D Blog Week, Day 5: Cure all the diseases!

Today's topic was this little nugget:  Just like in the movie, today we’re doing a swap. If you could switch chronic diseases, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes? And while we’re considering other chronic conditions, do you think your participation in the DOC has affected how you treat friends and acquaintances with other medical conditions? 

I really thought about this.  I was a bit disturbed by the question to be honest.  How could I ever say I choose one disease over another?  But the question lingered in my mind after I read it, and I ended up chewing on it all afternoon.  The only disease that popped into my mind that I would even remotely give way to, is Gingivitis.  But then I thought there is probably a Gingivitis sufferer out there that is having a rough go of it and might give me a hard time in the comments.

“Do you have any idea what I go through?  I can’t have citrus, ever.  How would you like to be talking to a cute guy and your gums start bleeding all over the place?  I need surgery.  Do you have any idea how painful gum surgery is?!” 

Also, do yourself a favor and don’t Google pictures of gingivitis. 

Obviously, I don’t know enough about gingivitis to really “choose” it as our new go to disease.

Seriously though, this question makes me mental.  Like the old adage says, “If we threw all our problems into the pile, we would take our own problems back.”

I do want to address the second half of the question, though.  Living Our Diabetic Life and connecting with others online has absolutely made me more cognizant of other diseases and the trials that rest upon the shoulders of those that live with them.

We have a lot in common with other diseases.

*  The word “chronic”  *

*  The worry  *

*  The insurance woes  *

*  The hospital visits, the labs  *

*  The promise of cures in 10 years time  *

*  Hopeful research  *

*  Caregiver concerns  *

*  The disruption of regular life  *

*  Discrimination  *

*  Misdiagnosis from doctors  *

*  Misunderstandings from the media  *

*  Jumping to conclusions by the general population  *

*  Advocacy  *

*  Online networks  *

The list goes on and on.

Comparing diseases is fruitless.  Asking us to choose a different one is asinine.  Behind every disease is hurt.  We all deal with the same core issues, why must we ever be asked to say, “This disease is easier/harder than that one.”  And my apologies to those suffering from Gingivitis.  I know it really isn't funny.

All diseases are suckage.

 And that’s all I have to say about that.