Disabled Parking Abuse (ankle, pregnant, handicap, wheelchairs)

[kimmieyky]

Oh - I am SO with you! Having worked in the medical field for over 13 years - I have seen it all.

I have no prejudice or animosity toward the extremely obese - but I cannot count the times I have seen patients requesting parking stickers, motorized chairs, etc. because walking too far takes the wind out of them and hurts their knees/joints.

I have to say - had they walked a little more in the beginning - there would be no need for these items in the first place. Obesity should not be considered a disease of the body - it is a disease of the mind - which can be cured, but the patients choose not to. Needless surgeries, complaints about not fitting in certain areas, chairs to small - I could go on and on.

I have Fibromyalgia and take pain meds daily. I am working on exchanging them for nutrients and vitamins - but that is off point. I have pain everyday, 24 hours a day in some form or fashion. It has been suggested that I apply for disibility, as I will not get better, and this seems to be a progressive illness. However - I park as far from the door as I can (unless it's raining), and make myself exercise. I feel so much better when I have gotten off my rear and moved my body!

I am continually disgusted by the misuse of aids available to those who truly need them - and cannot understand why this society continues to reward people for there own stupidity.

Sorry - sore spot. I figure, if I can do it - why can't they? I have a friend of a friend that has FMS also. She continually complains about the pain, eats herself silly and the bigger she gets the more pain she has. I wonder why...
She refuses to clean house AT ALL - too painful. She moved back in september, and I and my friend helped her out. She sat while we packed, moved, loaded and unloaded. She is only 35. Where is her life going?

Anyway - I believe those in need absolutely deserve all the help they can get. But there must be a way to better police this system of handoputs which never seems to end.

Off my soapbox now -

Yorkiemom - I had know idea you were 'one of us'!! When were you diagnosed?

[kimmieyky]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

You're right, but obesity can sometimes be caused by other disabilities... just a thought.

...it can be a symptom or an offset of another issue that the person has no control over. I understand those issues, and do feel empathy for them.

However, having once weighed a GOB - I know it can be controlled. I think society has just become so lazy, and fast food doesn't help - they see no reason to do naything baout it - and worse yet -many want special treatment because of it.

I suppose there is nothing worse than an ex-smoker than an ex-obese person - but I know how hard my 4 year struggle to lose it was. It's not easy. And if you have disabilities it is worse - but it can be done - no matter what. The power is in the hand of the person holding the fork, or pizza, or cheese cake, etc.

Giz - I think what gets me is this country only swings two ways: the media tells you you must be a size '0' in order to fit - yet the lifestyle which has been created in this country SUPPORTS the gain of weight - not health.

What is wrong with this picture? I know I am getting off topic, and I do apologize as the parking sticker rules are greatly abused - but I wish somewhere there would be a way to meet in the middle.

Ever seen "The Devil Wears Prada"? Anne Hathaway (Princess Diaries) is such a cute girl, and immediately upon getting hired they begin to hound her about her weight. She eats what ever she wants, and doesn't obsess about it, while the co-worker training her starves herself to get ready for a trip to Paris. The whole movie has innuendos regarding size. Like a size 6 is a HORRID thing to be. I would love to be a 6 - but why? To the media world, that is obese. Since when did a size 14 become a plus size? WHAT IS NORMAL ANYWAY??

I just get so upset about the whole subject. Doctors do not educate about nutrition - just dole out drugs for symptoms of the problem and give no credit to vitamins and minerals, the food industry crams the supply full of junk so that even fat free products put on weight and give you no nutrition whatsoever - while adding chemicals so rich in death we don't know what we are eating, and the 'diet' industry wants you to lose it FAST - because they KNOW it won't stay off and you will be back!!

Somebody shut me up..I'm going to explode. Time to hit the trampoline and run the sweeper...

Kimmiey

[GoPadge]

That sort of plays into my evil plan to open a store call "Size 5". Ever tag says size 5, just keep trying on items until you find one that fits.... I'll be a millionaire.

[dc53]

It is a problem! I am sort of like Kimmie- I have severe asthma, a leaky aortic heart valve, broke my neck, with severe back injuries....BUT- I still try to park as far away as I can- there are times when I can't follow this, as I am in too much pain, but when I have those days I try to stay home. I try to walk the dog every day- 1 hour, if I can- it does mean taking pain meds. Everybody is so mad- has anybody taken the time to bug your senator? Let them know how much this system is being abused, try to get higher, stiffer fines/punishment. You can do this on the computer- vent, vent, vent to your congress! Maybe it will help in the future. It is a better thing to do than to just shoot the creep that parks in handicap, then bolts for the door. I can't own a gun- I'd probably just weed out a few of these inconsiderate, lazy, sometimes fat slugs! Another peeve is the guy who parks past the parking lines at the grocery store- it isn't even a parking spot!

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by GoPadge

That sort of plays into my evil plan to open a store call "Size 5". Ever tag says size 5, just keep trying on items until you find one that fits.... I'll be a millionaire.

I'd shop there!! Did you ever notice that the more expensive a store is, the smaller the clothing is cut? You'd think they would be the opposite, to encourage more women to buy their stuff!

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by kimmieyky

...it can be a symptom or an offset of another issue that the person has no control over. I understand those issues, and do feel empathy for them.

However, having once weighed a GOB - I know it can be controlled. I think society has just become so lazy, and fast food doesn't help - they see no reason to do naything baout it - and worse yet -many want special treatment because of it.

I suppose there is nothing worse than an ex-smoker than an ex-obese person - but I know how hard my 4 year struggle to lose it was. It's not easy. And if you have disabilities it is worse - but it can be done - no matter what. The power is in the hand of the person holding the fork, or pizza, or cheese cake, etc.

Hey, I'm an "ex-obese" person myself, so I can relate. But it also means I can see it from both sides, which gives me/us more empathy. Yes, your weight can usually be controlled, but it's more difficult for people with certain medical issues. Take my mom's friend, who had one leg amputated because of diabetes... he was always a bigger guy (not the cause of his diabetes, he was born as insulin-dependent), but has gained a lot of weight since losing his leg. He uses a disabled plate, which is obviously deserved & needed, but walks pretty well on a prosthetic... so at first glance you might think he was just a lazy fat guy, when really he's dealing with more adversity than you or I. Not to mention, his wife has had multiple back surgeries, and also needs a little help with walking. Anyway, my point is that we shouldn't be too quick to judge - know what I mean?

[Yorkie_Mom]

Originally Posted by kimmieyky

Oh - I am SO with you! Having worked in the medical field for over 13 years - I have seen it all.

I have no prejudice or animosity toward the extremely obese - but I cannot count the times I have seen patients requesting parking stickers, motorized chairs, etc. because walking too far takes the wind out of them and hurts their knees/joints.

I have to say - had they walked a little more in the beginning - there would be no need for these items in the first place. Obesity should not be considered a disease of the body - it is a disease of the mind - which can be cured, but the patients choose not to. Needless surgeries, complaints about not fitting in certain areas, chairs to small - I could go on and on.

I have Fibromyalgia and take pain meds daily. I am working on exchanging them for nutrients and vitamins - but that is off point. I have pain everyday, 24 hours a day in some form or fashion. It has been suggested that I apply for disibility, as I will not get better, and this seems to be a progressive illness. However - I park as far from the door as I can (unless it's raining), and make myself exercise. I feel so much better when I have gotten off my rear and moved my body!

I am continually disgusted by the misuse of aids available to those who truly need them - and cannot understand why this society continues to reward people for there own stupidity.

Sorry - sore spot. I figure, if I can do it - why can't they? I have a friend of a friend that has FMS also. She continually complains about the pain, eats herself silly and the bigger she gets the more pain she has. I wonder why...
She refuses to clean house AT ALL - too painful. She moved back in september, and I and my friend helped her out. She sat while we packed, moved, loaded and unloaded. She is only 35. Where is her life going?

Anyway - I believe those in need absolutely deserve all the help they can get. But there must be a way to better police this system of handoputs which never seems to end.

Off my soapbox now -

Yorkiemom - I had know idea you were 'one of us'!! When were you diagnosed?

I was diagnosed in 2002, some days are better then others, but the cold seems to bother it the most. I guess that is why I want to move out of Minnesota, I need some where warm with no humidity. Got any ideas.

[kimmieyky]

Yorkie - I am headed for Florida as soon as I find a way out! I love Kentucky - but the older I get the worse it is. I get cold and achey in November and rarely get better until May.

To Giz and Glow - I am so sorry if my post sounded as though I was attacking those with weight problems and cannot help it. I reread my post and I can see where it may have sounded that way. Very sorry.

I am sincerely speaking of the people who eat because they can, do not care to watch their intake, and then want others to feel sorry for them because of the disibilities their weight has caused.

I completely understand weight gain as part of an illness or situation - and do not believe in discriminating in anyway against them. We cannot control our circumstances all of the time - and when an injury or illness hits - one is pretty much at its mercy.

What DOES bother me...my 'friend' with FMS - she did not always weigh over 300 lbs. As her illness progressed, rather than fight it, she gave into it, and now relishes in the idea of having others do FOR her. When she moved and WE did the packing and lifting - I was so angry and just wanted to scream! Was I in pain? Did I have to take extra meds to get through the day? You betcha! But did I complain to her or the others and back out of what I promised to do? Nope.

I kid you not - I have been to the buffet restaraunts - pay one price and go back as often as you like...and I cannot count the times I have seen a morbidly obese family sitting at the table when I got there, and were still there when I left.

Why?

And glow - I would like to say thank you for speaking up for those in your situation. I do not judge and assume laziness or anything else - until it is proven. When I hear people joke about their wieght (yes, sometimes it is a defense mechanism) but continue to stuff themselves - it makes no sense.

Richard Simmons is a gem.I have heard him say he has never met a person who could not make the numbers on the scale move. You do what you can with what you have - if you so choose.

I feel horrible for patients I have had who were a 'normal weight' once upon a time - and through one thing or another became obese. I feel badly for those who became obese because of mental issues - depression, abuse, post-traumatic stress - whatever - and have developed physical symptoms because of it.

But - it breaks down to this. If I am not mistaken - morbidly obese means being 100lbs or more overweight. So, with that being said - it means I was once morbidly obese. My knees have paid for it, my skin has paid for (stretch marks that make a map), my feet have paid for it - and my self-esteem has paid for it.

The point is this - we all have our own cross to carry. While we are not always RESPONSIBLE for the situation we are in , we are ACCOUNTABLE for the way in which we choose to handle it.

Christopher Reeves was hurt in a riding accident, leaving him paralyzed. We all know his story. His wife, Dana, died of lung cancer last year. It is probable - though it has not been reported, smoking and increased stress of Christopher sent her to an early grave. Christopher spent the rest of his life trying to find a 'cure', and did not give in to his affliction. We do the best we can with what we have.

"if life gives you lemons make lemonaid" sounds very corny - but it is true. We all have a choice each day. Wake up and stay the way we are, or wake up and do the best we can to be better than we were yesterday. I have days I do better and days I do worse. My current situation is not my fault - but I am accountable for how I handle it. Choices I have made in the past have put me where I am, even though others have had a hand in my demise.

Concerning the parking sticker - I doubt seriously that parking in a spot not needed is doing our best. If we do not have strength of character, then we have nothing - regardless of weight or disiblities.

Kimmiey

[Yorkie_Mom]

I just wanted to let everyone know what I did today, and I will keep on doing. I went to get my child from school, I get tired of people taking up the handicapped parking spaces.
I have called the police, they come after the people are already gone, I have called in plate numbers.
So today, I called the police dept. called in the same plates I have called in about for at least eight times, got mad, found a small tablet in my car and wrote a nice note to the driver of that car.
The note said: I have called your license plate number into the police dept. for parking in a handicapped parking zone, you may be receiving a ticket in the mail or a phone call, if you get lucky this time, take it as a warning, because your plates will be turned in everytime I catch your car parked in the handicapped area with no placard or tags, saying you have that right to park here. Thank you!!!!
I was talking with another mother who also has a handicapped placard, she said I did the right thing, when the father came out with his child, neither handicapped of course, he seen the note, and cussed about it, maybe he has learned. If not I will keep my little notebook in my car and at least give others something to think about, next time they park in the handicapped area zone, since the police do nothing about it, at least we can have a laugh at the look on their face when they read the note.
I should just print a bunch of them up and then have them ready when I need to put one on the windshield of a car. What do you think????

[toller Hund]

THERE SHOULD BE MORE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES! No one has mentioned that.

That in addition to the fact that human nature being as corrupt as it is, the enforcement and penalties for abuse should be increased so that people without a handicap permit think twice before taking a handicapped space.