By Elizabeth Ho

I was watching the Dr Bruce Carruther’s Uncovering Significant Patters in M.E. DVD which came in the last journal. When he touched on the trouble his patients have with shopping centres, he touched a nerve with his audience of PWCs as a murmur of assent went through them. It was the most noise they had registered so far. It indicated shopping is a major problem all PWCs grapple with. Mega malls in particular are extremely hostile environments to PWCs.

On Dr Bell’s rating scale I am a frisky 40, which means I walk around shopping centres so I will have a different perspective from Vicki’s and I won’t cover any she has covered.

• Get a disabled driver’s permit if you qualify. Speak to your GP about it (further advice on the mobility parking scheme will be published shortly).
• Time yourself and don’t dally. Once it reaches the pumpkin hour, go home.
• Incorporate shock absorbing features into your footwear. Vibration is a source of fatigue. This includes thick rubber soles and shoe inserts. Support hose can help those who faint. These hose come in different grades (as your GP).
• Rest whenever possible. If your partner is browsing, sit in a chair and try and relax your muscles and still your mind. This will often let you know how much energy you have left.
• Exit stores with loud music and tell teen you will sit outside and wait. They get used to it.
• Food courts are tiring with the noise, movement and smells. Buy the food and find somewhere more restful to eat it. If you are challenged, stand your ground. Tell them you are very ill. Most people will accept this.
• Take your sunglasses. These can cut the glare of the fluoro lights.
• Rest. Sit in a seat, put on your sunglasses and close your eyes. You will be amazed at how your brain reacts to this. It relieves the over stimulation the brain is experiencing by cutting out vibration, light and movement so all you are dealing with is sound and sensation.
• If there is a queue, come back. Sit quietly for five or ten minutes and it might disappear.
• Grab a trolley – those half size ones are perfect for PWCs. Put your luggage in there. Carrying weight is more fatiguing than pushing it.
• Avoid highly chemical areas such as perfume counters, cleaning products isles.
• Pick your time to suit your body clock. I am a morning person so a very early supermarket trip suits me.
• If you plan to shop and it could be a bad day, err in the side of caution. Ask someone to get you the most essential items or pay that bit more and get one or two things from the gas station, if you can.
• Use the internet to shop. (I need to take my own advice here!)

Like Vicki I need a down-hill run (for pushing trolley), air (which is completely lacking in pockets throughout these mega malls.) If you feel yourself dropping, it could be the lack of oxygen. I too have difficulties in certain shops (same ones as Vicki’s! ) and certain sections in others.