Reviews about equipement I’ve used/currently use, venues I’ve visited, day trips, shows I’ve been to and holidays. I hope you find them interesting and helpful. If you have any questions about any of my reviews or wish to submit a review request please get in touch.
As promised, here is my review of the Trabasack Mini and the Trabasack Mini Connect products. These two have been sent free for me to review. As a long time user of Trabasack Products, I will give my honest opinions of these products.
How are these products different to the Trabasack Curve?
In my Trabasack Curve review, I focused on the differences between the wipe clean, leather-look version of the Curve and briefly explained why I chose the non-Connect, velcro version. The main difference between the Mini and the Curve products is shape and size. Whether you choose the Connect version of either product or not the Mini is square and slightly smaller than the Curve.
The beanbag inside both Mini Models of the Trabasack is also square and unlike the Curve, it is a tight squeeze to fit more than one beanbag inside a Trabasack Mini. Having said that I haven’t noticed any instability that has made me think of adding an extra beanbag. It is only because I owned the Curve first that the option occurred to me. The smaller size means that the bag fits nicely on my lap and the beanbag covers more space. This makes both Mini products very sturdy and comfortable to use.
What’s included?
Both Mini versions come with an instruction booklet, two straps, one short, one long. Both have six D-rings each and both come with two ring pull zips. The only difference between them is the tray surface.
Benefits of Mini Connect velcro
The main benefit of the Mini Connect version is that velcro sticks to it. This means that objects stay secure on the tray. Having items stay put can be useful for anybody but particularly for disabled people. The mini Connect can help ensure that items stay within easy reach.
Trabasack MediaMount
If you are able to view the image above you will see that my TV remote has something wrapped around it. This long accessory, sold by Trabasack is called a MediaMount. The MediaMount is basically a long strip of soft material with velcro all along the underside with two loops at the end to assist people with limited dexterity to grip it. The design means that it sticks to itself and to the Mini connect. This means it can hold items securely and at virtually any angle you want.
Mini Connect and iPad
In my previous review of the Trabasack Curve, I mentioned how I had damaged an iPad case by putting too much velcro on it when placing my iPad onto my Trabasack. This time I was more careful…
As you can see you don’t need a lot of velcro 🙂
This small amount of velcro will keep my iPad secure on my lap but enable me to take it off easily when I want to. Trabasack also sell hook tape so if you need some extra velcro they have you covered. You get two strips in a pack and cut them to any size you need.
This photo shows my iPad on the Mini Connect which is attached to my waist.
This position is very comfortable for watching videos or reading emails.
Trabasack Mini
The main selling point of the Mini version vs Mini Connect is that the surface is wipe-clean. Which one you choose will depend on whether you want to use velcro with your Trabasack or not. Having said that the MediaMount does work with the non-Connect version of the Trabasack Mini. The accessory will still hold things in place it just won’t stick items to the tray surface.
The photo on the left shows the MediaMount wrapped around a cup that is resting on the Trabasack Mini. The photo on the right shows the MediaMount curled around itself with a hole in the middle. This is an excellent position for my iPhone and props it upright. This makes it great for video calling. Unfortunately, I couldn’t show this as I needed my phone to take the photos. The pitfalls of having a device that does everything!
Reading
Another thing I use the Trabasack for is reading. I have to say I prefer the Mini version of the product for this over the Curve as its smaller size and square shape is more comfortable for books.
The Mini ensures that I don’t feel the heavy weight of even this big book on my legs! I do slightly prefer the Mini Connect over the Mini in this instance as I can stick the MediaMount onto the Connect Surface to prop the book up at a more comfortable reading angle. I haven’t yet resorted to putting velcro on my books! Thankfully Trabasack products are so stable that I don’t have to.
Conclusion
Both of the Trabasack Mini versions are great. As I use all the products more and more I’m tending to use the Curve as a meal tray and for laptop use and the Mini for everything else. I have got really attached to the Mini Connect with the MediaMount. The main reason I always brought the Trabasack Curve, was because of the bigger lip around the edge. Now with the MediaMount, I have the smaller form factor and a bigger edge all the way around.
Despite its smaller size, it will still comfortably fit my 13inch Macbook Pro inside it.
I think Trabasack says Laptops up to 14 inches for the Curve and Mini Models and up to 17 inches for the Trabasack Max. Whichever model you choose you won’t be disappointed.
Get in touch if you’d like to ask me any questions regarding these or any other products I use. Keep a lookout for my upcoming blog post that I wrote for Access Rating regarding Freedom Day. I also have some useful and innovative products that I will be reviewing for the Disability Horizons shop so keep your eyes peeled!
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Trabasack Curve Review My review of the Trabasack Curve. A versatile all in one tray and bag. Inclusive design, useful for those with and without disabilities....
I have been given a Trabasack Curve to review. Whilst this product was sent to me free I have been using these products for many years and have brought several. This review contains my honest opinions and experiences of the product.
What is a Trabasack?
A Trabasack is a bag and a lap tray all in one. It is a versatile product that has many uses. My main use is as a removable tray but it can also be used as a bag and for storage.
The Trabasack was invented by Clare as a lap tray for her son Joe who uses a wheelchair. The tray had to be safe and practical to use. There are now three main models of the Trabasack. The Max, Mini and Curve. The Mini and Curve Trabasack models come with or without a ‘connect’ surface. The Connect models are made with soft velcro material on the tray portion of the Trabasack Curve. This is useful if you want to velcro items so that they stay put on the tray. For this review, I was given the option to receive a Curve model with or without this feature.
Curve Connect or Curve?
I chose the Curve model without the Connect feature for the purpose of this review. I’ve learnt from experience that the ability to wipe the product clean is important to me, not because I’m particularly messy but because I have a dog! As my main use for this product is to eat and drink and having owned a Curve Connect for seven years prior to receiving this review unit. I know that dog hair and crumbs in particular stick to this tray like glue! Connect is a lovely feature that is doing what it is designed to do but it is not particularly hygienic for food if you have a pet that moults!
The Connect versions are great for anything and everything you want to stay in place which I will be reviewing next week.
Using the Trabasack Curve
The Curve comes with an instruction leaflet and two straps, one short one long. Which strap/s you use depends on how you want to use the product. As I’m always in my wheelchair I prefer to use one strap around my waist. This keeps the curve as close to me as possible and is the most stable. Due to my disability, I cannot reach around my back so if I’m by myself I connect the two straps together and wrap them around my armrests at the front. This position isn’t as good but at least I can secure it independently. The Trabasack can also be worn like a standard rucksack and slung over one shoulder. It may have been created for disabled people but it makes a really great laptop or tablet bag whether you have a disability or not.
D-Rings and ring pull zips
The Trabasack has six D-Rings to which the straps attach. These are strong and sturdy as well as being easy and simple to use. Instead of fiddling about opening the hook and then struggling to attach it to the ring, simply press the hook end of a strap against a D-Ring. The hook will be pushed open and snap onto the D-Ring.
The zip runs all the way around the product and the zips are fitted with ring pulls so that the zips are easier to use. Instead of having to grip a tiny object, simply place a finger or thumb in the ring and move your hand to the side to open or close the zip. I keep the zips together as I like the way it looks and I have no trouble gripping them but if you want to make it easier to open and close always have one zip at the front of the curve. That way you only have to pull one zip instead of two to open or close the bag.
Trabasack Curve Tray
The tray portion of the product is not only wipe-clean but also non slip. If, like me, you want the wipe-clean Curve the company does sell a non-slip mat, cut to the same shape as the Curve. This can be very useful and can be kept inside the Curve when it is not needed. I have used one before and keep it handy but for day to day, I find the original non-slip surface good enough for my needs.
The tray portion also has quite a high lip/edge on it to stop items from sliding off. I have to say this is why I brought a Trabasack Curve in the first place. I saw a photo of somebody in a wheelchair, using a Trabasack Curve to carry a plate that contained an English breakfast. This may not sound impressive but the plate included baked beans, the person’s lap wasn’t level and the plate and more importantly ALL the food was on the tray!
Curve Tray Bean Bag
The reason the breakfast didn’t end up on the floor wasn’t just due to the built-in edge around the tray and the straps. The Curve also has a removable bean bag inside it to help keep it level. If you spend a few seconds setting it up on your lap then it really is very stable. I have leg spasms so this isn’t just empty praise. Before I came across the Trabasack Curve I couldn’t use a tray at all as food simply slid off my lap!
Eating with the Trabasack Curve
Eating outside and using unsuitable tables when out is possible with a Trabasack Curve. Unless I have a lunch box I do prefer to rest the front edge of my Trabasack on a table as then I don’t have to bend to my lap to eat, (my knees make it very low!) Prior to having a Curve when eating out, I had to lean forward as my wheelchair wouldn’t fit underneath restaurant tables. In fact, when we went out for a family meal two weeks ago I forgot that my Curve had been taken off the back of my wheelchair. I then had no choice but to lean forward. Doable but a lot less comfortable.
Trabasack Curve and iPad
Weather permitting, I like to sit outside and write, watch films etc so I love my iPad. I love my iPad on my Trabasack Curve even more as I’m not restricted to sitting where tables are.
Another big plus is when I have finished using my iPad I can place my iPad inside my Curve. It is nice and safe on my lap. I am now hands-free and don’t have to worry about people possibly stealing my property from my wheelchair. With my original Curve Connect, I put velcro on my iPad case and stuck my iPad to the tray, giving me even more peace of mind. I actually ruined an iPad case doing this. Trust me when I tell you a little goes a long way! I put plenty of velcro on the case and it worked too well! I had to remove the iPad from the case to get it off my Trabasack!
Storing items inside Trabasack Curve
I wish this bag had been around when I was at school. A laptop up to 14” can fit inside the Trabasack. It wouldn’t have replaced my school bag, too many books but I could’ve kept my personal belongings on my lap. This is what I do now. I find my laptop too heavy on my legs to use with the Curve but many people do. The Trabasack Curve is a fantastic bag for electronics whether you have a disability or not. The padded inside ensures devices are protected.
Price and conclusion
The Trabasack Curve costs £39.95. The Connect version is slightly more, £44.95. I thought this was expensive for a tray and expensive for a bag. I brought my first one telling myself I was ridiculous for spending so much money. This review Curve is my 5th Trabasack. This isn’t because they are not long-lasting. My oldest one has just broken after seven years. The thread holding one of the D-Rings together has broken and years of using it outside mean it’s sun-bleached. It is still perfectly usable. I wanted to have more so I could keep one in the car and on the back of my wheelchair.
If you struggle to eat at standard tables or without a tray. Perhaps you need a flat surface to lean on to read. Maybe, like me, you want a portable table for your electronics. You won’t be disappointed.
If you have or know a child that needs toys etc within easy reach this will facilitate that. A big plus for me is that it’s also more portable and aesthetically pleasing than the trays that Wheelchair Services provide to their clients.
Look out for my review of the Trabasack Mini Connect where I will be adding Velcro to my iPad case, just in a much smaller amount than before!
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Naidex is the UK’s biggest disability products exhibition. On the 18th and 19th March 2021, the exhibition went virtual. The physical event was cancelled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is normally held every year in Birmingham at the NEC. The venue has great access for people of all disabilities. There is flat access throughout, hearing loops, assistance dogs are allowed and there are accessible toilets, including Changing Places facilities. The complex is huge though so it is very easy to get lost, even though I go every year!
Putting my woeful sense of direction aside, it is a great event. People with disabilities are in the majority instead of the minority. Almost any disability product you can think of, and a few you can’t are displayed! I was very curious how this would be adapted for the virtual world.
Registering for Naidex
Tickets to Naidex are free. Booking tickets is as simple as going online and filling in the registration form. This year, a username and password were emailed to me. In previous years tickets, accompanied by an event guide were delivered to my door through the post. A week before the event I received an email. This email contained teasers of disability products I could expect to see. Upcoming speaker seminars were mentioned as well. Companies selling disability aids of all types were showcasing their products: beds, wheelchairs, sensory equipment to name but a few. There was also a handy login link included.
Accessing the event
Logging in was simple thanks to the link I was sent.
A top tip: copy and paste the login credentials to avoid mistakes.
The screenshot below shows the login screen. There is an icon that looks like a person in the top right corner. This icon opens the accessibility features, which I’ll go through in detail later. Next to that are text resize buttons and in the lower right corner is a chat icon.
Having logged in there was a menu on the left-hand side where I could click on ‘sessions,’ ‘speakers’ or choose to view the ‘interactive product directory.’ There were thirty-four speakers and one hundred and nineteen companies taking part across the two days. I lost count of the number of sessions as many were duplicated for different access needs. A session was where a company had written or pre-recorded a video about themselves or its products. This could be a bit boggling as everything was in list view with a scroll bar to view more making it difficult to know what to look at first as I had to scroll to see what was available.
Accessibility options
To access the many accessibility options available on the Naidex portal involved clicking the icon in the top right-hand corner that looks like a person/stickman. This brought up a menu with more accessibility options than I’ve seen before! An event showcasing disability products should be accessible but it’s still impressive.
The screenshot on the left shows the top of the accessibility adjustments and has options to reset settings, view the access statement or hide the accessibility interface altogether. Below these options are access profiles for differing needs: seizure safe profile, vision-impaired profile, cognitive disability profile and ADHD friendly profile. The accessibility options are scrollable so I had to take six screenshots to show all the options. The right screenshot shows the last two access profiles available which are blind users (screen reader) and keyboard navigation. Underneath this are the content adjustments: content scaling, readable font, highlight titles, highlight links and text magnifier.
The above two screenshots show the complete options for content adjustments, which in addition to those mentioned in the paragraph above, are: adjust font sizing, align centre, adjust line-height, align left, adjust letter spacing and align right. In the right screenshot, the first three options for colour adjustments are shown: dark contrast, light contrast, and monochrome.
These last two screenshots above show all of the colour adjustment options on the left and the orientation adjustments on the right.
The colour adjustments are: dark contrast, light contrast, monochrome, high saturation, high contrast, low saturation, adjust text colours, adjust title colours and adjust background colours.
Orientation adjustments
The orientation adjustments are as follows: mute sounds, hide images, read mode, reading guide, stop animations, reading mask, highlight hover, highlight focus, big black cursor and big white cursor. There is also a ‘useful links’ option in the centre of these adjustments to give the user the option to place a useful link in a position on the screen at all times. For example a link to the homepage.
The disability products
Everything from smart home products, car converters, specialist beds, mobility battery specialists, occupational therapists, sensory specialists, wheelchair manufacturers and solicitors were present at Naidex.
Searching for a specific product
This event can therefore be very useful if you are searching for a particular item. A couple of years ago my main purpose for attending Naidex was to research WAV’s (wheelchair accessible vehicles) as I needed to choose a new car. This year I just wanted to see what new disability products and services were available.
Disability products wishlist
I was particularly interested in the smart home gadgets as I’m always on the lookout for a gadget to make my life easier but as I already have smart heating and lighting, most things weren’t of interest. I will be keeping an eye on how smart locks develop though. As I have someone who can open my front door for me it seems overkill to splurge just yet.
Similarly, if I had money to burn I would buy a turning bed to help me transfer in and out of bed easier. These beds not only move how my existing profiling bed does but the mattress also turns ninety degrees and puts you in a sitting position on the edge of the bed. This would make it easier for my PA’s/family members to assist me to transfer and get me dressed and undressed but as I require help anyway and I haven’t got a money tree, this will have to stay a pipe dream.
Interesting disability product ideas to keep an eye on
Another interesting piece of equipment I saw is something called a Showerbuddy. This shower chair comes with its own transferring platform which means that a normal shower cubicle, (those with a step/lip,) can be used. It’s aimed at older people and marketed as an alternative solution to getting a bathroom adapted. The chair is slid into the shower off of its raised base on wheels.
Chronus Robotics
Chronus Robotics is a robot wheelchair. It’s compact, slim agile and absolutely no good for me as I have little to no trunk control. I remember being asked years ago if I wanted to try the Segway chairs and having to painstakingly explain that as the chairs were controlled by body movement I’d crash in roughly three seconds! The chair is also able to go up and down so that you can reach things. If you have upper body control I imagine they are great! I wouldn’t want to guess the price though! I’m hopeful that soon one or more of these robotics companies will design a chair that can be controlled more like a conventional power chair.
Seminars
My favourite seminars were:
Making a Successful Application for a Disabled Facilities Grant by Paul Smith.
Take the chance out of going out with AccessAble’s Detailed Access Guides by AccessAble.
How technology can be used to revolutionise the lives of disabled people Shani Dhanda.
There were plenty of others to choose from, on a range of different topics.
Conclusion
Naidex this year has been more accessible than ever! This is due to the fact that the disability products and advice seminars were all available online. I really enjoyed the virtual version. I’m hopeful that the physical show will go ahead in September but I hope that content will still be available online. This would make Naidex more accessible and inclusive than it has been before. I’m definitely getting tickets for September.
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I’m back with a guide to the vaccination process! Thank you all for being so patient. Please check out the rest of my posts. The content is the same but hopefully, they are now easier to read and more useful information is provided. I have now added alt text and descriptions of images and videos properly. I apologise to my visually impaired readers for not doing this before. Please contact me if any part of this blog is inaccessible to you, whatever your need or disability.
I received my vaccination on 20/02/2021. While a big part of me is sick of talking about COVID-19 I hope it will help tackle any uncertainty or fear surrounding obtaining your vaccination. It is subjective, as was my post on my experience of the virus, so the opinions expressed are entirely my own and should not replace medical advice.
Booking your vaccination
Many people with disabilities have already had the vaccine as many of us are either in the extremely vulnerable category or category six. I’m category six as I have an underlying disability but have no health issues from that. In England the NHS booking service now says you can book if:
work as an eligible frontline health or social care worker
your condition means you are clinically vulnerable
you have a learning disability
someone you care for is at high risk from coronavirus
Physical disabilities aren’t mentioned but don’t let this put you off. Clicking the booking service link above will take you to the NHS website, where you will be asked to enter your date of birth and your hospital number. The system then determines whether or not you are eligible. If you are eligible to book your vaccination you will be taken to a page where you can select a place, date and time to receive it. If you don’t know your hospital number, you will be asked to provide your basic information in order to continue.
When trying to book my vaccine in this way the system told me I wasn’t eligible. So it’s worth trying as you won’t be booked in unless you meet the criteria. You’ve nothing to lose!Several people I know and people I don’t have got appointments this way before official invitations arrived. I also contacted my GP as I have to recruit carers/PA’s and felt at risk with the prospect of having an increased number of people in the house, without the protection of immunisation. Understanding my situation, my GP agreed I should be moved up the list but I still had a six-week wait. It is always worth asking!
Safely attending your vaccination appointment
Unless you are exempt from wearing one for medical reasons you must wear a mask when attending your appointment. It is understandable that you may feel nervous going out, especially if you’ve been shielding and this is your first outing in some time. Allow your self plenty of time to get to your appointment, the last thing you want to do is rush.
Think about how you will get to your appointment. Although bus services are still running many people, myself included, find them inaccessible. I’m lucky as my GP surgery is only a fifteen-minute walk/wheel from my house. The taxi firm,Uber, is offering a £15 discount on trips to or from major vaccination centres around the UK and their drivers follow COVID-19 safety measures. In some cities, they offer wheelchair accessible vehicles. Carry out a local internet search for transport services in your area which also may be able to help.
Getting vaccinated
On the morning of my vaccine appointment, I got up and dressed in loose clothing. The needle is inserted into the upper arm muscle of whichever arm you choose. Wearing a jumper with sleeves that would roll up high enough saved me from getting undressed at the doctor’s.
My Mom accompanied me as I need someone with me when needles are involved. This is because my startle reflex could cause my arm to move when the vaccine was being administered. Cerebral Palsy startle reflex means that I jump at loud noises or sudden sensations. Someone holding my arm still is just for safety.
Arriving for my vaccination
We planned on walking but as it was raining heavily my Dad took us in the car. I’m very lucky to have them available to assist me. When we got to the practice there was a big queue as someone had been taken ill earlier that day so COVID-19 vaccine patients were backed up. This prolonged the appointment to one hour and 40 minutes! I was hoping to be in/out within half an hour!
Having joined the queue outside Mom helped me put my mask on and we slowly inched towards the front. When we made it inside the tent staff were using to check people’s details I was told that as I’m a wheelchair user I could’ve gone straight inside and stayed warm. I am affected if I get too cold but only in that it can take a long time for me to get warm again. If you have difficulty queuing for whatever reason it’s worth asking if there are any adjustments that can be made for you.
I handed in the form with my details on and we were shown into the surgery and into one of the consulting rooms. The form asked for my name, address, date of birth and questions about how I’d been feeling the last ten days.
Receiving the vaccine
Once inside the consultation room, I was informed that I was going to receive the AstraZeneca variant. I was a bit disappointed. I’d hoped to receive the Pfizer vaccine instead as I’d heard it was more effective and had fewer side effects. There is no proof of this. Some days later a friend told me they had heard the Pfizer was the worst for side effects, guess things affect people differently.
I was asked which arm I wanted the vaccine in and I chose my left as I drive my chair with my right hand. The needle was in/out before I knew it and it didn’t feel any worse than a scratch. The nurse then told me that I may have flu-like symptoms and a sore arm which should last no more than a week. I was then told I could leave straight away and I didn’t have to wait for fifteen minutes. I’m not sure why but I was asked if I drove, (I don’t,) so maybe that is why I didn’t have to wait. We were in the room for approximately six minutes.
I haven’t been given my second date yet. My GP practice will send me a link to book my appointment sometime in the middle of May.
Side effects
I had my vaccine at 11.10 am and didn’t start feeling ill till about 8 pm that evening. I then experienced a minor version of the joint pain I had when ill with the virus, together with shivering for a couple of days. The worst thing was the injection site became swollen and sore for roughly five days. I was thinking about ringing my doctor when suddenly the swelling went down.
Conclusion
Even though I was uncomfortable these side effects were nothing compared to being ill with COVID-19. Many people experience far fewer symptoms than me. I would encourage anyone and everyone to get vaccinated. The symptoms far outweigh the benefits both to myself and to society. My only caution. Check with your doctor if you have any allergies, are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a compromised immune system. These circumstances may affect when you can be vaccinated and which variant you are given as there are different ingredients in each.
I hope this post is reassuring. If you would like to ask me anything about the above, please do. My next post will be a review of the recent Naidex virtual event.
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This took longer to write than I thought it would. The idea was proposed to me by Disability Horizons magazine, I hope people find it interesting. It was pointed out to me when I submitted this to the magazine that I never actually received a positive diagnosis of Coronavirus I believe that is what it was but because testing was not widely available then, I’ll never know for sure.
Contracting Coronavirus
I live with my parents and brother. Back in April, I believe we all caught Covid-19, but our experiences of being ill were different.
Thankfully, none of us had it seriously enough to need hospital attention, but the road to recovery has been slow, particularly for me.
I’m disabled and have cerebral palsy, but I don’t think this makes me no more vulnerable to the virus than an able-bodied person. I’m probably as fit as any other 34-year-old who doesn’t exercise regularly.
Having watched my brother and mother become ill first, I knew it was only a matter of time before I caught it as my parents are my main caregivers at the moment.
My brother and parents’ symptoms
My brother and dad had what can only be described as ‘typical’ symptoms of Coronavirus – a high temperature and cough. How they felt matched closely with what we were being told in the news, so we assume they had the virus.
At the time, tests weren’t even widely available for NHS staff, so there was little chance of us being able to get tested. I would like to get an anti-body test, once they become available, to be sure that’s what we had. But I’m pretty convinced as it is.
Coronavirus recovery time
The quickest to recover was my brother, who felt ill for about three weeks. Friends with family members who have had confirmed Coronavirus tests have said they experienced a horrible week, perhaps 10 days.
For me, it was two months from catching the virus before I started feeling close to normal again.
Back in April, the information available about how long we might all be ill suggested that we should’ve begun feeling normal towards the end of my second week.
But, as time went on, more details came out and the times seemed to vary. One article I read described someone having what he called prolonged Covid-19. They were ill for three months.
Pain
My first symptom of possible Coronavirus was pain. I assumed it would be sweating because there was so much talk of a high temperature.
It initially made me question whether I actually had the virus. But with my brother and dad having had what seemed so like Coronavirus surely it couldn’t have been anything else?
I had what I can only assume was nerve pain. I say this because every muscle and joint in my body ached to the point where I couldn’t cope with sitting up as my hip joints were the worst. It was unbearable.
Pain killers didn’t touch it, but there would be random moments where suddenly all pain and discomfort would disappear, only to reappear again sometime later.
Temperature and cough
I didn’t really have a temperature, as has been talked about so much. I woke up sweating a few times in the night, but my temperature was stable.
I instead felt cold most of the time, and generally off-balance, which wasn’t fun. I also didn’t have any breathing difficulties or indeed a cough.
Confusion and rambling
Being confused and disorientated is not something I have experienced before, so this was new territory.
One second I would be convinced I had to do something, but the next I couldn’t remember what it was at all.
I tend to ramble anyway – why use one word when you can use 10?! But, apparently, there were times when I didn’t make much sense at all.
I was also aware that I wasn’t thinking as fast or as clearly as I normally do, right up until a few weeks ago. Thankfully, I now feel like myself again now.
Tiredness
Together with the other symptoms, I didn’t know what was going on half the time and, despite sleeping a lot, I was constantly exhausted.
I have so much sympathy for people who suffer from fatigue after experiencing what I did.
I’d be sitting or lying down, either watching TV or listening to an audiobook when my body and brain would suddenly want to sleep. Even worse, if I didn’t get my head down straight away, I would go dizzy and experience headaches.
The tiredness lasted the longest, about 15 weeks in total. Even when all the other symptoms had disappeared, I couldn’t actually concentrate to read or do anything without needing to go to bed soon after. I couldn’t look at my phone or laptop without getting an instant headache.
Lack of taste and smell
Not being able to taste or smell anything is now a recognised symptom of Coronavirus, but it wasn’t at the time my family was ill, so that threw another curveball.
For me, the virus caused the weirdest sensation. It wasn’t like when you have a cold and you can’t taste anything, or only taste the catarrh in your throat.
Everything tasted like dust. There was no texture to food either. Everything I put in my mouth could have been the same food.
I suppose at least it didn’t taste horrible, but trying to eat with no sensory feedback was hard. The lack of smell was easier to cope with as I’d experienced that before.
It was also weird when these senses suddenly came back. I was actually overwhelmed for the first two or three days afterwards as everything was suddenly different.
Nausea
This was the worst symptom. I suffer from nausea anyway, but it seems as though this virus had taken it to a new level.
As mentioned earlier, I had no breathing difficulties and I didn’t really have a cough. But I do believe that this virus, assuming it was Coronavirus, attacked my digestive system.
I felt like somebody had turned me inside out. If I didn’t eat, I felt ill, and if I eat more than a few mouthfuls, I was sick. It was a delicate balance that I’d mostly figured out by the beginning of week two.
The rest of my family stopped eating altogether for around two days and then felt better. My nausea lasted about six weeks.
I’ll probably never know if my theory is correct, but it was disconcerting to have an atypical experience when every day the news and NHS were discussing what to expect. My mum’s symptoms also echoed mine more closely too, so it wasn’t just me.
I hope reading this has been interesting and useful in some way. I’m so grateful that none of my family had to go into hospital.
With lockdown relaxing, I just hope people will be sensible so that everyone can get back to ‘normal’ and leave their homes without worrying about catching this awful virus.
I’ve been very lucky, but I never want to feel like that again. Stay safe everyone.
My next post will be about the importance of choice and control and how I’m still having to fight to achieve this! So much in fact that I’ve started a new Twitter hashtag, #DirectPaymentHeadache. If you or someone you know is having issues with the support you receive, DP or not, please get in touch. Together we can effect change for a more inclusive world. 🙂
Related posts:
Disability My experiences living with a disability and being a wheelchair user. The physical barriers I come across and the attitudes I encounter....
Self-Isolation Activities Read what self-isolation activities I do to keep busy and see my top tips on dealing with isolation and staying positive!...
Covid-19 and upcoming articles Contracting COVID-19! Have you got a burning question about what it's like to have COVID-19 and recover? Ask me....
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Thank you to everyone who expressed concern for my health over the last few weeks. I am now fully recovered. Apart from your kind concern, I haven’t received any COVID-19 questions from any of you lovely readers yet but there has been plenty of interest in the actual article. It occurred to me that perhaps I’m overthinking things and I should just write about my experience but also that people may be concerned about anonymity. Please be assured that anything you ask me, only the question will be used. There is still time to get in touch if you’d like to. It also crossed my mind though that this blog may not be accessible to everyone. I’d be grateful if you would take a minute or two to vote on the accessibility of this blog. If it isn’t accessible tell me how to rectify the situation.
[yop_poll id=”1″]
Thanks for Voting!
As lockdown relaxes for some of us, I’m starting to put things in place for my new PA’s to start and will be writing about my journey as I go. I also have a couple more articles to write for Disability Horizons, a list of online courses which are still available to do from home and a money advice article. Keep your eyes peeled for those! I have a busy few months ahead. Stay safe everybody.
My COVID Experience
I’ve been asked by Disability Horizons to write about my experience of COVID-19. Rather than just write how I felt I think it would be of more interest and use to you, the readers, if I answered any questions that you might have about what it’s like to be ill with this virus. I’m really interested in what you would like to know and I’ll do my best to answer them. There are no silly questions so get asking.
Related posts:
My Suspected Coronavirus Experience Coronavirus: From contracting the virus, to the symptoms I experienced. This is what Coronavirus felt like to me....
Self-Isolation Activities Read what self-isolation activities I do to keep busy and see my top tips on dealing with isolation and staying positive!...
Disability My experiences living with a disability and being a wheelchair user. The physical barriers I come across and the attitudes I encounter....
Reviews My reviews: the places I've visited and the equipment that I've used. These are solely my opinions based on my experiences....
I’ve seen a few of these self-isolation posts pop up since I said I was going to post and while I’m not surprised by this, COVID-19 is after all the only topic of conversation at the moment. During my COVID-19 illness, I have to say audiobooks kept me sane as I didn’t have to focus on anything. I sincerely hope that non of my readers share my experience but being read to is a great way to pass the time, especially if you’re feeling under the weather or just fancy a lazy day. I hope you enjoy reading how I’m spending my isolation and I’d love to hear how you are filling your days during this crisis.
Colouring
I love colouring books and even before we officially isolated I used it as a way of gaining some me time. I’m unfortunately not arty and cannot draw to save my life. The beauty of colouring books is that the hard work is done for you.
Pigment app
I’ve recently discovered an app called Pigment which I now use on my iPad. It’s available for IOS and Android. You can finger tap, use a stylus to fill in an area or just set it so you can’t colour over the lines. Great if you have limited hand function. I find as much as I like pencils and paper, after 20 minutes my hands are really sore.
The app is free with in-app purchases which I recommend you leave alone. The app gives extra brushes or colours but is £7.99 per week! There are plenty of free pages without having to spend anything though. Pigment also lets you import pictures to colour in. There are other free colouring apps, Colorfy is a good example, (also available on Android) but this is my favourite. Check out a couple of my pictures below.
Organise Email
If you’re already a superbly organised individual then feel free to scroll down.
If you are looking for a way to be productive whilst in self-isolation then this is a good place to start. Having completed this task I can tell you it’s very satisfying.
Top tip:
It feels even less like work if you have music, the radio or your favourite audiobook on in the background.
The organisation process
My process for organising my account followed this pattern:
1) Open your email client or sign in using your web browser and click on your inbox
2) Have a piece of paper/your phone next to you before scrolling right to the bottom of your inbox.
3) Go through and read each message. Before moving to the next message decide if the email you are currently reading needs to be kept, filed away or left in your inbox. You have to take action before it can be moved.
If it’s an email from Amazon or similar, trying to persuade you to buy something you don’t want/need. Press the delete key! It can feel like a big accomplishment. If you’re like me, these kinds of emails have built up over the years! If however, it’s something you want to keep, think about a category folder that you could create for that email and write it down on your piece of paper. A few categories I use are Receipts, Social Services and Volunteering. Move onto the next email in your inbox when you have written a category down and leave the email in your inbox for the moment.
4) Go through all your emails. You should now have deleted all useless ads etc. Your inbox will now contain emails that you need to take action with and emails that need to be filed. You will now also have a few categories jotted down.
Creating Folders
5) If you use an email client, I use Mail on a Mac, visit your email account via your web browser and create folders for all the categories that you noted down. I use Gmail. Folders are called labels in Gmail. To create a new folder you need to click on an email, find the label icon and type in a new label/folder name. After that click ‘create new.’ Do this for each of the categories you have written down.
NB: Remember to untick the boxes unless you want to move the current email into your new folder.
6) Now you can go back to your inbox and go through it again. This time you can move each email into one of the categories you created. I had emails going back as far as 2016. It took me about two hours to do all of that. It did get boring but made life so much easier.
Organising my photos into folders in a similar way. I put all the photos from all my devices and memory cards onto my computer hard drive. I put my favourite music on in the background and went through them one by one.
Video Calling.
Video calls are a great way to stay in touch and can help keep feelings of isolation at bay. I haven’t done a lot of video calls as I find them exhausting at the moment. I really feel for people who haven’t got access to the internet at this present time. I’m mostly using Zoom, as I can have it running on my Mac and everyone can access it. Unlike Facetime, where an Apple device is needed. I’ve just started taking part in two regular quizzes via zoom which is entertaining. Fingers crossed I’ll feel well enough this Friday to take part in my Freewheelin’ dance class again. After over a month’s absence, I’m missing it.
Audiobooks
I use two audiobook services, Audible and RBDigital.
Audible is relatively well known and is owned by Amazon. I love the choice and control you have with this service. For £7.99 a month you get one credit on a recurring monthly subscription unless paused or cancelled. Find a book you like and listen to a sample. This is particularly useful if like me you find some narrators more enjoyable than others. Purchase the book with either a credit or by paying by credit card. Within twelve months you can exchange a book for another if you don’t like your choice.
When you first join you have access to a months trial which means you get your first book free. At the moment, I’m listening to Wicked by Gregory Maguire. The book is very different from the theatre production. 😉
Top Tip
When signing up for the free trial, choose the two book a month option. You will get two free books. If you love the service but £14.99 is too expensive, you can always downgrade to the one book a month subscription before the trial ends. If you cancel before the trial is up, won’t be charged and you’ll get to keep your books. Pausing membership is where you take a break for three months. You are still a member. Membership and billing restart after three months but for the paused period you are not charged and no more credits are added to your account. This is Great for when you have too many books to listen to.
RBDigital is the service Birmingham Libraries uses for it’s members to access audiobooks/magazines and now apparently also newspapers. In my experience it’s a lot more limited than Audible but it is a free service. A valid library card is required and set up is done through your main library webpage. Your city may not use this service, some use Overdrive. Below is a screenshot of Birmingham Libraries page explaining set up and the RBDigital app on my phone.
Ebooks
Reading is a solitary activity that takes me to different places and is the only way we can travel at the moment. Ever since I’ve owned E-Readers I’ve loved ebooks. They are so much easier to hold and I can read whilst I sit outside, great when the weather is nice and sunny.
Libby App
I use a Kindle Oasis and an app called Libby. Libby is the ebook app for my library and can be downloaded onto all android, and IOS tablets. Like the RBDigital app, listed above, a valid library card is required but set up can be done through the app itself. The app will ask you to select your local library and input your library card number. If you have an E-Reader that uses the Epub format rather than the Kindle/Mobi one, loans from Libby can be sent to your e-reader. The only drawback to my kindle is library books can’t be added to it.
I use Amazon to get most of my books, which is why I prefer the Kindle above other e-readers. Kindle Unlimited is currently offering a free trial to new customers. Project Gutenberg offers free out of copyright books to the public. I’ve also just discovered a website called Manybooks.net, which I’ll be exploring for new books soon.
Writing
Last but definitely not least is writing. It helps me relax and get any and all ideas out of my head before I go to sleep at night. At least that’s the theory, it doesn’t quite work that well in practice. While I was ill I couldn’t write at all which is why this post has taken so long. I still find looking at my laptop screen tiring. I couldn’t wait to start writing again! I’m pleased to be getting back to some semblance of normality in these strange times.
Top tips for coping with isolation
Not being able to see friends and family is hard and it is very easy to let the situation affect your mental health. Many disabled people already know what isolation feels like as illness or circumstances have meant that they can’t go out.
Whether you are isolating because you are ill, shielding or just following lockdown rules here are my top tips for staying sane.
Pick activities that isolation rules don’t change
With the exception of reading, all of the activities I have listed are activities that are done by me when I’m alone. Ok if I wasn’t isolating I may colour in the same room as others or listen to music and books with headphones on but I don’t actually need and wouldn’t normally have anyone else engaging with me. This reduces the sense of weirdness that self-isolation can bring. I’m doing something by myself and I’m enjoying it. Focusing on this instead of the fact that I can’t visit friends is a positive frame of mind that will assist your mental well-being.
Reading can take you from isolation to anywhere in the world
Whatever form it takes for you, ebooks, physical books, audiobooks, can transport your mind away from your isolation to different countries, fantasy lanes or just make you think of something else. Using your imagination in this way is one of the best ways I have found to combat loneliness.
Keep in touch with friends and family
It doesn’t matter how you do it keep in touch. Phone calls, video calls, emails, letters postcards. Have contact with people. If you’re looking to meet people there are now various groups online to suit all sorts of interests. Dance, writing, knitting, crafting, photography are just a few ideas.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about how I’m spending my isolation. Get in touch and let me know what you’ve been doing to keep busy. If anyone has any podcast recommendations please let me know as I’m interested to know what all the hype is about but unsure where to start as there is so much choice!
Till next time stay safe and well.
Related posts:
Covid-19 and upcoming articles Contracting COVID-19! Have you got a burning question about what it's like to have COVID-19 and recover? Ask me....
Reviews My reviews: the places I've visited and the equipment that I've used. These are solely my opinions based on my experiences....
Stuck In A Rut! Dealing with monotony and new interviews on the way......
Happy New Lockdown Happy new lockdown! Read about my plans and optimism for the year ahead as we enter the next stage of COVID-19 restrictions....
In this section, I will post reviews about the equipment I’ve used/currently use, venues I’ve visited, day trips, shows I’ve been to and holidays. I hope you find them interesting and helpful. The reviews on this website are my opinion only and based on how useful I find the equipment.
Reviews can help promote independence
Independence is important to me therefore I always aim to choose products that enhance my quality of life. This usually means that it is not a standard product as things have to be adapted to suit me. This is known as an inclusive design. Reading product reviews and recommendations helps me choose which products to buy and gives me ideas for making life easier.
What I look for when choosing products to enhance my life
The main thing I have to look for is the height of products. It’s difficult to be sure of my height as I cannot stand straight but I’m approximately 4ft 8 inches. This lack of height coupled with how Cerebral Palsy affects my muscles means that products need to be really low. Therefore hardly any standard products are of use as they are all too tall! This is why I take a step with me when I’m away from home but this isn’t practical for daily life.
The other thing I look for in disability aids is portability. This is rare as disability equipment tends to be quite bulky. I often find that non-disability products, repurposed, work best. Read my article for some ideas.
Reviews of places I’ve been to
Reviews of places I’ve seen or stayed at will be largely based on my own access needs but I will include other information if known. If you have a specific question you would like answered or would like me to review please contact me.
Disability My experiences living with a disability and being a wheelchair user. The physical barriers I come across and the attitudes I encounter....
The importance of choice and control The importance of choice and control to be the masters of our own lives. I meet new people and become involved in an access initiative....
Stuck In A Rut! Dealing with monotony and new interviews on the way......
