Okay, okay, I suppose I CAN wear shorts, but my advanced age aside, I really
shouldn't. And, no, it's not because it's winter here and I'd look positively ridiculous. (Incidentally, you know you're ancient when you see young whippersnappers wearing shorts in the winter, or standing at the bus stop in the rain resolutely NOT holding an umbrella, and think how silly they look.)
But I've gotten off track. Back to why I shouldn't wear shorts. I can best illustrate this via a wee story. I was baking a couple of loaves of bread the other day...
.JPG) |
| Mmmm, just half an hour at 350 degrees... |
HOLY SHIT, THOSE AREN'T TWO LOAVES OF RAW DOUGH! THOSE ARE MY THIGHS!!!!!
Have you reared back from your computer, shouting in disgust and rubbing furiously at your eyes? Let me know when you're back and ready to resume reading. I'll wait...
...................
..................
Geez, it wasn't
that bad, was it? Yes? Okay, okay, take your time.
..................
How are you feeling now? Oh, still a little ill? Try a little Pepto Bismol or, if you're inclined, 3 - 4 shots of tequila. Go on. I'll wait...
There, there. It's going to be okay. I won't do that again, I promise.
.JPG) |
| Oops, I forgot! My bad! |
Hahaha - yes, of COURSE I was going to do it again. But that's the last one, really.
Ladies and gents, these horrifying images reveal the "But wait! There's MORE!" bonus you get when on an MS disease-modifying drug like Copaxone. I've been on it for a couple of years now, and so far these revolting bruises are the worst side effect. Don't get me wrong, giving the injections can be painful, and the site afterward is often sore and itchy. (NO,
sore and itchy is not how my skin is normally. Stop being rude.) But
unattractive and unsuitable for shorts? Yes indeedy. This is, in part, why I love the winter: Long pants. Maybe even long-johns for good measure. And tights. Plus snow pants.
But, come summertime, when I might
enjoy need to work in the garden or take a walk, it's hard to not want to wear shorts. Rest assured, though, I'll be keeping my bruised-fruit-like gams covered up. Thank God for those mid-calf length pants that I think went out of style in 2010. I have a closet full of them. You know, because:
 |
| Sorry!! |
Posts
i stopped Copaxone in 2007 and still have dimples in my arm injection sites…ugh!
ReplyDeleteUgh is right, but you've given me a BRILLIANT excuse for any dimples I may or may not have :)
DeleteHa! I don't wear shorts of the same reason. My whole life I have bruised easily and my legs never look presentable. No matter, it means I don't have to shave!
ReplyDeleteI'm still a slave to the razor...sigh.
DeleteI don't wear shorts out of consideration for the public. And vanity? And yes, I have similar bruises (Betaferon) and swelling and redness. Goodness how attractive. Some of them take weeks to more or less subside too.
ReplyDeletehaha - yes, there is the being-considerate-of-the-public factor, too. Oh, the things we sacrifice so others may lead more pleasant lives. Sorry you have what sounds like even worse side effects from the injections. :/
DeleteThat's okay, I can handle some bruise pics (but I'll take a shot of tequilla since you offered...thanks). Hopefully modern medicine will someday come up with remedies that don't have side effects!
ReplyDeleteAnd I had to look at your profile to see where you live, like I was thinking maybe Australia or some other southern hemisphere place, since you mention wanting to wear shorts. Virginny?
Well, I don't want to wear shorts NOW; more like when it's hot this spring/summer. Although I do see the occasional random teenager (ALWAYS a boy) trotting around in shorts here in frigid Virginny.
DeleteOuch! That sucks. I fucking hate pharma companies. They don't seem to give a shit what the side effects are, and then people have to pay through the nose to boot.
ReplyDeleteI don't wear shorts because I think they're irritating. Skirts or pants, that's it. I had second degree burn scars for awhile and I still wore skirts, because fuck it!
For YEARS I refused to wear shorts/skirts because I have super-skinny calves. Now (ain't that the way?), when I am too old to really care, I can't/won't wear them because I still have skinny calves AND revolting bruises. Lovely.
DeleteBut I like your attitude!
I get those red spots too, and only on my thighs; Those are the shots that hurt most as well. No wonder I often skip them. I am still giving myself the shots but I don't know why---I'm not RRMS any more, but have moved up to SPMS. My relapses still happen, but most are so subtle that I don't realize them until I start to get better. The last obvious one was in may, and didn;t respond to five days of SoluMedrol, alas. One of these days I think I am just going to quit the shots altogether. After almost 33 years, I'm jaded. Big Pharma isn't looking for a cure -- no no -- there's no money in that.
ReplyDeleteBut, back to your point, you probably look fetching in cropped pants, or Bermuda shorts.
YES! "Thigh night" as we call it around here is the worst. I have stopped injecting my arms because I was getting all lumpy, so the thigh shots come around way too quickly. And I agree -- no money in a cure. Sorry to hear you have progressed and that you didn't respond to SoluMedrol... Are you taking Copaxone? Rebif?
DeleteThanks, you are kind. Not sure how fetching I look, although I do have a skort that is very sexy. :)
ouch ouch ouch!!
ReplyDeletei look like i have been shot with a bb gun from taking rebif :/ don't take it on my leg/thighs any more because I was getting really bad haematomas
if i wore shorts I still would, if other people don't like seeing bruises, they dont have to look at them
The thighs are the worst, aren't they? Wish I could skip them, but I already have stopped the arm injections, so I really have to keep at the thighs.
DeleteExcellent point about the shorts; really, it's not a massive tragedy, as I didn't wear them THAT often. I find the capri pants comparably cool (temperature-wise).
Got a few flaws over here, too, but no meds to blame them on. Just heredity and advancing age.
ReplyDeleteIf you feel that you "must" stay away from shorts, but don't want to... Have you ever tried body make up? Dermablend.com is worth a look. Don't let the black woman with Michael Jackson's disease throw you off. You gotta click on "find your shade."
Or... what's a few bruises! :)
Oh, well, I also have age and heredity issues!! So I guess my legs are a TRIPLE THREAT!!
DeleteI hadn't considered body makeup. I'll check it out; thanks! Probably, though, I'll decide it's way too much effort and expense and will "suffer" in my outdated capri pants! :)
You poor thing! Looks painful.
ReplyDeleteIf (and it will never, ever happen), I ever wore shorts, I would probably be arrested for crimes against the public....
x
Thankfully, it looks worse than it feels. It hurts only for a couple of minutes, then it just hurts to look at, LOL.
DeleteWe'd likely share a cell, as I'd be arrested right along with you. I should have worn shorts 100 years ago when I was young, relatively fit, and bruise free. Why don't we believe old people when they tell us these things as teens? Sigh.
OOoo,
ReplyDeletepoor baby. that looks like it hurts.
hugs and cat kisses from MN. Xxx
It's funny -- they rarely hurt THAT much; later, when I get the bruise, I'm like, "WTF??!" But thanks, and hugs and cat kisses back at you!
DeleteOh, dear. You poor thing. :(
ReplyDeleteI can relate to not being able to wear shorts, although for two different reasons: 1) I've got an unsightly scar on my right knee and 2) I have massive thunder thighs that would make the designer of booty shorts cry.
NOBODY needs to see those. :P
-Barb
Barb, there are approximately 3 people in the entire world who should wear booty shorts; alas, I am not among them. :)
DeleteI'm one of them. But I'm modest, so I've yet to grace the world with my callipygous buttocks and long, sleek Barbie legs.
DeleteYou know, I just had a FEELING that you might be one of the three. Congratulations!
DeleteI can't wear shorts either....bc of old bruises and my legs look like chicken legs:) hope the bruises heal up
ReplyDeleteYep! Bruised chicken legs just about sums it up!
DeleteThey do heal, only to get MORE bruises after the next round of shots. :(
Geez, roller derby chicks have fewer blemishes!
ReplyDeleteWasn't sure if I was reading your website or watching an episode of The Sopranos.
You have more bruises than the peaches at Sam's Club.
Must I go on?
Stop the madness & wrap yourself in bubble wrap.
I took your advice, Sock (against my better judgment), and wrapped myself in bubble wrap. Turns out, it's impossible to give my shots through bubble wrap. On the bright side, no bruises!
DeleteOh that sounds super disappointing. I hate it when you try to cure something but the side effects damage something else. I am so sorry to hear.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lady Lilith. There actually *is* no cure for MS; this is just a medication to slow down the disease and, in the process, cause ugly-ass bruises and force me to wear unstylish clothing. Good times!
DeleteOh my goodness. I'm really sorry to read about your complications via the medication. I'm reluctant to wear shorts because all the ladies swoon at the sight of my legs. And yep, then I woke up.
ReplyDeleteWishing you well and be careful. Don't go baking your buns.
Gary
HAHA - you are awfully considerate to keep those legs under wraps :)
DeleteNot to worry: no buns will be baking; thanks!