University of Sussex-Ladies

I had to snap a couple of pictures of this restroom (toilet) at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. Outside of a hospital, this is the BEST restroom I've ever seen in a public space.
Note the non slip surface in a generously sized room. The grab bars on the right go up to allow turning room for a wheelchair. The seat is lower and has a cushioned back support.
Here, one can see the use of a push lever faucet. After an allotted time, the water turns itself off. The soap and drier are located at a reachable height and next to each other. No wet, slippery hands because the drier or paper towel dispenser is across the room. This also allows for cleaner floors because no one has dripped all over the floor on the way to drying their hands.
Also, note the TP is easily dispersed sheets. Those who suffer from arthritis, MD or other issues with their hands appreciate not fighting with the eternal roll or shuffling the impossible door across to get access to the new roll of TP. (I swear I've heard that new roll laughing at me as I struggle to get that ridiculous sliding door across!)
If you know an architect or anyone in charge of building remodeling or compliance, PLEASE take the opportunity to share this information with them. This campus was built in the '60s and they were forward thinking in creating this space. Imagine what we could do for people now!!
PS The detail of providing a mirror at a lowered height on the back of the door really sealed the deal. Being disabled doesn't mean we don't want to check our hair and make up too. Or teeth for that embarrassing bit of spinach salad. Thank you U of Sussex and the IDS!!

Flights from Kansas City to Heathrow, London

1:40 on Sunday was a lovely day in Kansas City, the rain had stopped for more than a day, it was yet to become the humid soup that is the typical midwest summer and I was looking forward to my trip to the UK and Belgium. Que: the"encroahers" and crying babies in conjunction with my body's decision to go on total shut down.
The crying babies were on the flight from KC to Detroit. I do not have a problem with crying babies. They are being honest. Perhaps they are in pain or grumpy at the intrusion of traveling, perhaps they are hungry or don't like the man sitting next to them. My problem with crying children is the people who have a problem with crying children. It took everything I had to hold my tongue to the couple seated behind me loudly complaining about the crying. If ever there was a time for made-up statistics, this was it. Ie:" Did you know that 97% of those who complain loudly about crying babies were in fact, themselves, crying babies?" or," It has been proven that babies sense intolerance and impatience in adults and are known to respond by crying?" However, being a "grown up" I refrained from saying anything.
Next, were the "encroachers". Yes, that is a made-up word. (Poetic license. Gimpy guide posts are peppered with it) These are the people who do not care about leaving their "side" of the seat. To echo (steal) from Jeff Foxworthy:
You may be an encroacher if:
1. You read a newspaper and drape the top part onto the head of the person seated front of you. (I watched a poor woman continue to shrink down in her seat as this particular encroacher was also the cry baby complainer)
2. You believe the whole arm rest is yours including the area on the opposite side of it. Please use the seat pocket to stash your items. Not the area between your neighbors seat and the armrest.
3. You believe it is perfectly acceptable to just sit there with your arms over the back of the seat in front of you. Elbows: bend them.
4. When the flight attendant hands out snacks, you Bogart them all by taking them and pretending you will hand them over and then stuffing them in your carry on. Ask and ye shall receive more pretzels from flight staff.
5. You believe the aisle is your personal foot rest. Not just to stretch but to perch there throughout the flight. If it aches, stretch, then tuck. In the middle of the night, we gimpy folks are at max, while on trips to the toilet, to try to reach the overhead bins for stability and not touch the seat backs to wake people up. Do NOT complain if I trip over your foot.

Back to stats. Airline: Delta all the way to Heathrow. Much better than United (who isn't) and also better than American. Not as good as Virgin. 3 out of 5 crutches on the gimpyguide scale

What is Gimpy Guide anyway??

On May 19, 2006, I sustained a knee injury that required surgery. I've never recovered. My mild Muscular Dystrophy impaired the healing process. I have enough nerve damage, muscle wasting and bone loss that I'm on crutches or a walker full time and a wheel chair for long trips or on bad days. It became a battle to stay ahead of the MD as it consumed more and more of my mobility and fine motor abilities. I decided to see what was out there for mildly disabled people.

I found nothing. The travel guides were for wheelchair users or older "slow walkers". The wheelchair guides had too much information on some issues and not enough on others. The "slow walker" guides went to museums and knitted afghans. Yawn!
Where were the guidebooks for the people who had a broken leg? If I wanted to go see a rock concert at my local arena, what arrangements did I need to make for someone using a walker after hip surgery? If I used a wheelchair at the art fair downtown, were there bathrooms I could get to if I could go up a few steps? Could I navigate the beach employing the hot bartenders if I had a friend help me and went during off peak hours with crutches? My friend is recovering from a stroke and we need to know where to go for dinner. I've run out of insurance for physical therapy, can I use a personal trainer instead? What are some of the alternative therapy options?

The concept of Gimpy Guide was born.
It is for anyone who has mobility issues for whatever reason. Temporarily or permanently.

I chose the term "gimpy" because:
1. It's used quite often in Australia to describe everything from a the limp resulting from a sprained ankle to someone using crutches or a walker.
2. I liked the idea of being exactly what I meant. Not DISabled or Handicap-able. Why take a word and undo it to describe what my mobility issues were?
3. Gimp is a braid or decorative trim frequently used to apply the finishing touch to a garment. It's a bit like high dollar rick-rack. Those curtains or 80's tapestry blazer are more complete with it. (I actually still think about that blazer.)
4. Let's face it, Gimpy Guide is catchier than "Kind of Disabled Diary" or "A Little Bit Handicapped or is it Handicap-able How To" or "It's Just A Broken Leg and I'll Be Healed in 3 Months But, I'm a Bit Lost in The Meantime Blog".

And, do check back in. Up next; a two part investigation into pain and how it relates to depression, stress and healing.

3 ways to "do something" helpful

One of the goals for Gimpy Guide has been to support and educate. As I speak with new patients or those who have had mobility issues for a while, one thing keeps coming up....friends and family aren't sure what they can do to help. The following are 3 ideas that come up frequently.

1. Offer to help around the house
"What day would be good this week for me to come by and do a load of laundry, sweep or vacuum the floor, pick up the dry cleaning, go to the post office, change a light bulb, weed the garden, mow the lawn, take out the garbage....?" Trust us, we would absolutely love someone to dust that vent or ceiling fan (we never noticed they were so dusty until we couldn't do anything about it).
2. Schedule a time each day or week to give us a call and just check in
Sometimes, just knowing that there is a scheduled call can give someone the strength to push a little harder at physical therapy that morning or postpone that meltdown from frustration. We may feel more comfortable sharing if we are reached out to with those calls than placing the call ourselves. Sometimes, we may not answer but, we know you remembered to call.
3. Offer to take us somewhere
Having mobility issues is not only frustrating but, can be very scary. Have you ever realized how slippery the floors can be at a supermarket? Is it really necessary to spritz the fruit and surrounding floor several times a day? The lovely stadium seating at the movie theater is daunting with crutches or a walker. And, if your gimpy person indulges in the bucket of popcorn and accompanying vat of soda, they may need assistance navigating those same steps in the dark. Perhaps more than once.

Repeat as needed depending on how long your friend or family member is gimpy. Please remember; even those of us who have been gimpy for a long time or, expect to stay that way still need a bit of help. No matter the system in place, or how brave the face, there are still moments of frustration over tasks, fear that we've gotten in over our heads and worry to go places on our own.
And, thank you.

MCI airport in Kansas City

Kansas City's MCI airport is composed of 3 U or C shaped terminals. The floors are some designed in a dizzyingly galactic design. They are slippery. On the up side, most everything is located on one floor with access to baggage and curbside parking mere steps from the departure gate. The gates are not well marked at the curbside. Drop off points labeled as ticketing gates may be nowhere near the actual gate. Be prepared to stroll along looking at the array of stars sliding past your feet as you progress through the "C" to your final gate point. As of January, there were no scanners in view.

Chicago Mart/Holiday Inn

Claustrophobic revolving doors greet guests of the Chicago Mart. Please do take a moment to punch the handicapped button to slow them down. They are small enough that the shuffling required with crutches or walker wouldn't provide you enough time to clear the threshold.
Once inside, visitors are greeted with a huge expanse of slippery, white floor. While there are no mats to provide traction, there are plenty of useless signs warning that the floors are slippery when wet. Between visitors with snow on their feet and the Mart's desire to keep the white floors looking nice, the floors were ALWAYS wet and slippery during my stay. The upside was an amazing doorman who escorted me through the special employees door on my departure saving me from the turn style shuffle of my arrival.
The Holiday Inn lobby is located a short elevator ride up from the Mart's entrance. The staff were friendly and accommodating. We were gifted a switch to a beautiful corner room with a smile. The views of downtown Chicago and the river were amazing. This is now one of my favorite places to stay. The bathroom is a bit too small for a wheelchair and a large walker may not fit through the door way, crutches and a folding walker fit through with no problems. Do make an inquiry if you are traveling alone as there are brutal, narrow stairs to ascend with your bags from the parking area.

Tenacity in Queensland

The people of Australia and Queensland in particular are amazing. I am taking a brief detour from the chronological order of my travels to comment on what I've seen.
Currently, I am in Adelaide, South Australia. No where near the flooding. However, the news reports are on constantly. So, for anyone outside Aussie, I'd like to share a bit of the reports coming in.

"Please save my brother first" from a 4 year old who ended up getting swept away. "Mostly, I'm worried about my little sister" from a 7 year old. "Two men I didn't know saw us moving things out of the house and just walked in and helped us load the rest of the trailer. Then, the received a text of another family needing help and went to help them too". As repeated by a news reporter in Brisbane standing in ankle deep water with a half blackened cityscape behind her.

There have been NO reports of looting. No whining that insurance probably won't cover the damage. Homes across the state have opened up to strangers to provide clothing and shelter. Without expecting payment of any kind other than gratitude.
I am so amazed at the amount of money that has been raised for the victims from around the world.

I am inspired by the way the Aussies are looking out for others, doing the hard work to make a difference and not complaining. The news isn't badgering those who have lost loved ones, allowing them to grieve and not be sensationalized.

My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones. May peace be with you.

To the rest of Queensland and Australia:
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!.........Oi! Oi!Oi!
Good on Ya!

Iowa-gotta go

I found myself on a road trip to Iowa in a snow storm. NOT the most fun place to be. The roads were slick, traffic was slow and the floors in the service stations were scary. However, there was a bright spot in this drive through Iowa: the rest stops.
I wish I had taken my camera they were that great.
The cement on the way in was the old school swimming pool kind. Bad news for the rear of your swimsuit or tender feet but, great news for traction on crutches. There were long, thirsty mats lining the entry AND to the bathroom. The handicapped was the first stall in the row. YEA!! I wasn't in time out by being in the corner stall. The wide, easy to maneuver doors latched securely. The towels were located close to the sink. I prefer to dry my hands before having them slip on the handles to my crutches.
If more restrooms could take a lesson or two from Iowa, the world would be a happier place. Really. The pebble in the pond theory works. Especially if you've encountered me or anyone wiped out on a slippery bathroom floor during a concert or sporting event. It's hard to maintain love and light when your whole backside is covered in wet toilet paper and grime. And, that's if we didn't get hurt in the fall.

4 out of 5

I think it's, "Four out of five dentists recommend Trident sugarless gum to their patients who chew gum.", or, something similar. My problem is that I've always been the weird kid who wondered:
Who was that fifth dentist? Why didn't she recommend Trident? How did they choose the dentists involved in the recommending panel? What was recommended instead of Trident? Was it another gum or no gum? And so on, and on, and on.
The problem with that type of thinking is I never have the answers I feel I need in order to make any statements about gum.
I am no longer going to hold myself hostage to the need to know everything before I post. The blog will retain it's journal/post card style while Gimpyguide.com will be more professional and content laden.
And, just in the nick of time as I am about to embark on some more global adventures.
Coming soon...road trip across a blizzard like Iowa and it's rest stops(they are THAT good).....Chicago Market....LAX (large enough to warrant it's own post)...Australia.

Laser Treatment Part 3

This has been the most difficult post for me to write. There has been a long pause in posts because of it. I know that once it's "out there" I can't take it back.
The hardest part of laser treatments wasn't the lifestyle changes, it was the friendship changes.
Once I stopped all alcohol, cigarettes and going out, I discovered all this time and energy!! Wow, what the heck had I been doing with my life??
I realized that much of my time had been spent "hanging out",discussing hang outs and planning future ones. With people who didn't remember the plans. I really noticed that if there is a group of people drinking, they can discuss and dissect the same event or thought for a ridiculously long time.
I found myself frustrated at the repetition, the smell and the unhealthy aspects. I began to avoid those places and people until I decided what to do. The emails and phone calls started. People were concerned about me. They wanted what was "best" for me and not meeting for drinks was unhealthy and antisocial. I wasn't "fun" anymore. When I explained that I would meet at the gym or go swimming, that was met with dismay.
One friend actually did meet me at the pool while I did some pool therapy. I was there about 2 hours. They had 2 beers, lit up a cigarette as soon as I left and then went out with the "fun" friends immediately after. The next day they were "hung over" at a another friends birthday party.

I have no problem with my friends who drink. I was there with them for a long time. In fact, I have brought very moderated alcohol back into my life. I simply want to make healthier choices. What is fun for me at this point is reading a great book, researching medical breakthroughs for the disabled, getting to church more often, volunteering, spending time with my children, and taking classes.
When I did a whole food cleanse, the facilitator said,"As your food changes, so do your friends." As we grow and move forward, we meet new people on our path. Not all the old friends will come with us. They're not meant to. They have their own paths. I can't drag them with me or feel horrible that I'm "leaving them behind". This is my life. I am the only one who can live it or make choices about it. As much as I love my friends, they are responsible for their own choices and outcomes.

While I enjoy the Erma Bombeck style of my typical blog, I know this entry is extra casual and disjointed. I'm aware that if I edit, this post may never get out. Thank you for ignoring the lack of structure in favor of the content.

MDA Telethon

The Ameristar hosted the Kansas City MDA telethon again this year. In the past, I have worked on the phone bank team. When someone calls in to make their donation locally, one of the volunteers will answer the phone and take their pledge. It was wonderful to answer the phone and hear the voice of someone moved to donate to the cause. A dose of love and hope with each ring of the phone.
This year, I was assigned to the volunteer sign-in table. There were corporate volunteers, individual volunteers, a fun group from the American Legion and Muscular Dystrophy patients and/or their families. In addition to volunteer check-in, the front table is where the checks and check presenters (for the donations to be presented on air) were signed in. Firefighters from all over the area came in to present their "boot-y" donations. There was one from Cass County who arrived and wasn't on our list. I soon found out, it may be because Cass County hadn't been involved before. This young man took it upon himself to get the station involved this year. Kudos to Cass County for supporting this young man and his desire to support MDA in finding a cure, providing flu shots and sending disabled kids to camp!!!!
In addition the the firefighters, private citizens were coming by to bring in their donations to be counted. A pre-teen named McKenzie was there in her wheelchair to present the $1,000 she raised the day before at her garage sale. Youngsters with their piggy bank money, casino patrons, and fellow volunteers were dropping funds in the fish tank located just inside the auditorium. Raffle tickets for an awesome motorcycle were flying out the door at a mere $5 each.
What a great day!!!
Many motivational speakers encourage people to volunteer to give back and support those in need. Volunteerism is a known to provide health benefits and mood enhancement. I agree with the experts. However, I encourage everyone to also notice the determination, joy and gratitude of your fellow volunteers. Wow, what a rush!!!

Laser Treatment Part 2

After closely following the pretreatment protocol for one week prior to beginning the laser treatments, I was ready for my first treatment.
I was taken back to a treatment room where I was weighed and measured. Skin calipers were used to measure the areas behind my arms (Ethel Mermans), around my waist and between my shoulder blades. A tape measure was used around my legs and arms to see if I could increase my muscle mass while working out pain free.
I stripped down to my white underthings as the laser does not penetrate dark clothing. It was important that the laser be able to access my right hip for full pain relief there.
The lights were turned out and a spider-like machine was pulled over me. Red lasers were dancing on the wall. After measuring and arranging the lasers directly over my midsection at a predetermined height, I was left alone for 20 minutes. I would flip over onto my stomach for 20 more minutes directed at my lower back.
I felt a warming sensation but no pain.
After putting my clothes back on, I was directed to a Whole Body Vibration (WBV) machine for 10 minutes. YEA!!! There was one briefly available in physical therapy but, they are hard to find.
WBV was developed by NASA to battle bone loss for astronauts. Since the bones in my legs are now see through, rebuilding bone is a major priority. A small fall can send me to the ER with multiple fractures.
I think the vibration level was set at "stun", my eyes were watering and I couldn't see straight. I just held on tight and stood still for the ten minutes while the machine cycled through different intensity levels. When I got off, I felt very groovy. Who needs 2 glasses of wine when you can work on bone density and feel groovy at the same time???

Laser Treatments Part 1

In an attempt to avoid another cortisone shot, I took to the internet. I spent hours pouring over "knee pain" and "hip pain" results. Zerona popped up in my knee pain search results. What the heck, I decided to give it a try. A Cortisone shot costs almost $700 every 4 months and was costing me plenty in long term bone loss and other side effects.And, while Zerona was developed for knee pain and post op breast surgery pain, a side effect discovered was fat loss. I knew some of my pain was due to the 40 lbs I'd put on over the 4 years since I lost full mobility. Having help getting it off (since traditional workouts were out of the question and weight piles on quickly for the slow moving set) would be a great side effect if it worked.
I made an appointment at a medi-spa near me, plopped down the $1,000 for 6 treatments and received the pre-treatment protocol instructions and supplements. No caffeine, no alcohol, no smoking, tons of water and niacin supplements that made me feel as if I was going through early menopause. (Can we talk about hot flashes and weird rashes all over my face and upper torso?) Patients are also instructed to burn at least 500 calories through vigorous exercise each week. Time to break out the gel seat on the exercise bike and get to peddling to nowhere!
Come back next Monday as I delve into the magic disco lights and brain scrambling bone building aspects of treatment.

Antwerp

Antwerp or, Antwerpen to the Belgians, is a beautiful and busy port city. I loved the market square area located by the waterfront. The gorgeous city hall building was a wonderful mix of architecture and color. The distinguished building was clothed in a riot of color as flags from around the globe were donned like a crown around it's head. (There were many smaller versions waving throughout the square as well. Expats from all over were displaying theirs during the FIFA world cup.)
The square is marked by a large bronze statue depicting local lore; it's of a warrior throwing a large hand. The dismembered hand belonged to a terrible giant who had asked a high price of those who wanted to cross the river. If you couldn't pay, the giant would take the poor travelers hand. The statue shows the brave Roman soldier who fought the giant and won, cutting of his hand in retaliation for the river travelers loss. The hand is now a symbol of Antwerp and may be seen throughout the city.
The cobblestones here are quite rough. The spaces in between are quite large and deep. Move slowly!! There are plenty of restaurants here to find one with a bathroom on the ground floor. Many people here speak English so, just ask about the toilet location. Remember, the English in Europe is English, not American, so ask your questions with that in mind.

Brief pause on global excusions

The excursion commentary has been put on hold as I dive into a search engine optimization class. I find that my brain and body are worn out at the end of each day. Next week we will continue on to Antwerp and hear about lending someone a hand in the most painful way.

Bruges, Belgium

As with Sevilla in Spain, when in Belgium there is a different spelling. It's Brugge. Pronounced something like Brug-gah. I had the hardest time wrapping my tongue around the Flemish (Dutch) language. My lingual chameleon skills let me down when it came to this Germanic language.
Brugge is known as the Venice of the North. Beautiful.
I highly recommend taking the boat through the canals. There are steps but, they are wide runs with small rises and a hand rail on one side. I chose to plop my rear down and then swing my legs into the boat. Not the most dignified but, safe.
You will pass by a brewery with the yummiest beer in Belgium (if you don't like the sweet stuff), a 17th century hospital, homes of ambassadors, and one of the most painted bridges in Europe.
I had a lovely salad (so I had room for beer, chocolate and waffles) in Simon Stevin Square. The restaurant was housed in a building from the 15th century.
Use the restrooms located by Belfort tower(c1240). It does cost to use them but, the handicapped is large, clean and right by the entrance. If you don't choose to use the facilities here, you may be in for a spiral staircase climb in a restaurant or shop. Not fun. If beer is involved, do not get false courage and think you can do it. Trust me.

Got global followers?

Yep! With the addition of a couple of Aussies, gimpy guide is now followed globally. Thank you to those who have jumped through the hoops to fill out the google follow crud. Still catching up on blog posts from Spain and then on to Belgium. Not having internet on the road does make for much catching up on the return. Stay tuned. I may even figure out how to post some pics. Future adventures to include concerts, Canada and some new, alternative medical procedures. Ooooo-Ah...

Beautiful Barcelona

Love Barcelona. If Madrid is the stuck-up mean girl from highschool, and Sevilla is the passionate and deep maybe not quite straight best guy friend who always looked fabulous, then Barcelona is the party girl who was nice and got along with everyone. While Barcelona doesn't have as much depth or passion as Sevilla ,it is a beautiful, busy port of call for Mediterranean cruise ships and almost anything goes.
It's smoother streets are easy to navigate. There are people from almost every country strolling the Rambla. There is an Irish Pub. Life is good.

Bar Jano and overview of Sevilla

Claudia is the delightful Brazilian who runs my favorite eatery in Spain. Wearing a t shirt with a make a wish dandelion, she buzzes around her establishment making the best sangria complete with cinnamon stick stirrers, delightfully crispy croquettes, an amazing pan con quesso and generous portions of olives with each beverage.
In general, the people of both Madrid and Sevilla dress up. You may feel more comfortable if you leave your tank tops and denim for Barcelona.
If you are non weight bearing, please consider renting a wheelchair. Enrique speaks English at the following location in Madrid. They rent for longer terms and you can pop on the train with the rented wheelchair no problem.
www.ortopediaplaza.com/esp/-ortopedia-plaza.php
Part of the charm of Sevilla is it's age and cobblestone streets. However, very difficult to navigate for the non weight bearing. I wish I had taken the walker (I have dubbed it the 4 wheel drive) to use and have a few more legs on the ground.
NOTE- the link may not work in all browsers. You may have to copy and paste. I am looking into this. Any helpful tips are welcome.

Flamenco-the real stuff

The guide books tease and movies portray passionate groups of Spaniards singing and flamenco dancing at parties and neighborhood bars. It's true. It's awesome. It kicks karaoke's butt.
After the stage flamenco show, I discovered the intimate Mino Tauro down the street. Deciding that I needed more tapas, and perhaps a sangria or 3, I went in. Right at the front door there was a man playing a guitar, a woman singing and a couple of people dancing. Not realizing what I had discovered, I waited for them to finish and went in. What I thought was merely a musical hiccup was real flamenco right before me. The stuff with street cred. WOW!!! Passersby will hear a song and stop in the doorway to watch or join in the dancing that takes place in the middle of the aisle in front of the bar. People join in singing, old men lift their suit coats to be matadors for the song and stomp and clap along with the 30 somethings. Incredible! The woman next to me let me know I was seeing a very special musical guest. The guitarist/singer that had joined the original duo was a famous performer who had fallen into drugs and was working his way back after rehab. I stayed until around 1. It was a Thursday. I left WAY before anyone else.
Gimpy advice: sit in the back-ish so you don't have to worry about navigating the crowds to get to the aseo(toilet-not called bathroom in Spain). The lovely people of Sevilla are accommodating and friendly. Just DON'T interrupt the flamenco, and you'll be taken care of like family.