Handicap Sign

[sue35]

Hi guys-
I was wondering how low is your lung function for the people who had handicapped signs. I had one when I was in the high 30s but now I am in the 50s and don't know if I qualify. It doesn't seem like it with the research I have done but it is really hard for me to walk sometimes so I was wondering how people got through the red tape. Thanks<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Sue 24w/CF

 

[anonymous]

I dont know where you live but here when the sign expires we just go and renew it and say Cystic Fibrosis. They dont even ask any questions. Once the Dr gives you the note, it is not up to City Hall to question it.!! Deb<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">

 

[ladybug]

I've inquired about a sign before when I was in the 50's, and my docs just sort of scoffed at me (I was in Texas at an accredited center)... I was asking for it cause where I went to grad school, we had to park under a bridge that was soooo polluted... I often ended up parking nearly a mile away and breathing the exhaust the entire way to the building, and I would have coughing fits when I got to the building.

I was so discouraged when my docs acted like I was weird for asking and just never brought the subject up again.... Is it just MY docs that seem to be oblivious to the plight of CFers??? I mean, first the handicap sticker in texas and now the pain meds in utah! urgh!!!!!

 

[Emily65Roses]

Check me out, I'm in the 70s, and I have one. It's not that hard one to get one, no matter your lung function, if you have CF.

As a disclaimer, I should say, I rarely use it. I hate using it. Mike hounds me to more often than I want to. I just have it for when I <i>do</i> need it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> It was really useful at Disney. Those parking lots are miles away from the parks.

 

[LindseyRose]

All I did was print out the form from the DMV website and brought it to my doctor and said, "Here, can you fill this out?" Easy as that. I told him I have trouble walking long distances and he said okay. My PFT's were probably in the 70's or so. I'm not sure what the requirement is, but he didn't question it. He just signed it off. I guess it just depends on the doctor. I'm in California, BTW...

 

[cutiepatootie]

I thought once you had one they couldn't take it away from you, unless it is a temperary one. So if you had one already couldn't you just renew that one after it expires? That's how it works where I come from at least.

 

[Emily65Roses]

Yeah and to echo Karla... My expires and I quote "lifetime." There are no PFT or lung function pre-reqs. I have it until I die, no questions asked. I don't see why yours would no longer work properly just because your PFTs changed.

 

[anonymous]

Ok, I have to say I wonder if some/most of you wanting a sign are just being lazy. Excercise is good for us. Give yourself some extra time and walk. BTW My PFTs are in my 20s and never even thought of getting a sign.

 

[JazzysMom]

For me it was just a matter of getting a letter of need from my doctor OR having them fill out the form. No ??? asked. In our area we have many people that get them on a temporary basis while recovering from surgery, injuries etc. To Annonymous who ?? if we are being lazy by wanting a sign. Some days I will admit that I dont need to use it, but I have. Then there are the days (in which I applied for it to begin with) where I will pass out from walking too far. Exercise is good for us yes, but our bodies have to be conditioned to do so. I even had people ??? why if I am that bad that I can manage to go grocery shopping, but not park far away. Well when its all said & done it takes me ALL day to actually shop then to get the stuf into the house & put away. Nothing is as simple as it appears. I applaud you for having pfts in the 20s & no need for the marker, but dont bunch us all together. Not everyone handle low pfts like you do!

 

[Faust]

I'm constantly looking for turds parking in the handicap spots.

 

[Landy]

Maybe I should start a new thread for this, but i'm wondering about any experiences you've had using your sticker or placard. The reason I ask is...I've had a handicap placard since the beginning of last winter. I decided that if I ever have a bad cold & it's -10 below I would like to park in a handicap spot (forget it at WalMart--they're all taken, different story though).
So anyway, one day last week I was at Lowe's and really feeling crappy but forcing myself to get in the store & get a rug for the pups. So I decide to park in a handicap spot for the first time since getting it (to prideful I guess). When I come back out accompanied by an associate & help him load this rug that's more like a carpet remnant into our truck, this guy next to me is grumbling the whole time, walks in front of my husband's truck, looks at the handicap sign, looks at me--still grumbling & finally says "That's bull$hit, you're not handicapped". So I'm ready for the confrontation & I say "Why don't you spend a day in my shoes" and I'm ready for a comeback, I ain't gonna take his crap, then he gets into his car & drives off much to my dismay--I was ready to take him on with my medical history and didn't even get the chance!
In his defense, I have to admit when I see someone that weighs 300+ lbs get out of their car in a handicap spot, I have passed judgment but kept my comments to myself and one time I saw a guy park in a handicap spot at the mall & it was raining & he runs up to the store and that had me wondering if he was handicapped, etc. so maybe I was getting paid back, who knows?
I'd be curious to hear anyone else's story about people questioning if they are really handicapped--I'm sure this has happened to some of you too.

 

[debs2girls]

I am not sure what the protocol is for getting one. I would like to have one myself, only to use on a sometime basis. I do not have cf my dd does. Sometime she is too worn out to walk much and with my own health problems I cant carry her very far, it would be nice to use but I feel funny about using it because of people like the anon poster that judges when it is not their place to do it.

 

[Emily65Roses]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>
Ok, I have to say I wonder if some/most of you wanting a sign are just being lazy. Excercise is good for us. Give yourself some extra time and walk. BTW My PFTs are in my 20s and never even thought of getting a sign.</end quote></div>

Ahhhh I just LOVE holier than thou attitudes. Maybe not everyone is as "motivated" as you. Whether or not your PFTs are that low, everyone is different. Maybe some of the people who have them have other/different problems than you. Don't assume. I thought one of "us" would know better than to assume. Hah. Seems everyone's ignorant, no matter who they are. We all have a right to them if we want them. I'd rather park near class and not cough through the first 20 minutes of it. And if you'd notice, most of the people here that have one, say they rarely use it. They just have it for when they <i>do</i> want to use it. So shove off.

Lynda, I do have that problem. I used to park in the handicapped section at school so I wouldn't have to park all the way across campus. I got yelled at for it twice, once from a cop. *headesk* The cop shut up when I showed him the sticker, but the other lady continued to give me attitude. Now I just park across campus, walk to class, and hack through the first half of it. I love judgmental people. As for judging other people... As long as someone has a legal sticker, I don't give it a second thought. I give them the benefit of the doubt. If they've stolen it from their little old granny, then hell. There's nothing I can do off the bat to find that out, short of searching their house. Some people do that, yes, but most people that have a sticker have it legally. So I just look for the sticker, and if it's there, I smile, and continue on.

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Lynda</b></i>

Maybe I should start a new thread for this, but i'm wondering about any experiences you've had using your sticker or placard. The reason I ask is...I've had a handicap placard since the beginning of last winter. I decided that if I ever have a bad cold & it's -10 below I would like to park in a handicap spot (forget it at WalMart--they're all taken, different story though).

So anyway, one day last week I was at Lowe's and really feeling crappy but forcing myself to get in the store & get a rug for the pups. So I decide to park in a handicap spot for the first time since getting it (to prideful I guess). When I come back out accompanied by an associate & help him load this rug that's more like a carpet remnant into our truck, this guy next to me is grumbling the whole time, walks in front of my husband's truck, looks at the handicap sign, looks at me--still grumbling & finally says "That's bull$hit, you're not handicapped". So I'm ready for the confrontation & I say "Why don't you spend a day in my shoes" and I'm ready for a comeback, I ain't gonna take his crap, then he gets into his car & drives off much to my dismay--I was ready to take him on with my medical history and didn't even get the chance!

In his defense, I have to admit when I see someone that weighs 300+ lbs get out of their car in a handicap spot, I kind of pass judgment and one time I saw a guy park in a handicap spot at the mall & it was raining & he runs up to the store and that had me wondering if he was handicapped, etc. so maybe I was getting paid back, who knows?

I'd be curious to hear anyone else's story about people questioning if they are really handicapped--I'm sure this has happened to some of you too.</end quote></div>


I have had more comment from people who know me, but dont know I have CF then strangers. They all say "WHats wrong with you, you look perfectly fine to me." I have given answers that varies from "Dont judge a book by its cover to well the next time I am puking up blood I will give you a call to yeah you would never I am dying!." As far as getting a marker when its your kid who has CF, I would think the same applies. Unlike the handicapped lincense plates my marker can move with me from car to car. I would imagine its similiar for kids. Check with your local municipal clerk to see if the form is the same as an adult & then its up to the doctor to complete. Mine here in NY is (as I already stated) one that I can take with me that hangs on the rearview mirror. Mine has to be renewed every 5 years, but there is no charge where I am.

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

Ok, I have to say I wonder if some/most of you wanting a sign are just being lazy. Excercise is good for us. Give yourself some extra time and walk. BTW My PFTs are in my 20s and never even thought of getting a sign.</end quote></div>

Maybe because you want to use your energy actually walking around the mall/disney not the parking lot. Oh yeah, lets go shopping...park 2 miles away from the entrance...walk inside, sit down and rest while everyone else has fun.

Also, breathing issues aren't the only problem. Arthitic flares ups, joint pain that makes it hard to walk...

Besides with so much CF crap we might as well have some perks (ok, maybe a little lazy)!

 

[HairGirl]

When I was really sick it would have been nice to have a Handicap sign, I would have my husband drop me off at the front and then he would park, I understand! I honestly couldn't walk that far! Even inside I had to break for awhile! And the other part about if we're that bad why go shopping! Well, one we all need food, and two when you're stuck in a house day after day it's nice to get out even if you can't walk very far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see people all the time park in H-Parking and they look fine to me! So I keep my judgments to myself. I think CF people deserve one if they feel like it!

 

[anonymous]

Do most of you have a sticker then?

Never heard of this in the UK, probably cos my daughter is only 2. Grateful for some advice?

Charlotte<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

I am hoping that this doesn't turn into a big fight again. I truely wish that we could just support each other. Perhaps the anonamous poster that doesn't use a handicap sign lives in a better climate than some of us. Where I live we have some means and extremes with weather. That is when I use it only. If it is 90 and we have high humidity and an ozone alert - you can bet I am going to use it if I even go out, just the same when it is 20 below zero and the wind is whipping and taking your breath away. Most of the time I don't go out in extremes, but if I have to I do use my handicap placard. I have on ocassion gotten nasty comments from people, but I chose to just ignore them and thank God that I don't have to live with any nasty people.

 

[blindhearted]

I finally sucked it up and got one back in April and my PFTs are in the mid to low 30s. My mom and I talked it over. We agreed it would be better for me to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. So I had to go to the DMV and get a form for my doctor to fill out. He had no issue with doing this for me. I had more of an issue asking for it. In my state, NC, ours are good for 5yrs and then it has to be renewed. I'm not sure what the renewing process contains, but I think the doctor has to fill out another form. I know on the back of the form where it says who can qualify, "lung disease" was one of the options along with about 7 other different things. You dont have to say what you have or what your PFTs are as long as your doctor fills it out saying it is medically needed. I hardly use my sign (mostly if I have an active infection and have a hard time walking far or have a hard time breathing from the high humidity here during the summer) so I just keep it hidden in my car until I need it (lady at the DMV told me to hide it, and said it has been known for ppl to break car windows and steal them out of ppls cars).

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

I am hoping that this doesn't turn into a big fight again. I truely wish that we could just support each other. Perhaps the anonamous poster that doesn't use a handicap sign lives in a better climate than some of us. Where I live we have some means and extremes with weather. That is when I use it only. If it is 90 and we have high humidity and an ozone alert - you can bet I am going to use it if I even go out, just the same when it is 20 below zero and the wind is whipping and taking your breath away. Most of the time I don't go out in extremes, but if I have to I do use my handicap placard. I have on ocassion gotten nasty comments from people, but I chose to just ignore them and thank God that I don't have to live with any nasty people.</end quote></div>

Sorry if I offended anyone, I didn't mean to sound so harsh. I think there is a difference in getting/using one because you can and because you need to. I just got the feeling of an attitude that becasue I can get one I should. I guess sometimes I remain in denial that I am disabled so I push myself to do whatever, so that I am not different. I also feel strongly about me personally not taking advantage of things because I am disabled. I also love walking past those abusing the handycap spots with my oxygen and give them looks, hopefully making those abusing the HC spot feel guilty. BTW, I am as lazy/have low energy just as any CFer, so if I had a sign I may be tempted to use it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> I guess it is also another way of pushing myself. Take care.