Do you admit it?

Gina,

Sounds familiar. Whenever I mention MS to someone new, I get that up and down glance. Interestingly, when I meet someone new who has MS, or even observe someone on television, I do the same thing!

It's just human nature, I guess. We want to see if we can spot the trouble or not. We want to see how we stack up.

In the case of a non MS person checking out an MS person, I assume the thought process is, "Gee, I don't SEE anything wrong..."

In my mind, it's all good. It's part of the MS education process.

Wow, I would have been struck so shy in spying Richard Cohen.  He is someone I would love to meet in person.

Funny, I think you're right about the quick look up and down.  Perhaps it's the look for a cane or other such support.

I haven't gotten that much, either that or I've been oblivious to the "look."  I take that back, I notice when the nurses at the neurology center watch me walk on the way to the exam room, but that's part of their job.  :)

So how was the sporting event?

Nice to meet you Gina!

No I have not had the once over given to me yet.  I am sure it will happen sometime though.

Wow...that is very cool that you met Richard Cohen.  I have both his books here to read, borrowed from the library, after Lisa told me about what a wonderful writer he is.  I can't wait to dive in. 

Hi Gina: 

From new people whom I myself reveal to or am introduced to with the by-line "Oh, she has MS".....yep, I've gotten the once/twice over many times in my 32 years with MS. I've had the opportunity to meet Richard in a clinical setting about 15 years ago and also observed the "look" from him.  I do it myself, however unconsciously I think I am doing it. 

I think it is human nature when we cross paths with someone who has MS.  We "check 'em out" -- kind of like a barometer to see how we compare to other MSers.

More and more lately, I am meeting people who are MSers for over 30 years and it is somewhat of a comfort to know I am not alone.  Although we all "treat" differently and our types of MS are all different strains, we are all essentially in the same club.  

MS is not the social outcast that it was 30 years ago. But do we admit it?  In some cases, yes and in some cases, no.  On my blog, I have extolled the pitfalls of sharing diagnosis in the workplace to get ADA accommodations and I have praised the benefits. Years ago, I was "outed" in the workplace by an employee of my neurologist who refused to let me suture her and she was summarily fired.....and because of the hospital's staff lack of confidence in my abilities, I was forced to leave shortly after. This was in the 1980's and I shudder to think it would happen in today's world. But it still does, believe it or not.

Part of my life is in the public forum locally in my community, and it is amazing how people don't even realize they are giving you the once over!

I have been on closed circuit cable here in my community once a month since 2002. At that time I decided to record on VCR just the parts of the meetings in which I speak or am featured.  In the past six years, the physical changes are eye-opening, to say the least. While IVSM and prednisone are an MSer's salvation for flares, they are truly not your "friend" or kind to your body over the years. That,,,,and oh,,,,age of course.

Do we admit it? was your original question....I have gotten to a place in my life where I don't care anymore who knows and who doesn't know I have MS. Many people have found me since I started blogging and, from the feedback,  I have to think it can only be a good thing.

Thank you for bringing this to light.

Anne

http://disablednotdead-anne.blogspot.com

Interesting that you noted this. I was very taken aback when a new colleague (who obviously had heard about my illness) approached me in my office at work to introduce himself. He walked all the way around my desk up to my chair to shake my hand and looked down at my legs. It was obvious that he wasn't sure if I walked or not. Fooled him!

But it wasn't until I read your post here that it struck me that I do this too -- to others with MS or anyone I see getting out of their car from a handicapped spot.