I loved this, Rebecca! Another glimpse into your world as you live life with diabetes. And I am now quite convinced that you can, indeed, get lost anywhere!
(I am still fascinated with all the phrases and words you use that my “other English” does not!)
Thanks, Holly! And yes, I impress myself sometimes about how very lost I can get in the most straightforward and familiar surroundings. I swear if our very little house were any bigger I'd lose my way on my journey between rooms...!
But now I'm intrigued to know what I wrote that was so very British...? Like you I love the diversity of our two Englishes! Let me guess: 'Bang opposite' might be one. Or 'sting', instead of 'smart'?
The obvious, “They stung like mad.” “Mad” I’d definitely British. “Bang opposite” was another. And finally, “bout of the rigours.” I think we would say, “I had chills” or “I had the shakes.”
Ah, I guess across the pond it would be 'They smarted like crazy'! Funnily enough I'd never come across the rigours before I had them - although I'd had chills from illness before. My husband even thought I was having a seizure! 😲
I had to have those dilating eye drops once, and what I couldn't stand was that everything was so bright afterwards. I couldn't stand having my eyes open at all. As for getting lost in a hospital, all the corridors looks the same, so even if you hadn't had dilated pupils it would have been hard. For a ridiculously useless map of a hospital allow me to recommend Homerton: the map there is full of colored blocks with an arrow stating 'You are here', with no indication of where 'here' actually is.
One day I should really follow their advice to wear sunglasses. I don't actually own any - I rely on my trusty baseball cap to shade my eyes, but that doesn't really cut it for the drops-induced brightness.
Thanks for the recommendation of a decent place to get lost! I'll add it to my list! 🤣
Thanks, Sharron! I remember an early morning screening appointment when I was 16 and still at school - I arrived late and spent most of the day fielding the question: 'Are you on DRUGS????!'
The labs would do well to make a non-sting version, wouldn't they?
You have my sympathy, I have way too much experience of those drops! And I'm with you on the getting lost thing too, I have a really good sense of direction outside but indoors I just totally lose it. I once got lost and ended up in the loading bays on the roof of a shopping centre!
Oh no, Janet! That sounds like a very disorientating place to end up.
I remember losing my car in the most baffling place I'd ever navigated: a German multistorey car park. I went to find a security guard to report it stolen. He looked straight down his nose at me and told me to have another look, and to come and see him again if 'you still can't find it, Madam'. I strode off, seething for not being taken seriously... and nearly bumped into my car, right where I'd parked it!
Surprisingly with all of my own vision problems, I’ve never had my eyes dilated. I think I’ll pass. I’m already really photosensitive!
Hospitals, I’m convinced, generate new corridors periodically to throw everyone off. I’ve worked at my current hospital for 7 years and I can still go the complete wrong way.
I'm often struck with the variation in photosensitivity from person to person when I'm working with my photographer husband (I'm in charge of wielding reflectors and lighting). We let people know in advance that it's going to be very bright, and ask them if they're okay with that - and often within the same group we find we have some who are absolutely fine and some who really aren't (not an issue once we just rejig things a little). I think I'm somewhere in the middle.
I love what you've written about hospitals - yes, maybe they do it on purpose!! 🤣
Oh no, not the dreaded drops! Last time I went for a checkup my dr had a new magic machine so I didn't need them, yay :-) And I don't care what anyone says, hospitals are inherently disorienting....
They are, aren't they? It's amazing how consistently hard they all are to navigate, despite each hospital having a totally different layout! I reckon every set of hospital plans must have a page or two missing...
Great post and I was torn between laughing or not. It's not really funny, but the way you wrote it made it sound a bit comical :)
I hate getting my eyes dilated and remember the last time I did I had to drive home myself. It wasn't that bad as I don't live far from the office, and they gave me some dark coverings for my glasses.
Rebecca, as I've said before, I argue that we creatives are always 'lost'--me too, even in buildings.
On the more serious side, diabetic retinopathy has fortunately come a long way since my sister experienced the problem. Your writing about this not only Informs but adds to the understanding we all need of type 1 juvenile diabetes that—and this is not well-known—can affect folks at any age. Thank you for your openness and the good humor you share with the world here at Substack who reads you. I sure do! --Mary
Thanks so much, Mary! I'm glad I'm in such good company. I often wonder whether my left-handedness plays a part in my navigational struggles too?
I'm grateful that my eyes are still in such good condition.
You're right - and it's a very good point you've brought up - type 1 diabetes can strike at any age. Around half of new cases every year are diagnosed in adults.
Learned something new. I didn't know diabetes could affect your eyes. Personally, I have had the drops a few times and I don't believe they've ever stung. I guess maybe I'm lucky. :)
Don't fret about getting lost in the hospital. I have also gotten lost in a hospital. I followed the exit signs but I thought I had gone another way. I even had to ask a nurse one time, how the heck to get out? Definitely a place you can get lost in.
Thanks, Matt - it sounds from many of these comments that I'm definitely not the only one to get lost in hospitals, so I'm feeling very reassured!
I'm told that I'm fortunate to have not yet developed diabetic retinopathy. As a child I had it drummed into me that the complications of diabetes don't happen until later, and that I needed to have very closely-controlled blood sugars all of the time right from the word go in order to avoid problems years down the line with my eyes, my kidneys and my feet. Fingers (and toes!) crossed, I'm fine.
Those drops though! Glad to hear they don't hurt you - I wonder what magic you possess?
It doesn’t sound like a recipe for finding your way out, familiar or not! I had no idea this was part of the regular checkups for diabetes, so I found this interesting. Hope everything comes back a-ok 💜
I wonder if, as we get older and more vulnerable, we think we have just begun to get lost in hospitals, and the sheer frailness of it all makes us weep. Whereas, in reality, we always got lost in buildings, but we were full of youth and confidence, and simply didn't give it a second thought? I don't know. It could be...
🙋🏻♀️ I am also a baby. 🤣
I loved this, Rebecca! Another glimpse into your world as you live life with diabetes. And I am now quite convinced that you can, indeed, get lost anywhere!
(I am still fascinated with all the phrases and words you use that my “other English” does not!)
You know what Oscar Wilde said: The English and the Americans have everything in common except, of course, language <chortle>
🤣
Thanks, Holly! And yes, I impress myself sometimes about how very lost I can get in the most straightforward and familiar surroundings. I swear if our very little house were any bigger I'd lose my way on my journey between rooms...!
But now I'm intrigued to know what I wrote that was so very British...? Like you I love the diversity of our two Englishes! Let me guess: 'Bang opposite' might be one. Or 'sting', instead of 'smart'?
The obvious, “They stung like mad.” “Mad” I’d definitely British. “Bang opposite” was another. And finally, “bout of the rigours.” I think we would say, “I had chills” or “I had the shakes.”
Ah, I guess across the pond it would be 'They smarted like crazy'! Funnily enough I'd never come across the rigours before I had them - although I'd had chills from illness before. My husband even thought I was having a seizure! 😲
Oh my! Rigours sounds very painful and frightening!
Turned out okay!
I had to have those dilating eye drops once, and what I couldn't stand was that everything was so bright afterwards. I couldn't stand having my eyes open at all. As for getting lost in a hospital, all the corridors looks the same, so even if you hadn't had dilated pupils it would have been hard. For a ridiculously useless map of a hospital allow me to recommend Homerton: the map there is full of colored blocks with an arrow stating 'You are here', with no indication of where 'here' actually is.
One day I should really follow their advice to wear sunglasses. I don't actually own any - I rely on my trusty baseball cap to shade my eyes, but that doesn't really cut it for the drops-induced brightness.
Thanks for the recommendation of a decent place to get lost! I'll add it to my list! 🤣
Great photograph of your eyes. You look like a startled rabbit. Thanks for sharing it. Made my day to know someone else hates those drops.
Thanks, Sharron! I remember an early morning screening appointment when I was 16 and still at school - I arrived late and spent most of the day fielding the question: 'Are you on DRUGS????!'
The labs would do well to make a non-sting version, wouldn't they?
Ah, the drops. Gotta do what ya Gotta do.
A means to a very worthwhile end. Yup, gotta be done! 👍
You have my sympathy, I have way too much experience of those drops! And I'm with you on the getting lost thing too, I have a really good sense of direction outside but indoors I just totally lose it. I once got lost and ended up in the loading bays on the roof of a shopping centre!
Oh no, Janet! That sounds like a very disorientating place to end up.
I remember losing my car in the most baffling place I'd ever navigated: a German multistorey car park. I went to find a security guard to report it stolen. He looked straight down his nose at me and told me to have another look, and to come and see him again if 'you still can't find it, Madam'. I strode off, seething for not being taken seriously... and nearly bumped into my car, right where I'd parked it!
Surprisingly with all of my own vision problems, I’ve never had my eyes dilated. I think I’ll pass. I’m already really photosensitive!
Hospitals, I’m convinced, generate new corridors periodically to throw everyone off. I’ve worked at my current hospital for 7 years and I can still go the complete wrong way.
I'm often struck with the variation in photosensitivity from person to person when I'm working with my photographer husband (I'm in charge of wielding reflectors and lighting). We let people know in advance that it's going to be very bright, and ask them if they're okay with that - and often within the same group we find we have some who are absolutely fine and some who really aren't (not an issue once we just rejig things a little). I think I'm somewhere in the middle.
I love what you've written about hospitals - yes, maybe they do it on purpose!! 🤣
Oh no, not the dreaded drops! Last time I went for a checkup my dr had a new magic machine so I didn't need them, yay :-) And I don't care what anyone says, hospitals are inherently disorienting....
They are, aren't they? It's amazing how consistently hard they all are to navigate, despite each hospital having a totally different layout! I reckon every set of hospital plans must have a page or two missing...
Great post and I was torn between laughing or not. It's not really funny, but the way you wrote it made it sound a bit comical :)
I hate getting my eyes dilated and remember the last time I did I had to drive home myself. It wasn't that bad as I don't live far from the office, and they gave me some dark coverings for my glasses.
It's easy to get confused after, though!
LOL - it's fine to laugh, Mark - thanks so much! Writing about it made me feel so much better about getting lost!
Sometimes, it's all we can do is laugh :)
Rebecca, as I've said before, I argue that we creatives are always 'lost'--me too, even in buildings.
On the more serious side, diabetic retinopathy has fortunately come a long way since my sister experienced the problem. Your writing about this not only Informs but adds to the understanding we all need of type 1 juvenile diabetes that—and this is not well-known—can affect folks at any age. Thank you for your openness and the good humor you share with the world here at Substack who reads you. I sure do! --Mary
Thanks so much, Mary! I'm glad I'm in such good company. I often wonder whether my left-handedness plays a part in my navigational struggles too?
I'm grateful that my eyes are still in such good condition.
You're right - and it's a very good point you've brought up - type 1 diabetes can strike at any age. Around half of new cases every year are diagnosed in adults.
Learned something new. I didn't know diabetes could affect your eyes. Personally, I have had the drops a few times and I don't believe they've ever stung. I guess maybe I'm lucky. :)
Don't fret about getting lost in the hospital. I have also gotten lost in a hospital. I followed the exit signs but I thought I had gone another way. I even had to ask a nurse one time, how the heck to get out? Definitely a place you can get lost in.
Thanks, Matt - it sounds from many of these comments that I'm definitely not the only one to get lost in hospitals, so I'm feeling very reassured!
I'm told that I'm fortunate to have not yet developed diabetic retinopathy. As a child I had it drummed into me that the complications of diabetes don't happen until later, and that I needed to have very closely-controlled blood sugars all of the time right from the word go in order to avoid problems years down the line with my eyes, my kidneys and my feet. Fingers (and toes!) crossed, I'm fine.
Those drops though! Glad to hear they don't hurt you - I wonder what magic you possess?
I just got my eyes dilated for the first time in a few years. And ouch! It really stings.
It doesn’t sound like a recipe for finding your way out, familiar or not! I had no idea this was part of the regular checkups for diabetes, so I found this interesting. Hope everything comes back a-ok 💜
Thanks, Bryn - I'm glad to report my eyes are fine! 😁
I wonder if, as we get older and more vulnerable, we think we have just begun to get lost in hospitals, and the sheer frailness of it all makes us weep. Whereas, in reality, we always got lost in buildings, but we were full of youth and confidence, and simply didn't give it a second thought? I don't know. It could be...