Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Men Only Message Board Anybody get embarassed?

Yes, I understand. I used to call it 'scoping out the room'; figuring out where to sit so I could have the best view while downplaying my limited neck movement. Fortunately, for the last 21 years, I've worked at a job that doesn't require business meetings.


Spenser23

I have very little movement in my neck. People often say, "look at that, over there!", and I have turn my entire body around to see it. I don't normally get embarrassed when people ask if I slept funny last night?, or if I hurt my back? I just explain to them what I have and how it affects me and they are usually the ones embarrassed!

The only time I get embarrassed, is when I see a picture of myself and realize how slumped over I am. Normally, I don't give it much thought. Just vanity, I guess.

The one area the fused neck really helps me, is actually my peripheral vision. When my kids are doing something off to the side, I can tell what their doing and tell them to stop. People always say, "you really do have eyes in the back of your head!"

I'm not too self-conscious about pain or gimping around. Many of my associated issues ARE pretty embarrassing, though. Chronic sinusitis/PND has been a huge one, particularly when coupled with my misbehaving gut.

Basically, the procedure goes post-nasal drip, cough, hawk, cough, oops, time to go throw up again. Gets worse with any sort of stress, so of course getting self-conscious about it in turn makes it worse.

Awesome stuff for first dates.

Don't have so many second dates. *laugh* I've gotten pretty neurotic about my sinus-related hearing loss, too. Can see people getting irritated as I'm trying like hell to decipher what they're saying.

Hey guys!! You know i was a little embarrased when i first got my cane to gimp on, but it quickly passed cause my cane i knew was going to be my second best friend. My true embarrasment came from my best friend of all times. My Wife!! I went to try and initiate sex and her response was, "No Honey I dont think your capable, I dont want you to break on me or something." I dont know if thats more embarrasing, and just completely mean, but that gave me a really good complex for a long time. I feel bad for anyone whom has had any embarassment. Sorry im so dislexic that my spelling really stinks LOL Im more embarrased about that than my AS. LOL Well until the wifey pulls another slick moment. LOL Take care guys!!

ooops. . .I ment to say,. . I dont know if thats more so embarrasing or just completely mean. Sorry for the typo in the above sentance.

I understand!!! I'm a very proud and independent person and honestly I get embarrassed when i have to ask for help, especially in public. I tend to only go places when I know I'm having a really good day and all of my extremities are working (so that way I won't have to move my neck or shoulders constantly, drop something, or fall). On days that I don't have a choice I try to only go when my husband is home so that way if i need something he can help me and I don't have to ask people for help and then explain why i need the help.

I don't like feeling crippled or like and invalid, but so many times I do and those are the moments when I look up to the evens and just want to scream "WHY?!?!?!?!?", but I have faith and my faith tells me that it's because I'm supposed to be here to show other people that no matter what your obstacles you can make your life whatever you want it to be (or at least that's what I tell myself and somehow that seems to make it better, LOL)!

Hang in there!!! This is a long road but we'll all get through it! Baby steps, just take baby steps.

Yea, baby steps, just like the movie called, What About Bob. Baby Steps:) I like that. Thank for the reminder armywife!! Take care!!

Embarassed? No, at least not as much as when I go to the Urologist and he pops his gloves on and then puts on KY.
We all can get embaressed and annoyed at times. I get through tough times better with humour than I do with anger.

My friends know whats up with my back, but some people do ask about it. I don't mind usually. My neck is fused and my shoulders are hunched a bit, not Quasimoto like but a bit :-)

I find it interesting that I've had a few people that are also afflicted with AS ask me if I had it and then I notice that they did too. Later on I started noticing people that also had it just by the way they moved and turned. THEN I ask them if they have it and they are surprised I knew about it until they noticed I had it too. It could be worse I guess.

I get embarrassed alot! So much so that I will forgo the pain and try to do things even though they hurt. I have a cane, but I refuse to use it. I am only 29, I should not need a cane! Does anyone have a handicap parking permit? I do not want to take that step either, even if it means waking a mile through a parking lot! I get embarrassed when my wife tells me I cannot do something because I will hurt myself or when she gets angry with me because I cannot perform during sex because of the pain. I get embarrassed when I see the other dads at basketball practice playing with their sons and I am sitting on the sidelines just watching.