Should I Get a Wheelchair? Exploring the Pros and Cons

I not to long ago had to come to the decision that I needed a mobility scooter. I can walk small amounts using my walking stick but found out while shopping that even leaning on the cart ( which used to work) that I thought I was going to die. But I was being stubborn and didn’t want to admit that my diseases had taken that much from my body .. then there’s that stigmatism of people seeing you and making fun of you on a scooter 🛴 I struggled a lot before I came to the decision to just ride it and not care what anyone else thought. It gives me freedom to be able to get around places I normally wouldn’t , before my back would hurt or I’d get to tired ( I have cfs too) I even decked my scooter out to match my personality and dressed her in Minnie Mouse stuff… if ya gotta ride it ya might as well own it 😊… so my opinion for you is YES just do it for you so you can be happy and be able to do some stuff and not just have to sit and watch YouTube lol

That last bit is how my dad used to feel back when mine started. It's only cause of covud and him being home all the time he actually saw the extend of how bad I was.

I went through the exact same thought process but my partner convinced me and it has been the best decision of my life. Before, I couldn't go anywhere on my own, couldn't do anything that required a lot of walking like shopping or days out. Now I have independence because I am able to go out by my self with my wheelchair and I'm actually able to go out and do things. I get the whole "am I allowed to use one" thing because it's a hidden disability and "I can walk sometimes" but the reality is csf/me is a really debilitating condition especially when paired with chronic pain. So if it will help you and your quality of life then you should definitely take the leap. Mobility aids are scary especially as the stop hiding the disability and the way people interact with you will be different in a chair but I think the pros have outweighed the cons tenfold :)

If a wheelchair would improve your quality of life (& it sounds like it would) then you have every right to use one. My father also does not want to accept that I am disabled, but I have to prioritize reducing pain/fainting/getting hurt more than I have to prioritize his blissful denial stage

CFS which was brought on by chronic pain and other physical medical illness.