Okay, I'm taking all of us on a little Mary Dell ego trip today.
Actually, I started this episode a year ago, when Honey also took the photo I'd planned to accompany it. I'm a year older but don't look much worse than I did then. I've moved the photo to the second page of this episode to save virgin eyes from seeing it if they don't want to. Hey, it's not pornographic--just a bit suggestive.
Yes, come with me .... hop on my magic carpet ride to a land where the marvelous science of photography (without any tricks such as PhotoShop) suggests that I may not be so darned hideous after all--certainly not too bad for a gal of my advanced (50+) years. You see, my entire life, I've always felt unattractive--or, at least, the core of me did. I could fake being attractive and convince men I was attractive, but I never felt it deep inside.
And now, ironically--how many ironies does chronic disease rack up? (pun intended)--Answer: A LOT--the attractiveness that others see is doing me a disservice (though I'm happy to have it regardless).
The fact that I don't look like a middle-aged, chronically ill woman means that many health professionals I see once or twice think I'm malingering or trying to get attention or some other stupid shit, and they don't take me seriously. For the latest egregious example of this phenomenon, see Episode 41 and my nightmare consultation with a neurologist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
The fact that I don't look like a middle-aged, chronically ill woman means that co-workers, friends, even my sister and one of my sons, neither of whom sees me nearly enough, have hinted at finding my complaints hypochondriac in nature. With my son, I'm thinking it's sort of denial--no one wants a sick mom. With my sister, I think it's just that I'm the youngest and can't possibly know what I'm talking about, ha.
But I love them both dearly, of course, no matter what. None of this is easy to take in, even as I experience it day by day.
Hopefully, given the latest neuromuscular diagnosis, signs, and symptoms, those who know me well no longer doubt me. One thing my mom pounded into my head during the 29 years I was blessed to have her in my life was honesty. And the last thing I want to do is waste medical dollars when so many others need care.
And this pic is TAME compared to all the sexting going on, so no big deal there, Mom!
No, I don't look sick.
In fact, I look damned good.
So how can a woman who looks this damned good really be this damned sick?
Actually, I started this episode a year ago, when Honey also took the photo I'd planned to accompany it. I'm a year older but don't look much worse than I did then. I've moved the photo to the second page of this episode to save virgin eyes from seeing it if they don't want to. Hey, it's not pornographic--just a bit suggestive.
Yes, come with me .... hop on my magic carpet ride to a land where the marvelous science of photography (without any tricks such as PhotoShop) suggests that I may not be so darned hideous after all--certainly not too bad for a gal of my advanced (50+) years. You see, my entire life, I've always felt unattractive--or, at least, the core of me did. I could fake being attractive and convince men I was attractive, but I never felt it deep inside.
And now, ironically--how many ironies does chronic disease rack up? (pun intended)--Answer: A LOT--the attractiveness that others see is doing me a disservice (though I'm happy to have it regardless).
The fact that I don't look like a middle-aged, chronically ill woman means that many health professionals I see once or twice think I'm malingering or trying to get attention or some other stupid shit, and they don't take me seriously. For the latest egregious example of this phenomenon, see Episode 41 and my nightmare consultation with a neurologist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
The fact that I don't look like a middle-aged, chronically ill woman means that co-workers, friends, even my sister and one of my sons, neither of whom sees me nearly enough, have hinted at finding my complaints hypochondriac in nature. With my son, I'm thinking it's sort of denial--no one wants a sick mom. With my sister, I think it's just that I'm the youngest and can't possibly know what I'm talking about, ha.
But I love them both dearly, of course, no matter what. None of this is easy to take in, even as I experience it day by day.
Hopefully, given the latest neuromuscular diagnosis, signs, and symptoms, those who know me well no longer doubt me. One thing my mom pounded into my head during the 29 years I was blessed to have her in my life was honesty. And the last thing I want to do is waste medical dollars when so many others need care.
And this pic is TAME compared to all the sexting going on, so no big deal there, Mom!
No, I don't look sick.
In fact, I look damned good.
So how can a woman who looks this damned good really be this damned sick?
