I sincerely apologize in advance if this comes off b!tchy or something akin to that. That's not how it's meant.
So, I am disabled and going through a flare up right now. I am not working but am going to school - all the classes are online this semester because I am not supposed to be driving right now.
We just got back from our Jamaican honeymoon a couple of weeks ago and we had an incident at the airport where the airport rep refused to give me a wheelchair and I had to sit on the floor for two hours. It was horrible and I was humiliated.
Since I am 23, I try to act like I am not disabled sometimes and even when I am not trying to act like that, people obviously assume that I am not disabled since I look pretty normal. Hopefully. ![]()
I told MH tonight that I need to become more 'proactive' about my disability. The example I gave him was using a wheelchair at the mall. But I told him that I would make that decision on a day-to-day basis rather than always entering the mall with the idea of "I have to get a wheelchair!"
He said he doesn't want me to get in that mindset of actually 'being disabled' and never being able to walk and always having to take a wheelchair. He says that mentally it will make the fibro worse. As a Psychology major, I do understand that but I guess I expected some support from him and I didn't get it.
Of course, I have a ton of anger and resentment that I have been in chronic pain since age 12 and it will never go away. I am hoping that I will be able to 'talk' to you guys and hopefully get some support without having to lay it out on MH 24/7. Thanks in advance, ladies! I really appreciate it.
Re: H rant re: disability
Vent away! I'm saddened to hear about your issue at the airport, anyone with any issue should never have to deal with BS like that.
While I don't have the same issue as you, I can relate to the issue of not getting the emotional response from a loved one that you need at the time. Hopefully you and DH can talk about the situation later and you can express that you appreciate his tough love but sometimes you just need support. GL!!!
Rock - Unfortunately, I think part of the blame at the airport is mine. I told the lady I could not stand in that line and what could she do about it.
However, I was so confused at that point (the fibromyalgia causes brain fog sometimes), I didn't actually use the word 'wheelchair' so when I called the airport to complain after we got home, they said they could not do anything about it since I did not explicitly use that word.
I think she didn't believe me because I don't look sick but right after MH got out of the three hour line, I saw a different US Air person wheeling a man who looked just like me, in a wheelchair, up to the front of the line. It sucked. However, I did get one for the customs line from a very nice actual airport rep. At that point, I was crying and MH was so frustrated, it was not a good scene.
Crys - you are so right! Boys just do not understand.
I really think I need to tell him, like you guys said, what I am looking for - emotional support versus tough love. I feel I really need his support since it is hard for me to acknowledge sometimes that I need that help. And, in the past (at Disney World and Six Flags), I have gotten some really questioning/mean looks when I have been in a wheelchair. And, if my companion isn't with me 100%, it just makes it harder.
Thanks again ladies, you guys really are the best! :-)
Thanks Jenny!
Thanks for the great advice! I am certainly going to try it out!