I am so tired of knocking things over...

[u/jacque9565]

I am visiting family in another state for the holidays. While leaving the hotel this morning, I somehow walked into a little wooden snowman decoration in the lobby and it fell over and broke. I couldn't stand it back up so I just rested it against the wall and apologized to the desk staff who saw me do it. Got in the car and just cried while my husband hugged me.

I know this is part of the process, I have RP. My vision isn't even that bad, it just happened to be in my blind spot from the moment I turned the corner til I made contact with it. I just hate it so much. I know this is going to happen many, many more times but it's usually with wet floor signs. The decoration couldn't have been more than 20 bucks, but still. It's embarrassing, frustrating, and I hate it so much.

[u/akrazyho]

It maybe time to embrace the white cane.

[u/jacque9565 → u/akrazyho]

Perhaps. I'm still very well sighted and struggle with performance anxiety using the cane. But you're right, I need to consider taking that leap.

[u/BassMarigold → u/jacque9565]

The cane is a tool to help you. It is really difficult to accept vision loss or visual imap and many people want to look and feel ‘normal’. Therapy is a good idea as well as meeting folks with RP that are independent. RP is common, so it’s easy to find folks to talk to.

Think about it- Which would feel better to you- using a useful tool and not running into most obstacles? Or running into things but not having the ‘embarrassment’ of carrying a tool that identifies you as having a visual impairment?

I’m totally biased and have strong opinions.

In the US you can get a free cane, but you need training also.

[u/ukifrit → u/akrazyho]

I second this.

[u/Alive-Technician9200 → u/akrazyho]

i agree because it really gives independence

[u/razzretina]

If it's to a point where you're knocking things over that frequently and it's this upsetting, start using that white cane. The next thing you knock down might be a wind chime display and believe me you don't wawant that to happen.

[u/jacque9565 → u/razzretina]

I feel like there's a story behind this? Lol feel free to share

[u/razzretina → u/jacque9565]

Haha there is! I was born blind so I have long since come out the other side and laugh when stuff like this happens.

I was in an NFB training program working on walking around inside the mall, which honestly was always more stressful for me than walking along the highway or crossing huge busy streets. The way to navigate a mall is to try and stay on one side. But of course sighted shop owners love putting annoying signs and displays right outside every door. Well, I'm pretty good with my cane but sometimes you miss things, which I found out when I walked full force into a huge display of wind chimes right outside the hippie nature store! It thankfully didn't fall down but you'll never guess what wasn't outside in the middle of foot traffic the next time I was there. XD

Before I had my cane I was constantly hitting stuff on my blind side and broke plenty of things as a result. Now it's a much less common occurance and I've never broken anything valuable or which needed to be replaced since getting it. Now when I'm in someone's house and not using my cane, that's a different story, heh. It's worth it to use that cane though; it tells sighted people you have a vision problem so they are more likely to tell you when something is in the way or be understanding if you do bump into stuff. likefu

[u/jacque9565 → u/razzretina]

That's pretty good! Keeping it positive is always a plus! I walked into a glass screen door in front of like 10 people once and that was the worst one until today. Haha I always learn to laugh but it still hurts in the moment.

[u/razzretina → u/jacque9565]

I find these things startling in the moment but every time it happens I like to imagine a sighted person just across the way having the worst moral panic of their life so I laugh for them. And for every glass door you run into or screen door I have broken, it's always funny to remember that sighted people do this too and have no excuse for it. XD

[u/jacque9565 → u/razzretina]

Having an excuse is the best part!!!

[u/Toby_E_2003 → u/jacque9565]

My go to response whenever I walk into something is usually well, I didn't see that coming.

[u/EvilChocolateCookie]

I totally get it. I broke so many things when I was little. One time I was playing a Wii game and managed to smash a chandelier with a controller.

[u/Fredchasing475]

You sound like a lot like me 10 or 15 years ago. At the time, I thought my vision wasn't that bad either, and I just put up with walking into all sorts of stuff, and frequently bleeding shins from walking into coffee tables and other low objects. I waited to get a cane until I had two bad falls tripping over stuff I didn't notice.

So personally, I'm with the other commenters who are suggesting a cane. For what it's worth, no one ever has given me a hard time because of the cane, or tried make fun of me and so forth. I even still wore my glasses for part of the time when I first started, because they helped with my remaining vision. I thought people might go ape, accusing me of "faking." No such experience. At worst, a lot of people offered to help when I don't really need it, which is more kind of nice than kind of annoying.

anyhow, good luck. I think one of the difficult things about RP is that the vision loss creeps up on you, and you end up adapting yourself to what your condition was a while ago and not what it is now. Which not only makes it obviously difficult to adapt, but pretty frustrating.

[u/Average_Coffee_Joe]

I'm so sorry you had that happen! Part of the issue is sighted people tend to place things right where people logically walk to get it noticed more. Great idea in theory but aweful for the blind. The number of sandwich board signs I've knocked over is insane.

What I have learned is you can't dwell on events like this too much. Reflect on whether or not there is anything you can do in the future to prevent it but give yourself some grace. After all accidents happen regardless if your blind or sighted.

[u/kivrin2]

I understand. We went on vacation last week, and the second I walked into the hotel lobby, I tripped over a "wet floor" thing. I almost took out their entire Christmas tree. (The funny part was the sign thing was shaped like a banana peel.)

While I have quite a bit of sight directly forward, I have major blind spots. I often carry a cane when I'm in areas I am unfamiliar with.

I really wish I could post a sign on me, warning "tunnel vision".

[u/East-Panda3513]

I went to grab my glasses when I woke up this morning and sent them flying behind my bed.

It took my two older daughters and my husband about twenty minutes to find where they went.

I hate losing my glasses the most out of all the rest. Which I manage even right on the side of me.

I consider the rest incidental...I just say sorry, I'm blind. (legally blind) At the end of the day, we are all just trying our best, and we can't do anymore than that.

[u/505Griffon]

As a fellow member of the RP club I can relate. Wish I had a dollar for every wet floor sign I've kicked over.

[u/Alive-Technician9200]

firstly, im really happy for u that u have a supportive husband

also i feel u but its part of all of this, stay strong you are very strong and you got this

[u/jdash54]

I’ve been blind all of my life, walking with weight back on my heels and using feet to feel the floor has helped with the lower part of my body and not walking fast either.If not using a white cane, for upper part of my body in a strange space my left hand is in front of my forehead and my right is a little over waist level. One thing more due to bowel changes I wear disposible diapers and p.u.l. or rubber pants 24/7 and I don’t run to bathrooms. When the extra underware needs to be used it needs to be used. Then I go and shower and change. It’s possible diabetes medicines caused bowel changes next year sometime I’m due for an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Only reason I’m using disposible diapers is I’m in a regulated intermediate care facility better to use reuseable diapers since with the correct ones they absorb more and give you a chance to get somewhere and change when necessary. None of the disposible diapers marketed since World War II. have started biodegrading either so they’re contributing lots to the plastics problems we’re having. In short give yourself cause to moove more slowly and gently and you’ll break fewer items in future.