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Grocery trip makes for another Darvocet night

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Posted 4/17/2010 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Once again, when I walked into the grocery store today, I was doing pretty well, but by the time I left, the old bod was throbbing for all it's worth.  Why?  Because the stupid cart pulls to one side.  I always try to find one that doesn't, and sometimes have to put back 4 or 5 before I find one that's decent  (all the while saying, "oh, go ahead, I'm trying to find one that rolls straight," to the other people waiting for carts.)  They politely laugh, but I can tell they think I'm a real weirdo.  If I mention Fibro or a muscle problem it  makes no difference, because I look very healthy, young for my age even, rosy cheeks and all.    Lots of times I'll think I've found a good cart, only to find after a few items are put in it that - nope - it's another stinker!  devil  Too late, the damage is done.  And if I were to move the stuff to another one now, I'd use up more "pain spoons."  

And then there's the problem of picking up milk - if I need more than a quart I have to ask someone to put it in for me, and, "it's easier for me to push it if you put it in the small area by my hands,"  - or a 12-pack of soda, or laundry detergent, or anything heavy that I can't just scoot to the end of the counter and let drop into the cart. 

Can anyone relate??  I never see anyone else doing this stuff! 

Posted 4/17/2010 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Argghh!! I could have written your first paragraph. It sounds crazy, but the whole shopping cart search is one of the things I dread most each week. I too have to go through at least 2-3 before I find one I can manage. It does tend to get embarrassing. When the Walmart greeters start to give me that annoyed look, I also tell them that I have a muscle disorder, but I still get some pretty skeptical looks (I'm relatively young and look healthy).

One time I was having a particularly hard time finding one that rolled somewhat straight and was getting an "impatient" look from the greeter. I explained what I was doing and why; she looked at me and said, "Well you do have to steer it, you know." Um yes, I do know that, lol.

I find that if I push one around that pulls to one side, that I am in intense pain before I'm even done shopping. I really do dread the whole process, and I am completely ecstatic when I find one that works on the first try. smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/17/2010 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
I've had something similar happen to me and have had to adjust my shopping techniques. If I have to go shopping on a bad day, I get one of the electronic carts and get a personal shopper, an employee that goes through the store with me and picks up what I need. maybe the stores that you frequent have the same type of services.
Posted 4/17/2010 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Omgggg I hate shopping so much now.  I only go to Walmart once a month with my Mom, but let me tell you I could rip my hair out when we are done.  I have to look through the carts to find one thats right too.  And as we get started  I have to tell Mom to stay with the cart so I dont lose.  She has been known wander off to who knows where and then I get to play of guess where she is.  If we are taking a bus there is only so much time we have to get the bus going back and that s the only bus at that time and then we are left there looking to find a ride home.

 

Since I have I have had the last of three strokes I am so tired all the time and after about a half hour my bodys screaming from the the floor up to my neck.  I have to go through a whole ritual to even take the bus,making sure I have let my pills work so I can move not to mention other things I have to do but we wont get into that dont want to gross anyone out.  I have to lean on the cart the whole time we are shopping cause the pain is so bad but I cant get a scooter  to ride on because I am also pulling my Moms walker around to keep her from getting run over by the other shoppers lol.

 

When my brother comes over sometines we take Mom,to make it easier and then Randy is complaining but what are we going to do?  she is almost 79 years old so I have mellowed with my Mom,each day I remind myself that someday she is going to gone, so treasue each day like is your last and try to be kind. 

 

Have a good lpd!

 

Karen

Posted 4/17/2010 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Karen, it is so good to hear from you. :)

I loved the last part of your last sentence: "try to be kind." That really hit me today, and I'm going to try to put that into practice no matter what the circumstance. Thanks for the reminder and motivation.

Hugs - Austen
Posted 4/17/2010 1:37 PM (GMT 0)

What IS it with Walmart and the carts that pull, stick and wheels that squeek and wobble?  It takes me more time to find a cart that won't pull my shoulders out of joint than it does to shop.  Why is the human food on one side of the store and the pet food on the other side?  I dread going there but we only have two grocery stores in the small town I live in and SuperWalmart is one of them.  UGH...and owie.

Donna

Posted 4/17/2010 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
I use to love shopping now I just want to get in and out. I hate Wal-mart because it's so big, the people and waiting, I tend to avoid it.
Posted 4/17/2010 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have had to give up shopping by myself. I can't deal w/ the carts and trying to grab something from a high shelf. I dropped a few things on my head in the past. My hand/arm just let go and 'BAM', there goes my head. I generally take one of my children w/ me for groceries. They get the cart, push it around, gather the items I want, put it on the belt, mostly bag and reload, bring it in the house. I write the check and put things away on this floor. When I'm done, I'm DONE! If I had to fight w/ the wagon too, my family would starve. lol.

The biggest problesm is w/ items that are eye level. Detergent and such, I just want to grab them and my son/daughter will say, 'Stop, I'll get it'. They are so darn heavy and yet I just want to get in, get my stuff and get out! Those suckers are heavy!!

I don't do groceries at WalMart. The one that does have groceries is 1/2 hr away, don't have the time for the trip and shopping. Just go to Shop Rite.  My DH and I will go to WalMart and wander a bit, then out. He doesn't seem to have the problem w/ the wagons, I don't have the energy to fight w/ them.

Karen, it's good to see you on here, hope you are doing well.

Hope you are all having a pain free day!

God bless.  Alice.

Posted 4/17/2010 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
My DH usually goes to the grocery store, but the other day, he'd been out of town for a week and I had to go. I almost used the electric riding cart, but I figured I would have to get out of it every time I tried to get something off the shelf, so I pushed a cart. But my legs and feet are so bad, if I have to be on them for more than 10 minutes I am just dying. I also hate to stand in line--anywhere. Diane
Posted 4/18/2010 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hubby thought he would be sweet and push the cart for me ... no, no that wouldn't work either since the cart is what's stopping me from melting into a puddle on the floor :)

grrr ... my cart ... MINE. I need it.
Posted 4/18/2010 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
You guys are the best!  Thanks for making me feel like I'm not alone in the world  smilewinkgrin  Here's to a pain-free Sunday - yeah, right....well, we can dream, can't we?  Austenfan, that greeter had a lot of nerve, talking to you like that!  When those things happen to me, I always think of great things to say - later, when I'm alone!  Maybe I'll start a thread about what we SHOULD say to people who are rude to us.  Maybe, unless I forgetcool 
Posted 4/19/2010 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry about the cart thing my husband usually won't let me push it unless I'm feeling adventurous that day.  Which is like going off your meds but sitting around, the freedom is there but short lived.  Then he has to finish.  Otherwise I don't care what others think because this is how I live.  I do give you kudos for asking people for help because I just tough it out unless I've got my wrist braces on.  Maybe you could try that?!  If they see both wrists with braces they'll be a little nicer about it??  I'm 24 and my boss' look at me like "I say that I understand, but I can't keep making adjustments for you," because I pad around with a limp 70% of the time and wrist braces when its really bad.  Plus i don't know any better because I've had it since I was 15 and I have that wonderful "who gives a rats butt about how I'm getting that stupid detergent in my cart?!"  On top of that I remember that I DID do gymnastics and played around like a crazy thing with my friends and would zoom around on my bike, but now I think about trying it now and go "maybe tomorrow in 2020 when I'm dead."
Posted 4/19/2010 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the good idea about the wrist braces, Arianna (ironic though, because my wrists almost never bother me!)  I like your sense of humor.  Your last line reminded me of what my dear Dad said when he was in a nursing home, dying of Lou Gehrig's Disease.  I don't think he'd mind...he valued a sense of humor above most everything.  I was saying I wouldn't bother him if he was asleep next time I came, and he looked at me and said, deadpan, "No no - always wake me.  Unless it's nighttime or I'm dead." turn I miss him every day.  What a great example of a "glass is half full" person I had. 

Sorry to digress!  And if I forgot before, welcome to the forum! 

Posted 4/19/2010 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I can't push a cart that pulls to the side either.  I just had an idea, though.  Not sure how it would work but I know I'll try it next time.  How about getting in front of the cart and pulling it!  The front wheels are the ones that make it pull to the side so  you would have far better control pulling it. 

 

Sherrine

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