How do you....?
 

get any shopping done in the middle of a flare when you're on steroids and have no energy and have to take a parent who also has mobility issues with you to go shopping??

I also have absolutely no idea what to get my dad for Xmas this year. We were able to get my mom a couple of things, but I have no idea what to get my dad other than a watch. (he's insisting he needs one, and he does need one)

I still need to get my mom some more stuff, and I have to take her to get something for my dad. I'm about to see if my sister will take my mom shopping for me. Problem is, my mom has no clue what to go buy either, and she gets a bit...grumpy...when she doesnt have a specific thing to go get. My sister hasnt had to shop with my mom since she was a teenager, and that usually ended in fights with my mom screaming at my sister. Maybe if I get a list from my dad and give that to my sister and send her out with mom, then my mom wont feel so stressed out about shopping.

I think I'm going to go (gently) beat my head against my desk in frustration. Why does the MS always pick the most inconvenient times to make things really really difficult?

My dad is going to take me shopping (hopefully) to get some stuff for my mom tomorrow. But he has mobility issues (heart problems) that doesnt give him a lot of stamina. He's suggesting using my mom's wheelchair and pushing me in it if I'm still not physically up to walking thru a store tomorrow. (then he has something to lean on with the chair, but he'd be pushing my big butt thru the store)

I suppose that as long as I have something to lean against and push, like a wheelchair, I could push him thru the store, or we can take turns or something.

I just dont know how to deal with Xmas while dealing with MS crap.

ArGh!!!!

Tell those little steroids to work magic on me...I'd like my $5 worth of 'roids to break the continuous streak of flaming flares. It's getting really annoying. At least they're helping the back pain.

I do shopping on line or on TV. ShopNBC.com has good watches.

even when feeling pretty good, I am not brave enough to go into the crowds. no no no not going to happen.

Me, too. Online shopping is the best and I think I'd love it even if I didn't have mobility issues! I used to shop QVC all the time.....when I had money! Now, I still watch it but only get things I truly need. No more D&B purse buying...but I can "window shop" and love it!

Why does the MS always pick the most inconvenient times to make things really really difficult?

I wonder if would be easier to just accept that MS makes things really really difficult at all times. Convenient or not.

But as far as practical solutions to your questions, I second what the others have suggested.

I really, really, really disliked crowds and crowded stores before I had MS. Now......I have a good excuse to avoid the mall and all the discount stores and just shop in my PJ's with a cup of coffee! :cool: Nearly all the big name stores offer free shipping so it's really safer, more convenient and a heck of a lot more comfortable for me! I think it's a win-win! :)

I think I'm going to end up drag racing my mom in a scooter at Target and WalMart this week. (see who's battery dies first)

If I can manage to get myself into the shower and get washed up AND still have the energy to go shopping, I might take my mom somewhere for an hour tonight.

I may just change my clothes, brush my hair, run a washcloth over my face and spray on some deodorant and see if I can manage to last an hour and a half at the store. My dad can take me shopping later this week. He's got more of an idea for things for my mom and we can probably make actual plans on where to go to get things.

With my mom, it's basically just take her to the store, and set her loose. I might be able to walk thru the store with a shopping cart and let her do the scooter thing. I went to the grocery store with my parents on friday (just before the big storm hit) and got thru the store fairly well before I couldnt do any more and had to go out to the car...and that was when my legs were really really drunk. Now they just seem to be tipsy, so maybe I can manage a little shopping today.

My aunt told me that some of the tiredness and lack of ambition to do any shopping might be a side effect of the prednisone. She's probably right.

Looks like my dad set himself up a HSN and a QVC account for himself. I have accounts for myself for both those places too. I just havent seen anything good on either channel that I want to buy. (well, there were a couple of computers I liked...and a pendant watch for myself, but I cant afford the prices they wanted for those)

I just had to step out into the snow on the porch to rescue a gift that just showed up. So glad that we have grab bars on the walls outside the door. Now I need to call the snow removal guys to clear off our porch. (even if I was feeling good, I wouldnt be doing any shoveling)

I am not the world`s biggest fan of the Christmas holiday season by any means. It has become far to commercial for me, and I am not religious to boot.

I don`t usually buy things except for the young grand kids, every one else gets cash or a gift card. They all know I am disabled and getting out in good weather can be an issue, if they aren`t happy with what I give them they can always go some where else? :)

For me it is just a time for the family to be together, eat, and talk.

I managed to go shopping.

after a night of absolutely NO sleep at all.

Went to breakfast with my parents, then my dad dropped us off at a few places so we could shop for pressies for him while he sat out in the parking lot.

Then my dad took us to Target so my mom could find some very cheap, meaningless gifts (the prewrapped season xmas presents that places like Target and Kmart usually have) She likes to get my dad that kind of stuff.

Took FOREVER to find the cheap meaningless gifts. They had them hidden on an endcap in the bowels of the store. I walked thru most of it, using a shopping cart like a walker. My mom had a store scooter I think I did pretty good for the first 40 minutes or so of Target, but started to kvetch about my right leg getting tired after that.

Finally got close to the registers with my mom and I suddenly could not take it anymore. I told my mom we were switching and hijacked her scooter. Let her do all the purchasing and signing for stuff. Something that she doesnt usually do anymore. Kind of nice to just sit in the scooter and try to get the energy up to go out to the car.

Had to take my jacket off because I got over heated, and then met up with my dad when I was putting the scooter away and making sure it got plugged back in.

I am totally wiped. As soon as I can get up the energy to clear the junk off my bed, I'm laying down and sleeping. I am SO TIRED!!!!!!!

At least we got the big present for my dad, some cheap, meaningless gifts...a couple of thoughtful things, and then talked my mom into buying me a present for her to give me (book light for my Kindle) and got her a couple of things that I dont think she noticed...even when she was loading up the stuff to pay.

I picked out a watch for myself. Got the info written down about it to give to my dad so he can go back and get it for me. (never had a fancypants watch that didnt come from a WalMart) and looked at a couple of other things that I'm going back for once I get a day or two of sleep.

Now I just have to go to Michael's Crafts and get sketch books and manga pens and crochet hooks for my nieces stockings. (waiting for their Hexbugs to arrive in the mail.) I'm buying candy for them a day or two before Xmas. (the annual pilgrimage to Walgreens at 10pm at night on Xmas-eve)

I cant believe my mom picked out a present for my aunt's pug Stella. She searched for 10 minutes for the "right" toy. I didnt think my mom liked Stella that much, but I think my mom misses TinyMonsters and wanted to make sure Stella gets spoiled on Xmas like we did to Tiny. (I got something for her too)

I'm just sitting here with my bedroom window open, cooling off so that I can get comfy enough to go to bed.

(Note to self: Self...leave the coat in car next time you go shopping.)

omg two of my little old lady friends have convinced me to go to a major mall tomorrow. did I lose my mind? have I cracked up? These two are tons of fun, and a good time shall be had, but this is gonna spend every spoon in the drawer. Fasten your seatbelts these two drive like maniacs. At least we can all giggle.

I agree with online shopping. But I am buying very few gifts at all now. With the economy the way it is... it has hit us all hard. Really simplifying a lot of things in my life....:o It just has to be that way. Trying not to feel sad about it and just remember the true meaning and what I can do realistically. :hug: