Visible and invisible conditions.
Living with a visible long term complication of diabetes has reinforced that decision to me. I live with Charcot foot a devastating, destructive complication of diabetes that has caused the bones and joints in my feet and ankle to collapse and displace. Over the past 25 years I've lived with one - sometimes both my legs- in plaster casts or protective boots and need crutches to walk. I can't disguise my leg in a cast, sunglasses and a baseball hat don't touch it and each time I leave the house I can pretty much guarantee I will get at least one comment about my leg. It seems to be fair game for others to joke and pass comment on and it appears that there just has to be some banana skin, 'Carry on Matron' comedy reason for my leg being in a cast. Usually I ignore the comments but sometimes they really do hit a nerve. Recently someone shouted at me to have my leg off and get a new one. Not remotely necessary or funny especially as I have been advised to have a below knee amputation. The person making those comments had absolutely no idea who I am or why my leg is in a cast but still felt justified and entitled to comment. It is my disability and no one has any right to comment or make fun of it (apart from me if I should ever feel the need - which I don't)
Thinking back I have had so many comments over the years - just a throw away 'joke' by someone I don't know. The fact I only get upset when the comments are too real and upsetting speaks volumes for all the other glib, unnecessary words I've had said to me.
"Where's your parrot Long John?" "Did you enjoy your trip?" "You must have been really plastered!" "You'll be on the bench on Saturday!" "You won't be representing us at the Olympics/World Cup/Commonweath Games" etc dependent on the current sporting event. "Serves you right for going skiing". "Did you get the number of the bus before it knocked you down?" " You need to stay off the strong stuff " "Drink more milk that would mend it" and so it goes on.
Some people walk along side me and offer to race me "come on Hop-a-long I'll race you to the corner" just what gives any one the right to find my disability their business to poke fun at?
"We can help you claim for that" - the ambulance chaser firms presume I can claim for a pothole or an uneven pavement accident. I mean just who would I send my claim to for a neuropathic complication of diabetes that destroys joints and bones? I have considered taking them up on the offer just to see how far I get before the who to blame and who do I send the claim to questions halts proceedings.
I've had a local church group stop me on a few occasions and ask me to accompany them to a service where they guarantee my bones will heal - never mind the fact I haven't actually got an ankle joint to heal just a load of metal pins and plates.
At the other end of the comments spectrum I have overly concerned people who feel the need to congratulate me and cheer me on just for managing to leave the house "Congratulations, aren't you brave!" and "Aren't you doing well" when I'm just walking to the shop to get some milk.
I've tried to work out why a broken leg is considered fair game to comment on without any idea what the cause is. On a few occasions I've tried to explain that Charcot foot is a complication of diabetes only to be told that I'm wrong and diabetes doesn't do that to people and I should get a second opinion - as if I haven't sought expert advice on my Charcot foot over the past 25 years!
It is a rare complication thankfully and I don't expect anyone to know about it. Sadly I didn't know about it when it happened to me nor more's the pity did the medic I saw who diagnosed a sprain and said I'd be fine in a week. My leg in a plaster cast does however seem to remain something others feel completely at ease commenting about. Enough is enough,just stop it please.
