Hi Anne,

Thanks for your reply.

I haven't looked much at cars yet and a lot depends on my budget but
thanks for your advice on transfers. Im hopefully expecting my new
chair later this week which is quite a bit lighter than my current
one (still in my rehab chair), so that should make a big difference.

I have been told about some of the workout video's and have looked on
a few sites so I will order one. There ss a UK site advertosing one
so I don't think it should take too long to come. Im also going to go
swimming with a friend at our local swimming baths when the
facilities for disabled users are finished.They are planning a
special group starting up in the spring.

I have found like some other people in the group that elastic waist
bands on trousers and skirts have a tendancy to ride down quite often
especially when Im correcting my posture. Ive found myself in a few
compromising positions in car parks where passers by get an eyefull
when Im transfering. But I guess the advantage and disadvantage of
waist band skirts and trousers is they come down easily !

By the way, my email address is lucyw1966@... and please feel
free to email mail me.

Thanks for your help

Take care

Lucy

--- In womenwithsci@yahoogroups.com, Anne Bostwick <anne@f...> wrote:
> On 1/30/04 9:16 AM, "lucyw1966" <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
> >>> >>I think one of the most diffcult things I have tried to cope
with is
> >>> >>the loss of independance. Im still working hard on increasing
my
> >>> >>upper body strength and better trunk movement but being
having a high
> >>> >>level injury makes this a painfully slow process.
> >
> > Working out with weights has done wonders for me. I have a low-
level injury
> > (L1) so itıs easier. I have a quad friend who has weights that
wrap around his
> > wrists and are secured with Velcro. Not sure where he bought his,
so Iıll
> > check to see. Perhaps somewhere on the internet?
> >
> > I also bought a fantastic exercise video for paraplegics. Itıs
high energy and
> > fun. Three of the participants are in wheelchairs. I try to do
this one-hour
> > workout at least three times a week. If youıre interested,
Iıll
send you the
> > information on where to buy it.
> >
> >>> >>Anybody that has any tips for wheelchair / car transfers is
much
> >>> >>appreciated. I plan to get a car in the summer which should
go a long
> >>> >>way back to being more independant.
> >
> > After eight years, I am finally learning how to drive. The
biggest obstacle
> > for me is fear. Hand controls are very easy to operate and the
independence
> > you gain from driving yourself will be amazing. My quadraplegic
friend drives
> > his van everywhere. He recently drove from Seattle in Washington
State to
> > Southern California (a two day trip at least) to pick up his new
service dog
> > and go through the training. Heıs much more fearless than I.
> >
> > I also know several female paraplegic women who drive. One
recommends
> > transferring into the passenger side, then folding the chair and
bringing it
> > into the car, then sliding over to the driverıs seat. She now
has
a van, but
> > for years this is the method she used. Here in the states,
several car
> > manufacturers are making four-door vehicles where the rear doors
open from
> > front to back, so that you can transfer into the driverıs
seat,
then fold your
> > chair and stow it behind the driverıs seat. The one American
model Iıve seen
> > with this feature is a Saturn. Perhaps you can find a similar car
in the UK?
> >
> >>> >>I read some good posts for tips on clothes. Very usefull on
the
> >>> >>account that I practically never come out of jogging bottoms
and
> >>> >>baggy sweatshirts much since my injury.
> >
> > Youıre on the right track with baggy pants. I only buy knit
pants
that pull on
> > and have an elastic waist. Much easier to put on and take off.
Pull-on,
> > elastic-waist skirts are easy, too.
> >
> > Anne
>
> anne@f...
> http://fey.cc
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]