Guest guest Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Hi Barb, I don't wear shorts but I do admire people with disabilities that do. When Adam needed AFOs he was 4 years old. The only one in the family to have CMT bad enough at that time to need AFOS. I was really struggling with all of the feelings that I had. Adam and I went to the grocery store one night and we saw 3 people in shorts wearing AFOs. I stopped to talk to one person. We hit it off and talked for a long time. I thanked her for wearing shorts and letting my son know he had nothing to feel embarrassed about. She hugged me and gave me her number. My point is for as many people that stare I think you are an inspiration to 3x's as many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Barb, Yes, I've always felt funny in shorts! I never knew what they called my legs until recently - Stork Legs. I've also heard them compared to " two upside down champagne bottles. " This all from the CMT Disorders - A Handbook for Primary Care Physicians. I can certainly understand how you feel. But as long as it's hot out (I live in land, it gets sticky humid here) and as long as my legs are shaved, I'm wearing shorts! LOL! A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 I wear shorts in the summer. to be honest it gives me a lot of opportunities to tell people about CMT. when someone says what are those things you are wearing on your legs It opens the door for me to explain my CMT and make the public a little more aware about this disease. my afos and my purple ribbon are great ways to start a conversation. in a week i will be going on my relay for life walk as a breast cancer survivor and i will proudly wear my pink ribbon and my purple ribbon too. Cathleen in Arkansas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Hi, I, too, used to feel awkward when I started wearing my AFOs nearly 10 years ago. But living in the south, I figured to heck with what people think, I'm going to be comfortable. Now I don't think twice about wearing shorts with my AFOs. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 I was very happy to hear this! I never wear shorts, even in summer, except when going to the beach in the company of *very* close friends or my wife. I live in Sydney, Australia and it gets very hot and everyone else has long pants on, but never me! I suppose it is part of my policy of ignoring the CMT as far as possible - out of sight out of mind. I'd love to be at a point where I could just think " stuff what people think " and wear shorts. I get a bit upset when I actually look at my wasted lower legs. I can think " stuff what people think " in regards to falling over and being unable to stand steadily in a normal posture. Sigh...! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 I used to feel somewhat that way, but living in the South you get over that plus my mother made me wear shorts when I was a kid so I got over it real quick. It's just too hot for vanity. One other thing that I've found is that metal braces are much cooler in the summer. They have much less skin contact. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 Hi Barb in Ca. This is Barb from Fl. I wear shorts ALL the time. I also have leg braces. It takes a little geting used to I admit. I decided yrs ago that if people wanted to stare at me go ahead. Living where it's hot 90 percent of the time and being comfortable outweighs the looks. anymore I don't even pay attention.I've been a shorts wearer since the mid 80's. If I have slacks on i'm dressed up!! Dress however YOU are comfortable and keep your head up.If we are positive others will pick up on this and be the same way. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Barb, I know what you mean about the selfconscious issues. I myself have the same kind of feelings you described, but it is my hands that I am worriedd about. I don't really wear any rings or bracelets because I try to keep a person's attention on anything but my hands, lol... Talk about how tattered my clothes are that's fine; but don't dare say a thing about my claws.... :-( But it just takes a little self convincing to change that. I just tell myself that they aren't staring like I am a circus side show freak, they are trying to understand through staring, as if they can look hard enough that the disease itself that is present will tell them what it is, what it is about, what it causes, etc. So just pretend that you have an awesome tatto or maybe some ice cream spilled by a child or grandchild. Hope this helps, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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