Hey EJ, I think you’ve touched on a very important topic, and I couldn’t have expressed it any better! When dealing with an often uncomfortable topic, that we we are almost all taught that needing, or using diapers is “BAD” behavior.
Most people short of the Neanderthals tend to mirror our own reactions or lack thereof when first being exposed to our underwear! I’ve found over the last 25+ years, simple explanations are usually best, and if we don’t give it undo attention neither will whomever you have to discuss it with for whatever reason.
Sadly at this point I have a team of over 20 different care providers as many of the procedures done to put me back together under emergency circumstances, seem to be coming undone. Recently, I had a really bad reaction to a medication, full body spasms that literally tore a Bursa Sac in my knee and possibly moved some of the hardware attaching my Sacral Spine to the rest of me. Once again ended up with a ride in the “Short White Bus of Many Lights” to the ER as I was in cardiac arrhythmia again. I hate ambulances, always a source of chatter amongst the Nosey Nellies in the neighborhood!
As if I weren’t already having a bad enough day, a new Neurologist came in and after pulling the sheet back and seeing my diaper, turned to my wife and said “ You do know that there are more “ADULT” ways of dealing with bedwetters, it is 2021 you know” accompanied with his creepy smile, I thought she was going to snap! (Courtney is a Diabetic Teacher & Researcher, and volunteers with Alzheimer’s patients, so adult diapers are about as common as any other underwear in her professional world as well).
I really thought all 99lbs of her were going to kick his ass on the spot, she was glowing red in fury! Instead she quietly asked him if when I got out of that hospital bed, how about you meet his diapered ass in the garage and he’ll show you what he has done to bullies like you his entire life. She told him he’d be lucky if I let him last a minute before I really hurt him. You better run along back to the schoolyard you pompous ass, before he gets out of that bed and hurts you! She immediately filed a formal complaint, as this is her employer as well. Our hope is a financial punch in the wallet accompanied by a formal reprimand will be remembered much longer than a black eye.
My point is simply it has gotten tremendously better over the years for the most part, people seem more understanding that stuff just goes wrong with our bodies, but there are still pompous fools out there, I just do my best to avoid them!
Just an FYI, some of you might know that I’ve been in Martial Arts almost my entire life starting at 8 years old and competed in early MMA until I showed up at a clients office with a black eye from the weekend competition, and my boss told me No More competitions!
I credit this mental control & focus with much of my recoveries. The mental & physical structure I was taught have helped me tremendously. I’ve not thrown a punch or kick outside the ring in over 20 years and have no intention changing that. Some days though….!
