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Caring for one’s body
Written by Sean on Thursday, December 14, 2006
Last night, brushing my teeth before going to bed, I reflected that they are in a sorry state. I’ve always had bad teeth, from childhood, my mother explained that it was due to some nasty drugs I was on for something or other, ruined them to start with, but I never took care of them much. Just like I don’t take particular care of my body.
A well oiled machine, or decaying one?
In fact, I’m rather complexed about my mouth. A friend kept asking for a photo of me with a big smile, "showing teeth", she said. And I explained to her that will never happen, and why. But I digress…
I also have a hip and a knee that are nearly chronically sore, this may, or may not be due to wheeling.
I have bad posture, I know that. I always have had, probably self-inflicted in a way, growing up as a teen and hoping to be discovered as having scoliosis and needing a brace! But of course, after years, well, a pattern was established.
I have an old shoulder injury that keeps on going (from a sporting accident, not wheeling, but wheeling sure doesn’t help it).
I have arthritis in wrists and some fingers. And my list of booboos and other ailments could go on, they are relatively minor and insignificant if you look at them individually.
Am I willfully destroying my body? I don’t know. I know I don’t care much one way or another.
If I cannot have the body I want, why should I take care of the body I have?
Please note, the question above is a rethorical one…
I really couldn’t care less (and here’s another digression, the expression is "I couldn’t care less", it is not "I could care less". Because if you *could* care less, it means you *do* care to some level!!! Ok, so now that pet peeve of mine is out of the way).
So, is my careless attitude a way to commit suicide? Suicide by neglect and slow decay? I don’t know. To paraphrase someone in a BIID related interview, "I don’t wanna die, but some days, I just don’t wanna live like this".
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3 Comments
2 On 14 December, 2006, Sophie said:
Sean would tell you all he would literally have to drag me into a doctors office kicking and screaming simply because although I like to complain sometimes I never think my problems warrant a doctors opinion. Some people argue it is cuz of my parents “wonderful” upbringing.
Other people in the US complain to me that I’m a “bad girl” cuz I don’t have routine checkups, but then that isn’t something you do in NZ, Most NZers only go to a doc if they’re literally dying (or a mother with an under 5 child trying to make the most out of her free doctors visits).
3 On 15 December, 2006, Claire said:
I have to take care of myself because I have a family. My youngest is only 4 years old, and at 37 I do feel time creeping up on me. I need to hang in there for decades yet for them, and so I do it for them, not so much for me. Well, a little bit for myself too, because I just hate feeling miserable. So I work out regularly, even though this causes me some mental anguish as it conflicts with my BIID, I try to eat right, see the doctor when something comes up, go to the dentist, and even occasionally treat myself to a visit to a spa.
None of it is terribly pleasant (except the spa!) but I know that one feels better mentally if one’s body feels good. Consider that, Sean.
I do the routine checkups because I have seen first-hand what happens when you catch something very bad too late to do anything about it, and the regret of knowing that it could have been prevented if detected early. And I’ve also seen how effective it can be to detect something very bad early, and have it all come out very well.
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1 On 14 December, 2006, Jen said:
I don’t go to the doctor much at all, despite being a terrible hypochondriac. I haven’t gone for a mammogram in seven years, just one example. I won’t have a lot of routine tests done because honestly, there’s no one around to care except for me. (Awwwww…)
Seriously, if there were people depending on me, if I had a family, it would be a different story. But I don’t, so it isn’t.