I was attacked by a shark!

You ran into a burning building to save a litter of orphaned puppies.. You collected the puppies in a burlap sack you always carry for such emergencies and dashed outside.  Your speed was so great, and your adrenaline so high that you overran the sidewalk and ran into the street.  You thoughtfully flung the sack o'puppies to a bystander and dove out of the way of the oncoming fire truck RIGHT INTO THE PATH OF A SPEEDING BICYCLE!!  OMG!  The bicycle clipped you mid-dive and you landed on your hand.  Epilogue:  The puppies are now in training as seeing-eye dogs.

Its not just breast cancer.  At my nephew's wedding several years ago my cousin came on crutches.  She got tired of people questioning her so she (age 64) started telling people she got it skydiving!  She really had everyone including yours truly convinced.  I actually asked her to promise me she wouldn't skydive anymore.  At the end of the evening she told us she tripped over her dog while walking him and broke her ankle, but she thought she might liven up the reception with a real whopper!!!

You know this whole subject has been on my heart & mind.

Apparently so, even whilest I sleep.

Yesterday I was determined to go 'au natural' in my beige sleeve & gauntlet, as gently challenged here, to be in front of about 237 children over the course of the day.

I'd asked here how to respond to their questions.

Anyhow. I awoke yesterday with my response for preschoolers, freshly & clearly in my mind, following a good night's sleep:

"I have a weak arm and this is my power sleeve. It makes me stronger."

I seriously, honest-to-goodness practised saying it out loud the entire drive to the school. I thought they'd think that was sorta cool.

I arrived. They had declared it Wacky Wednesday. Staff had painted their hair blue on my behalf, others had portions of Halloween costumes, mismatched shoes -- dental floss woven thru their hair....... anyhow, I felt a tad under-dressed just wearing my usual combination of polka dots plus stripes & went back out to my car to get my black & white striped 'arm cover' to add some more sizzle to my outfit.

A bit of the gauntlet still showed, as did the top of my sleeve. In any case, 237 children and seriously. NOT ONE. Nary a single one, asked one question.

And me with an answer!!

It was an awesome day, and now I have an answer that I'm comfortable with for little ones.

I realized later that saying my arm is 'weak' is educationally better than saying this is my 'bad' arm. So I'm happy my sleep came up with a response I can use.

Maybe it will be useful to others.

Twill keep the shark attack, trapeze, puppy/sack ideas for adults who should know better than to intrude. I was able to speak to two professionals on the phone today, inquiring about how I was doing, mentioning the unknowns I now navigate -- and had meaningful conversations without dissolving to tears either time. Progress.

I have to comment on the great answers.   Although I do not have lymphadema, I have trauma induced brachial plexopathy from a car wreck - over 30 years ago - and wear a splint.   Once I was asked "what is wrong" and I was in "one of those moods" and answered why do you ask?   Do I have spinach in my teeth?    

Today a lady with a splint on her wrist asked me very gently, may I ask why you wear the splint?   This was at our second Tai Chi class at the senior center (all old folks)...    I told her I had brachial plexopathy which is basically nerve damage and I have had 9 reconstructive surgeries.   She got a bit red in the face and said she just has a sore wrist and bought the splint at the drug store.    And depending on my mood, I will go into a detailed description of my surgeries with a morphine drip for pain control, rehab therapy to be able to make a fist that took a year, etc.    You can picture the eyes rolling and total boredom...   

Faith, I love your outfits and your answer will be useful in the future.    I might try using the shark attack next time.     

Faith, what a gift your dreaming gave you! I love it! Power is so much better than any of the alternatives, and its a concept -- and  a dream -- little ones certainly share.

All that, and it's honest too. We have weakened lymph systems in our arms, and our power sleeves definitely make us stronger -- in every way, as it turns out!

I'm not surprised they didn't notice -- and not just because of the assorted costume pieces that everyone was sporting, either (though wouldn't it be nice if the world was always so wacky?!) We had a young grandson living with us one summer a couple of years back, and after he'd been here a week, we were sitting around after dinner and I casually stripped off my sleeve. His eyes got huge, and he said, "Did you just peel off your skin?!" Hadn't noticed a thing in all that time.

Thanks for sharing that, and for all you do!
Binney

3jaysmom, hello!

We were posting at the same time and I just now noticed your request. Let's see if I can explain the PM business. All you have to do is click on my name in red anywhere and it will take you to my home page, where on the right there's a place to click to send a private message. Click on it and it will open a box kinda like this one to write a message in.

When you get a PM, just click on the black box near the top of this page that says "Private Messages" and it'll take you to them. You'll know if there's a message waiting for you because there will be a number in pink after the words "Private Messages," showing how many messages there are.

Hope that makes sense. And I hope it works!

As for FrayChek, I don't usually use it on new gloves (except Bio-concepts brand if they're made out of a fabric called "Soft," because they run easily), but on older ones that are starting to look worn. Usually the stress points are at the webs of the fingers, where the stitching turns around. I just dab a tiny bit on any spots that look like they're starting to run. I usually do it when they're on me; doesn't seem to irritate my skin, but then I use very little. I buy it at JoAnn's or my Walmart's fabric section. (It's actually for sealing the ends of seams on a baby-lock sewing machine.) It doesn't stain, doesn't stiffen the fabric, and it's invisible on all but my black garments, where it shows just faintly.

Be well!
Binney

I watch the show "Chopped" often.  The response, "kitchen accident" really struck my funny bone.  I cannot imagine keeping a straight face with any of these responses.  I think I'd be doubled over laughing so hard, they'd not understand a single word I said..........Obviously, I'm a bad liar.

Faith, loved your outfit, how cute!!!

Enjoyful. Too funny, Have you thought about writing a book LOL!

The comments of children can be so sweet, so innocent.  I really like the power sleeve idea.  I wonder if that explanation will work with adults.   I don't so much mind people asking but often it's the way they ask.  Are you asking out of concern or nosiness is what I'd LIKE to say sometimes.

Gentle hugs all.

Sex injury.  Thats my line and I'm sticking with it.

KC, when I went to my pcp with the swelling behind my thumb, she said it was probably bruised (I had raked the weekend before and this was 4 days later). I had my research (as well as a visit from our local LE therapist at the support group 2 months earlier) and told her I needed a referal and who I needed to see. She didn't even know about the clinic in our city. Isn't it crazy we have to teach the professionals.

Sheila

Hear, hear, Kane!!!

YES! We're in the same place the bc awareness pioneers were several decades ago. And we're definitely standing on their shoulders, because they paved the way to more and better bc treatments that have kept more of us alive (and consequently made LE more of a problem, since it's a "survivor" problem.) 

Together, we can make a difference!
Binney, who's worn grooves in this particular soapbox!

Suzybelle, I've got some replies that are doozies:

1. It's an old Civil War injury.

2. Hurt my arm wrestling gators/bears.

3. Got it stuck in the door of a flying saucer.

4. Zapped myself with a phaser.

5. It's all the rage in Paris this year.

I don't wear the sleeve a lot (luckily, my case is mild), but I do wear it faithfully when I play racquetball or work out at the gym. Well, compression garments for athletics ARE all the rage right now, so no one questions me or looks twice at me at the gym!

By the way, I quite agree, it's nobody's business why I'm wearing anything, and I find it extremely impolite when strangers ask, which is why I have no qualms about providing them with the craziest answer I can think of and the iciest stare they'll ever encounter!

Seriously. This JUST now happened. Today.

Having lunch with a girlfriend @ TGIF's on TGIF. (There should be a discount.)

We are having a marathon lunch, as I catch her up-to-date on all things BC/LE etc etc.

At various times during our lunch I am speaking very low, so as not to intrude on anyone nearby who is having a nice day.

The young stylish male waiter brings me the check. Interrupting for the 37th time. Of course I stop mid-word....... which he is quite aware of. He leans in quietly and says, "So what happened to your arm?"

OMG! Seriously.

I say, "Shark attack."

(whoooooooooohoooooooo, I'm prepared!!!!!!!!!!!)

To which he responds,

"You're sure you're not a drug addict?"

I have no clever retort what-so-ever and had not yet read about the sex-incident explanation or the Alien intrusion possibilities......

So I mumble that, Yup, it's part of my rehab program. To which he raises his 'knowing' eyebrow and wanders off.

I'm not quite ready for the soap box just yet, too early in my trajectory, but it may not take me long to get there.

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