opening, difficult, exhausting day, and then being utterly thrilled with what you’ve learned that day. Being REALLY pissed off by life in a wheelchair and yet thriving on it, meeting each new challenge as if it were one big adventure.

Beware, that wears off. There are days that I’m just pissed off at the inaccessibility, with no thrill of discovery whatsoever.

Thanks for this, Chloe, I’m really enjoying it.

]]> By: Chloe http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/in-the-deep-end-part-1.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15564 Chloe Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:40:12 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=817#comment-15564 I'm glad I'm not the only person who doesn't like carpets. I went into this being pretty ignorant. At home we have hardwood floors and tile; easy stuff. Thanks for explaining why I had a hard time steering straight on carpet, Sean. I was wondering about that. I found out about sidewalks. In the central part of the convention site there were roads. I discovered that going right down the middle of the road, where there is no camber, was easiest. I just pulled over for the occasional car or truck. I’m glad I’m not the only person who doesn’t like carpets. I went into this being pretty ignorant. At home we have hardwood floors and tile; easy stuff.

Thanks for explaining why I had a hard time steering straight on carpet, Sean. I was wondering about that.

I found out about sidewalks. In the central part of the convention site there were roads. I discovered that going right down the middle of the road, where there is no camber, was easiest. I just pulled over for the occasional car or truck.

]]> By: Sophie http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/in-the-deep-end-part-1.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15555 Sophie Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:10:44 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=817#comment-15555 I remember when you and I went to the movies and we were running late Sean, wheeling over that carpet they had there and not wanting to miss anything was nasty. The more often you wheel the more your arms get used to it. I can't wheel as much as I could when I was living on my own as my arms are out of practise >.< I remember when you and I went to the movies and we were running late Sean, wheeling over that carpet they had there and not wanting to miss anything was nasty.

The more often you wheel the more your arms get used to it. I can’t wheel as much as I could when I was living on my own as my arms are out of practise >.<

]]> By: Sean http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/in-the-deep-end-part-1.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15549 Sean Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:18:38 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=817#comment-15549 Using a wheelchair certainly brings up a love-hate relationship. It feels really good because it allows us to be closer to who we should be, but it also shows us just how innaccessible places and attitudes are. Carpets are the pits. They often use really deep underlay, then the pile is laid down in such a way that the chair keeps pulling at you towards a wall. It's a biiiitch to handle! Welcome to my world. Next, you'll think your wheelchair is broken when you do sidewalks and the chair naturally veers off towards the street ;) I look forward to hearing more about your week-long experience. Using a wheelchair certainly brings up a love-hate relationship. It feels really good because it allows us to be closer to who we should be, but it also shows us just how innaccessible places and attitudes are.

Carpets are the pits. They often use really deep underlay, then the pile is laid down in such a way that the chair keeps pulling at you towards a wall. It’s a biiiitch to handle! Welcome to my world. Next, you’ll think your wheelchair is broken when you do sidewalks and the chair naturally veers off towards the street ;)

I look forward to hearing more about your week-long experience.

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