sick, well, diseased, challenged

[Guest guest]

> Dear all,

>

> With having CMT, how do you see yourself?

>

> 1) Do you see yourself as sick?

> 2) Or diseased?

> 3) Or well and just challenged

>

> Just wondering as this morning the Pharmacist no less (!) commented

on

> how good I look for being so sick! LOL I was just picking up my

Elavil

> refill...I left some CMT Fact Sheets with her after explaining CMT a

> bit. She was blushing and very apologetic....guess she felt stupid?

>

> ~ Gretchen

I see myself as all the above,1,2 and 3.

Rocky

[Guest guest]

4) Very well, middle aged and crazy.

----- Original Message -----

From: Gretchen Glick <liliwigg@...>

ers at groups < >

Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 11:23 AM

Subject: [] sick, well, diseased, challenged

> Dear all,

>

> With having CMT, how do you see yourself?

>

> 1) Do you see yourself as sick?

> 2) Or diseased?

> 3) Or well and just challenged

>

> Just wondering as this morning the Pharmacist no less (!) commented on

> how good I look for being so sick! LOL I was just picking up my Elavil

> refill...I left some CMT Fact Sheets with her after explaining CMT a

> bit. She was blushing and very apologetic....guess she felt stupid?

>

> ~ Gretchen

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sounds like a good topic for a poll to me

> > Dear all,

> >

> > With having CMT, how do you see yourself?

> >

> > 1) Do you see yourself as sick?

> > 2) Or diseased?

> > 3) Or well and just challenged

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

LOL BC I forgot (or deny?) I am there too! ~ G

" Bill , Digitec Security " wrote:

> 4) Very well, middle aged and crazy.

>

[Guest guest]

Now I'm going to be a real wet blanket after reading the posts on this question

Gretchen has posted and answer this question honestly but the answers I give

I've felt for a long time.

1) Do you see yourself as sick?

I use the word ill and have done since things started going seriously wrong.

I do this for both me and others who can relate to both times when I could walk

and was 'normal' to now when I can't walk and things aren't normal. For me it is

a kind of cut of point from one lifestyle to another.

2) Or diseased?

Yes I see myself as diseased. I have very poor blood circulation and have

the blotchy skin on my feet, legs, hands and arms. (This also appears to be a

sign of CMT) so when I look at my blotchy, funny coloured skin yes I know I'm

diseased, even with a sun tan you can see the lines beneath it. Winter is great

to some degree because I wear trousers which hide my funny deformed legs and

feet and long sleeves hide my funny coloured arms but when I look at my hands -

it's a constant reminder.

3) challenged

It's not just a case of whether it's convenient or not but how much is lifting

my coffee mug going to hurt. I need to go to the loo but I've got to go upstairs

what else do I need to do while I'm up there or is there something I need to

bring down with me. But I can't leave going to the loo too long because of

accidents yes - this has happened to me and I found it the most embarrasing

point with my CMT so I feel I need to go more often than most just avoid such

situations. I literally live on a sofa in my sitting room with a lap top

computer which for some might be fine - for me I hate it but I don't have a

choice. Any movement I make has to be calculated and used to it's full potential

that way I try and cut down on pain. Anything just to cut down on moving but

even sitting still or resting is painful. If that ain't challenging that you

tell me what is.

These are my answers to the question Gretchen asked and I've answered them

honestly but on a physical level. Yes my situation depresses me. I was always a

busy person who longed for more time at home - now I have this enforced

situation and of living in a world that in my wildest dreams would qualify as a

horrific nightmare I'm doing my best to cope with it.

Just because my body doesn't work my mind does and thankfully (although) painful

my fingers do I'd like to think that I'm making a new life for myself and God

Bless the internet for giving me the chance.

Love

Sue

The important thing is never to stop questioning.

Website www.horder-mason.freeserve.co.uk

Freelance Writer and CMTer

" I Thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work,

and my God. " - Helen Keller

----- Original Message -----

From: Gretchen Glick

ers at groups

Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 7:23 PM

Subject: [] sick, well, diseased, challenged

Dear all,

With having CMT, how do you see yourself?

3) Or well and just challenged

Just wondering as this morning the Pharmacist no less (!) commented on

how good I look for being so sick! LOL I was just picking up my Elavil

refill...I left some CMT Fact Sheets with her after explaining CMT a

bit. She was blushing and very apologetic....guess she felt stupid?

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

The diseases I most terrified of are Cancer runs in

both sides of the family,and Alhymerez(sp). IF I had

a choice I wouldn't chose any of them. But if I had a

choice this one disorder I can live with, may need

help to get around, but OH WELL, I will manage " With A

Little Help From My Friends "

-- kedleson@... wrote:

> I see myself as normal, especially when I consider

> the whole realm of things.

> Yes, CMT is an inconvenience for me, but it could

> be far worse! I have

> NEVER considered myself handicapped.

>

> Karon

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________