Coworkers, family, friends, total strangers... some well-meaning, some simply clueless. What are some of the stupid, obnoxious, embarassing things people have said to you about your symptoms (acne, hair loss, extra hair, etc.), diagnosis, medication, etc.?
I think I've gotten the most comments on my chest hair (which I don't usually shave unless I'm performing), but my favorite on that is this one: When I was 19, this elderly black man with a very strong southern accent came into the store where I worked, and as I was finishing our transaction he suddenly commented out of the blue that it was "good to see a woman with hair on her chest -- it's a good, strong woman what's got hair on her chest, so honey you be proud of that and don't never go lettin' no one tell you otherwise!"
I was, of course, absolutely mortified. I do believe he was sincere, though! It was just... weird.
A couple of years later, I had my boss (female) take me aside and suggest that I might try washing my face more often and maybe use an anti-acne soap because the parents and some of my coworkers at the daycare where I worked were worried that I had some sort of contagious skin condition (the acne was really bad, and now I know why -- I was pretty much living on ramen noodles, lol), and if I didn't do something about it she would have to let me go. I ultimately had to present a physician's note confirming it was only acne and not contagious... which was then shared with parents and coworkers. Ugh!
Just a few days ago as I was talking to some friends about my journey to diagnosis, and one of them suddenly asked what kind of VD causes PCOS. Sort of a conversation-stopper, that one! The look on her face as it dawned on her what she'd just said was absolutely priceless.
So let's hear it -- what unthinking, insensitive, well-meaning, or just plain rude or mean comments have people made to you over the years? And for that matter, what snappy comebacks have you managed to come up with at the right time?
One time a kid was trying to cut me in line and I wouldn't let him so he said "whoa, calm down there, SuperSideburns". Yeah, that one hurt for a LONG time, which I shouldn't have let it, considering it was just some dumbass. But, when you are 15, you let it affect you.
A few days ago I was buying a sandwich at Stewart's and the guy at the register raised his eyebrows and said "weight watching any time soon?". I was totally embarassed and didn't want to make a scene, so I just laughed it off. But when I got back to my car I was thoroughly pissed at him and myself for not calling him on it and talking to his manager for being an asshole to customers. Needless to say, Stewart's no longer gets my business.
People have made comments before--mostly family though without realizing how painful it really was. I struggle with hair loss and excess facial hair--and my dad made a comment one time that we could transplant some of the excess hair off my face and put it on my head where its balding. that stung even though i laughed it off.
One time my brother was joking with me about something and I said, "Thats okay because your male." And he replied, "Well, I don't have male pattern baldness and you do." I know he was stating the obvious but it still hurts.
And one time at work someone pointed out my bald spot to me....I don't think people realize how hurtful those comments can be...especially when I try so hard to cover them up. Glad to know I'm not alone though.
When I was in high school I had to get weighed in the nurces office everyday b/c I wasn't eating. I can remember the nurse weighing me and saying "You don't look like you weigh that much" I know she was trying to be nice and say that I looked smaller than what my weight alone would lead you to believe but it still made me feel like ****. And more recently my bf and I were in the shower and he was behind me as I wasr insing my hair and commented on how thin my hair was and jokingly said that I should get a wig. It doesnt help that for Christmas he got me a wig as a gag gift. So I told him that I was aware my hair was thin, my face was breaking out, and that I need to lose weight so he didnt need to point those things out for me either b/c I know. He felt bad and I know he often doesn't think before he speaks but I was so aggravated at the time.
__________________ Hi I'm Michelle! Dx: 2003 finally Meds: 750mg met ER,500mg met, 25mcg synthroid Sx: IR, tummy weight, excessive facial hair, cysts, endometriosis, irregular periods Other Dx: IBS, acid relux, asthma, chronic bronchitis, kidney stones, galbladder stones (galbladder removed in 01), patella femeral dysphasia, tears in lower 2 disks in my back, TMJ, arthritis in jaw joint, tension headaches, underactive thyroid. TTC: began December 2007
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When I was about 16 I had my boyfriend at the time tell me while laughing, "You have more facial hair than I do" and I know he was just trying to joke with me it hurt my feelings so bad, I was like; "Your so mean" with a smile on my face, but it was really killing me.
__________________
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My MIL asked my hubby to tell me to "invest in a pair of tweezers" because I had a few hairs on my chest I neglected to pluck last week.
I am really sensitive about my fertility and EVERYONE seems to have a comment! "You're so young, live it up, don't worry about kids until after your 30!" Umm ok, I didn't know I had a timeline I was supposed to stick to, thanks for telling me! (a million times) and the famous "You can always adopt!" Yes, I know, and we plan on adopting, but I'd like to have atleast one of my own, if thats ok by you... arggg!
I am only 23 and my husband and I have been actively ttc for a year. I was dx'd on 07-07-2006. I'm on metformin 1000mg daily and about to be on clomid and progesterone. When I was in high school, I weighed around 180 lbs, but was a lot of muscle. (now I blame the testosterone for my masculinity) I was in power lifting.. I could bench 180lbs, squat 500, and legpress 850... I remember being at a power lifting meet one day my senior year, and hearing some girls from the other school talking about the hair on my face... I don't have chin hair, or lip hair even, i have "fuzz" on my cheeks..... I distinctly remember hearing one girl say "she has more fuzz than a peach".. I walked over to her, as calmly as possible and told her "you know what?! I may have 'peach fuzz' but this peach can kick your ass"... and i did.. LOL... NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER let anyone talk down to you... NEVER let someone make you feel inferior..
__________________
Me: 23 Dh: 23
Married: June 20th, 2005
Diagnosed: 07/07/2006
Meds: Metformin 1500 a day.
My first round of Clomid- October (made a 25mm follie and a 26mm follie)
TTC: 3+ years
Proceedures: HSGx3, finally a success!!!! No blockages.. Tubes are open!!!
When I was telling a few co-workers about PCOS (hormones, etc), one girl (who is really ignorant and redneck) goes "So are you going to grow a penis?" It hurt so bad and embarrassed me so much that I have never told anyone else about my condition and this was about 4 years ago.
__________________ Mandi-30 Ron-35 Married 6/14/03 DX-2001
Sprintec, HCTZ, Lopressor 200mg, Prozac 20mg, Metformin ER, Byetta
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I have been teased about my hair from as young as I can remember. A good day in school was a day when some stupid guy didn't tease me about my moustache. I was diagnosed with PCOS right after I graduated. After treatment with BCPs and electrolysis, I finally began feeling comfortable enough to pull my hair back in a ponytail, look people in the eye and just let go of all the crap I had been through because of this condition..well I'm 30 now, and hormones are jumping around again so I'm getting some hair growth on my face again. My coworker feels the need to point this out to me constantly!! It is so humiliating to deal with this all over again..I feel like I'm back in high school. There are tons of things about my coworker (who is a man about my age) that I can tease him about but I would never sink to that level. He tells me I look like my cat (because of the whiskers) and I should start shaving. He tells me my arms are hairy.etc. I've never had the guts to tell him off and I"m too embarrassed to go to human resourses. It sucks how all those years of gaining back my self-confindence can be wiped out by a jerk and some ignorant comments...
My supervisor knows about my problems and he tells me all the time that I am bi-polar and that I need serious meds and I agree with the last post never let anyone treat you bad this is not something that we asked for I also weigh 180 with alot of muscle mass and I work like a man for a living but I am still the sexiest welder any man has ever seen I gots lots of love for you cyters just remember you can get your point across in the nicest most sarcastic way possible Trust me nobody is as flawless as they think!
Keep your head high but never lower your standards
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt...
People who don't know you are the one's that hurt me the most. Yes, my stepdad has poked fun at me since I was a teenager for being overweight, but I know he love's me and it was done in jest. I can take that. BUT, there are those who feel they know what's best for you, more than you know yourself. I have mentioned this in other posts coz I ranted about it a while back, but I'll not easily forget the client who came into the travel agents where I work and commented on my weight. Her words were, "You're not really huge, but have you ever thought about controlling your weight some more? I have this great doctor who helps me keep my extra pounds off"
OK, this may sound well meaning, but in an office filled will customers waiting, and saying that in a really loud voice pisses me off big style. I explained to her that I wasn't fat by choice, and that I have an endrocrinological disorder that affects my weight and hormones, and that I was dealing with it with my own doctor, in my own way. I let her assume it was just the hypothyroidism, which was the conclusion she jumped to, coz I really don't have the time to sit her down an explain PCOS to someone I see once a year when she comes in to book her bloody family cruise!!!
Sorry if that was long winded, I'm still pissed about it as you can see!!!
HUGS.
Dannie.
__________________ Danielle (28) DX: Hypothyroidism - May 05/ PCOS & IR Oct 05 Meds: 1x850mg Metformin + 1x75mg Levotiroxin + Diane 35
"If you can keep your head, when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation"
All my life I have been overweight like most of us here. When I was growing up, my family would tease me about the weight. I wasn't hugh or overly obese. I was maybe 30 pounds overweight. My nick name was lulu (the character on heehaw a long time ago who was extremely over weight). When my whole family (aunts, uncles, cousins etc) would get together for holidays, I would hide in one of the bedrooms because if I made my presence known, they would tease me to no end. It hurt so bad and wasn't just my brothers doing the teasing. My cousins, aunts, uncles and parents would join in. It was so hurtful. When I would walk into a room, my brothers would act like there was an earthquake and start bouncing around and grabbing door frames and crawling under tables. I was so hurt!! I would go in my room and cry all day and night. One time they did this infront of a friend. She got so mad that she went into the family room and chewed them out for teasing me like that. I was so glad that someone stuck up for me. I tried that once and all they did was laugh at me. They didn't take it seriously. I am still mad about it and that was over 25 years ago. I know brothers will be brothers, but they didn't have to humiliate me like that infront of other family members and friends. But now, I get revenge. They are all bald. Two are over weight. I have three brothers total. Needless to say, I get my punches in now..hehe
__________________ DX 1994-told to lose weight by GYN,Suffered 12 years before seeking treatments: REDX 2006 by a family doc sent to endo July 31, 2006 and glad I went; Byetta, 2000mg Metformin, 28 units of levemir, fish oil, 1000mg calcium. Type 2 diabetic and high cholesterol dx March 05, psoriasis dx 1992. Married 20 yrs 2 kids: girl 19 yrs old and boy 17 yrs old.
Stupid Things People Say 
I do believe he was sincere, though! It was just... weird. 
