The Adventures of Squander Part I

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I don't usually travel much, a yearly trip to Ohio to visit my daughter and go to a festival with her. This year I've made two trips since she also graduated.

Usually I drive, because flying is so unpleasant for fat people. That meant 13 hours in the car with minimal breaks. My congestive heart failure can't take that crap anymore, so I flew this year.

Before a recent bout of flu put me in the hospital, I could get around, not great, but OK. Something changed after this hospital stay and I can only walk a few feet sometimes before I need a rest. Some days are better than others, but in general I am much weaker.

So I needed help getting to the gate at the airport. I found it most embarrassing to have someone pushing me around the airport. I wish I could just push through it like I used to, but I can't right now.

So, I focused on my emotions when it got too bad. I just put everything aside and focused on me. While I never got comfortable with accepting help, I did make it better by talking and joking with the people helping me.

Not really incontinence related, but it feels like it belongs here since embarrassment is such a huge part of this.

 

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Squander: So sorry to hear that you are somewhat debilitated right now. I have had family members who became mobility impaired and needed to use the wheelchairs and personnel that airports provided. Instead of feeling embarrassed, try thinking how smart the airlines are to realize that people who need help getting around are a class of potential customers to be cultivated. If Amtrak is a convenient alternative means of transportation for you, their service for disabled travelers is better than the airlines. They even reserve seats near the entrance and the restroom for handicapped passengers and their traveling companions. Glad that you got to see your daughter, and congratulations to her on her graduation.

 

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I am also fat and refuse to be embarrassed. Besides, they usually move me to the head of the line at security!

 

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You said in the last part that it's not incontinence but it is about embarrassment. So thought it belonged here. Let me say that this site has never been only about incontinence for me. It has been about support, advice, venting and friendship. Yes, I would have never found or became a part of this group if I wasn't incontinent. But once I was here, it became about so much more. The caring people who have never met me, who had no idea if I was for real, had no idea if I was even an honest person, helped me get in NY feet and into a home and got power in my name. Shortly after, I was nearly killed in a very bad car accident. Once discharged from the care center, I had a home to go to. A bed to sleep in and a kitchen to cook in. A place to shower and a place to be at peace. Those people were not doing it because I was incontinent. They did it to help ME. not my bladder issues. If you have a problem or need to talk, vent, share or just get away and chat with good people, then you are at the right site. I am sorry that you had those issues but very glad you shared them with all of us. If not for help, but only just to get it out, your story, your life issues are always welcome here. I hope I speak for the rest here. Rest easy knowing that it was ok to share what you did and very welcome. If this helps others with doubts, then I'm glad for them too. I hope I haven't said too much or went too deep into it.

 

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Thank you all, this is a great place. It is hard for me to accept help as I am more accustomed to being the one to give the help.