24 replies to this topic

[Trinity]

This subject came up in conversation and I was wondering if anyone else has an opinion.

Would you swap your SCI for another disability, for example blindness?

I can obviously see both pros and cons to both, the thought of being able to walk or run, to have no bladder or bowel issues, no pain or spasms and no accessibility problems sounds fabulous, but then you would never be able to see anything, no more art, missing out a lot on tv, visual comedy stuff, no photos, not ever seeing your children or grandchildren grow up.

I really couldn't make my mind up, I think I would have to stick with SCI, but it's a tough choice

[nomis]

I was watching a program last night on sexsomnia and I think I'd be ok swapping for the milder kind which isn't a threat (but fun) for others. It's a sleep disorder where a person, like sleep walking, gets sexually active but can't remember it having taken place - I can handle that.

Edited by nomis, 06 August 2008 - 10:54 PM.

[Jackiefff]

trinity, on Aug 6 2008, 05:40 PM, said:

This subject came up in conversation and I was wondering if anyone else has an opinion.

Would you swap your SCI for another disability, for example blindness?

I can obviously see both pros and cons to both, the thought of being able to walk or run, to have no bladder or bowel issues, no pain or spasms and no accessibility problems sounds fabulous, but then you would never be able to see anything, no more art, missing out a lot on tv, visual comedy stuff, no photos, not ever seeing your children or grandchildren grow up.

I really couldn't make my mind up, I think I would have to stick with SCI, but it's a tough choice

I was actually thinking the same thing when I was watching little people big world.. i was debating if i would rather be a little person or in a chair and i think id rather be in a chair.. but yeah its tough choosing but either way there are pros and cons. but nothings changing so i may as well not think about it! good subject though!

[Ches]

Yeah Im with Nomis.. I could handle that one..

I have an austistic neice.. she's pretty happy in her own world. I could deal with that...

[KarenFerguson]

Jackiefff, on Aug 6 2008, 03:54 PM, said:

trinity, on Aug 6 2008, 05:40 PM, said:

This subject came up in conversation and I was wondering if anyone else has an opinion.

Would you swap your SCI for another disability, for example blindness?

I can obviously see both pros and cons to both, the thought of being able to walk or run, to have no bladder or bowel issues, no pain or spasms and no accessibility problems sounds fabulous, but then you would never be able to see anything, no more art, missing out a lot on tv, visual comedy stuff, no photos, not ever seeing your children or grandchildren grow up.

I really couldn't make my mind up, I think I would have to stick with SCI, but it's a tough choice

I was actually thinking the same thing when I was watching little people big world.. i was debating if i would rather be a little person or in a chair and i think id rather be in a chair.. but yeah its tough choosing but either way there are pros and cons. but nothings changing so i may as well not think about it! good subject though!

Hubby & I love Little People Big World (we actually call it "little crack" because we've become kind of addicted).

Anyway, we were thinking the exact same thing and both decided that we'd rather be in a chair. However, some disabilities I'd consider choosing, like being an amputee or even being deaf.

[StellaLAtella]

Very thought provoking! I'd say if I could choose, sure.....I'd switch with someone who has narcolepsy or that sexmania thing.....But blind or deaf or an amputee.......I guess I'm grateful for small blessings here.
Stella

[Texaswheelz]

Some would be a hard choice, others not so much. I could do the short thing and with the prosthetics they have these days I'd even give a leg away for trade. The thing most people don't realize about SCI is that for most of us sitting in the chair isn't the hard or worse part. It's all the other stuff, such as the hour long bathroom routine every morning, the fear of that bathroom routing taking it's course 4 hours later while at work, or that night in the middle of sex.....etc. The chairs the easy part..

[buffie]

I actually think about this all the time. I think that I would trade any other disability that would allow me to have b&b and be able to get around on my own out of the chair, even if I had to be a little person.

[Oldsparkie]

Totally hypothetical of course, but if I ccould flick my fingers and wish for some other physical impairment I would choose a leg amputation I think. A pretty awful body disfigurement I know but with today's prosthetics I doubt it is a real set back to anything you want to do.

As someone said earlier there's far more to SCI than sitting in a WC and those are the things I would like to swap, like full feeling and operation of things below my belly button. But no good dwelling on the past make the most of life as it is today, I sure try to.

[Slowlegs]

I would swap with some, yes. If I could swap to have my legs amputated but get all the functions above that back especially to have no bladder or kidney infections I would do it. I would also be keen on the sexsomnia thing too. Seriously though, I suppose I have adjusted to this and having something different would be just different stuff to adjust to. One thing I wouldn't want would be blindness. I have always had a fear of that. Mind you, as I only have an opinion and not an option of swapping there is no use thinking about it too much because it just aint gonna happen.

[pikey]

I would swap with someone with tirrets, I could swear all day and not have to worry about it.

[wheeliebear75]

Well I've got I think a very interesting view point on this.


(no I'm not offended by the idea that being blind is 1 of the most awful things that can happen)
I am legally blind which means that I do miss out on a lot of visual humor, driving, and a few minor things. That being said as a blind teenager I was on a blind ski team I did all sorts of sports I had a job as a teachers assistant (which is pretty rare to have a 14yr old helping the teacher with fellow 14yr olds), was planing on college. I even got to meet Jane Goodall (the lady who spent her life trying to save chimpanzees) because I won an award in a science fair for my life science class. I did more stuff as a blind person than most of my friends did being sighted.

If you ask someone who has been blind all their life.......it's not all that bad "could be worse".

My friend is partially deaf from frequent ear infections as a child. We've had the deaf vs. blind convo. tons of times. To her loss of sight would mean the "end of HER world". To her her vision fills in way to many gaps that her ears miss. "What? I need you to turn towards me so I can SEE what you're saying", LOL only from a deaf person. She can't imagine how to function in a world with out visual cues.........I can't imagine a world without sound.

I can't see that the dog went to the bathroom.......but when I take him out I can hear what it is he did out there and even how much of it. I can tell what is happening in another room.........try using your eyes for that. I can tell more about the world around me with my ears than many people do with their eyes only because I've learned to pay attention and to tune into anything in OR out of ordinary.

My sense of smell is more acute than that of most people. It blows when someONE blows(aka farts). When it comes to flowers and food are concerned it's great! I've been in the car and even though we don't know the area, and the driver can't see any signs of anywhere to get food......I CAN! I can point us (or rather my nose) in the right direction because I can smell it's direction even though NOBODY else can.

When I say I hear or smell something funny everyone listens.

What we cam up with is that it really is a matter of adjustment and attitude.


I can tell you though that blindness by itself no problem.........throw anything else in on top of it and you're SOL.

Basically though it's all "relative".

[Webwych]

Because art and music stop me going mad, I would hate to be deaf or blind. The way I'm feeling due to pain and frustration at the moment makes me think I would chose to be devoid of emotion.

[azx43]

wheeliebear75, on Aug 25 2008, 01:44 PM, said:

Well I've got I think a very interesting view point on this.


(no I'm not offended by the idea that being blind is 1 of the most awful things that can happen)
I am legally blind which means that I do miss out on a lot of visual humor, driving, and a few minor things. That being said as a blind teenager I was on a blind ski team I did all sorts of sports I had a job as a teachers assistant (which is pretty rare to have a 14yr old helping the teacher with fellow 14yr olds), was planing on college. I even got to meet Jane Goodall (the lady who spent her life trying to save chimpanzees) because I won an award in a science fair for my life science class. I did more stuff as a blind person than most of my friends did being sighted.

If you ask someone who has been blind all their life.......it's not all that bad "could be worse".

My friend is partially deaf from frequent ear infections as a child. We've had the deaf vs. blind convo. tons of times. To her loss of sight would mean the "end of HER world". To her her vision fills in way to many gaps that her ears miss. "What? I need you to turn towards me so I can SEE what you're saying", LOL only from a deaf person. She can't imagine how to function in a world with out visual cues.........I can't imagine a world without sound.

I can't see that the dog went to the bathroom.......but when I take him out I can hear what it is he did out there and even how much of it. I can tell what is happening in another room.........try using your eyes for that. I can tell more about the world around me with my ears than many people do with their eyes only because I've learned to pay attention and to tune into anything in OR out of ordinary.

My sense of smell is more acute than that of most people. It blows when someONE blows(aka farts). When it comes to flowers and food are concerned it's great! I've been in the car and even though we don't know the area, and the driver can't see any signs of anywhere to get food......I CAN! I can point us (or rather my nose) in the right direction because I can smell it's direction even though NOBODY else can.

When I say I hear or smell something funny everyone listens.

What we cam up with is that it really is a matter of adjustment and attitude.


I can tell you though that blindness by itself no problem.........throw anything else in on top of it and you're SOL.

Basically though it's all "relative".

Wow, Wheeliebear, thank you so much for sharing your perspective!

I have a friend who's blind, she has the most incredible hearing, and she does anything she wants to! She works full-time, is a good student, makes jewelery, lives on her own and cares for her younger siblings- all without seeing. She wasn't born blind; she lost her sight slowly over time. She has adjusted to her disability like I have adjusted to mine, even though I don't think I'm even close to being as inspirationaz as she is!

A little over a year ago, my dad had a minor stroke and got to experience some of my world: wheelchairs, balance issues,Injuries with a capital I, being active despite a disability, etc. While I would not wish what happened to me on ANYONE. I'm almost glad someone in my family got to see things from my angle, if fortunately temporarily- self indulgent as that sounds! Maybe it's just a "problem" with self-indentification; I'm not quite SCI and not MS or something like that. Not to sound overblown or something, but there aren't very many people like me in the world.

I've been pleasantly amazed by reading all the posts on this thread; people saying they could give a leg away, or something similiar.I know that in groups of AB folks, when the topic of life-changing disability comes up, the answer is almost always a vehement "No!" Sometimes it includes, "I'd rather be dead than have a disability!" They think themselves unable to adjuwst, and for some people, maybe they're right. The much-different viewpoints oif those with so-called "disabilities" are so refreshing!

I personally think those of who are disabled, whether through birth or not, have the amazzing strength of chazracter that it takes to face the world that way every day.

[mikeC5/6]

I would take lots of disibilities over this... I was on the same floor as amputees at my rehab and at physio one of the amputees made a comment to me "I hope I will walk again some day too" when I shakily wobbled by him. I almost laughed in his face! he was up and walking later that week and at a much better quality than I can even hope for. Amputations are much less severe than an SCI. I guess he was just saying he hopes everything works out but it just struck me as funny that he considered us even similar.

Edited by mikeC5/6, 26 August 2008 - 02:41 AM.

[Stickman]

trinity, on Aug 6 2008, 06:40 PM, said:

This subject came up in conversation and I was wondering if anyone else has an opinion.

Would you swap your SCI for another disability, for example blindness?

I can obviously see both pros and cons to both, the thought of being able to walk or run, to have no bladder or bowel issues, no pain or spasms and no accessibility problems sounds fabulous, but then you would never be able to see anything, no more art, missing out a lot on tv, visual comedy stuff, no photos, not ever seeing your children or grandchildren grow up.

I really couldn't make my mind up, I think I would have to stick with SCI, but it's a tough choice

Im with you Trin, I'd rather have sight.

[Stickman]

wheeliebear75, on Aug 25 2008, 04:44 PM, said:

Well I've got I think a very interesting view point on this.


(no I'm not offended by the idea that being blind is 1 of the most awful things that can happen)
I am legally blind which means that I do miss out on a lot of visual humor, driving, and a few minor things. That being said as a blind teenager I was on a blind ski team I did all sorts of sports I had a job as a teachers assistant (which is pretty rare to have a 14yr old helping the teacher with fellow 14yr olds), was planing on college. I even got to meet Jane Goodall (the lady who spent her life trying to save chimpanzees) because I won an award in a science fair for my life science class. I did more stuff as a blind person than most of my friends did being sighted.

If you ask someone who has been blind all their life.......it's not all that bad "could be worse".

My friend is partially deaf from frequent ear infections as a child. We've had the deaf vs. blind convo. tons of times. To her loss of sight would mean the "end of HER world". To her her vision fills in way to many gaps that her ears miss. "What? I need you to turn towards me so I can SEE what you're saying", LOL only from a deaf person. She can't imagine how to function in a world with out visual cues.........I can't imagine a world without sound.

I can't see that the dog went to the bathroom.......but when I take him out I can hear what it is he did out there and even how much of it. I can tell what is happening in another room.........try using your eyes for that. I can tell more about the world around me with my ears than many people do with their eyes only because I've learned to pay attention and to tune into anything in OR out of ordinary.

My sense of smell is more acute than that of most people. It blows when someONE blows(aka farts). When it comes to flowers and food are concerned it's great! I've been in the car and even though we don't know the area, and the driver can't see any signs of anywhere to get food......I CAN! I can point us (or rather my nose) in the right direction because I can smell it's direction even though NOBODY else can.

When I say I hear or smell something funny everyone listens.

What we cam up with is that it really is a matter of adjustment and attitude.


I can tell you though that blindness by itself no problem.........throw anything else in on top of it and you're SOL.

Basically though it's all "relative".

Im impressed, wheeliebear, you are right about adjustment and attitude, thats were i would have a problem! I hope my post didnt offend you, I didnt read all the posts and just responded to the first one.

[Squirrel]

When I have a bad MS attack I am completely paralysed and lose my sight and hearing too, I can't speak or swallow either. It's truely the most terrifying thing ever. I can't explain how awful it is.
The only upside is that it doesn't last long only a week or so and slowly I start getting things back again. But I can safely say that being blind is the worst bit of all, as reading is my life I read about 2 books a day normally, and not being able to do that is not good.

[purple_faeries]

how do you manage not being able to swallow? I have attacks where i have big trouble swallowing and it is really frightening and i choke a lot on food too, a lot of the time.

I don't know how i'd be able to cope if i couldn't swallow at all

Hannah

[Squirrel]

I just dribble a lot lol!

I don't eat when I get like that anyway, and am hospitalised and put on IV fluids. Fortunately it doesn't happen that often.
If I feel an MS attack start I stop eating and go back to the wonderful Ensure, as I'm so scared of choking.

[Dave Bishopstone]

trinity, on Aug 6 2008, 11:40 PM, said:

This subject came up in conversation and I was wondering if anyone else has an opinion.

Would you swap your SCI for another disability, for example blindness?

I can obviously see both pros and cons to both, the thought of being able to walk or run, to have no bladder or bowel issues, no pain or spasms and no accessibility problems sounds fabulous, but then you would never be able to see anything, no more art, missing out a lot on tv, visual comedy stuff, no photos, not ever seeing your children or grandchildren grow up.

I really couldn't make my mind up, I think I would have to stick with SCI, but it's a tough choice

I suppose I am able bodied, though I do have a cardiac problem - my son has a SCI, yeah I'd swap with him, because I'm his dad and I guess that's what a parent would do. The fact is though I can't. My Cardiologist once said to me about my condition "You seem to have a rather stoical approach ............." My response was "Well, it's there and I have to deal and live with it" - There is no choice.

[caleb]

nomis, on Aug 6 2008, 04:53 PM, said:

I was watching a program last night on sexsomnia and I think I'd be ok swapping for the milder kind which isn't a threat (but fun) for others. It's a sleep disorder where a person, like sleep walking, gets sexually active but can't remember it having taken place - I can handle that.

i would like to bring up a con here for you! hahaha
waking up one morning and been like shit son why does eddy hurt went i pee!
and then of course you're wondering so you go to the docs and get checked out!
And he's calls you up a couple weeks later and is like you have herpys and he's like you haven't slept with anyone since you were checked out did you?
and then your not feeling good 5 months after that and so you go to the doc just to find out that you have HIV and not at your own fault!.................that Would suck because you would never no if the sex was worth it!

[caleb]

But for me personally i don't think i would be able to triad with anyone! maybe for alittle while because to gain off of another persons misery i don't think i could do it! and even if there isn't no lose i don't think i would be able to cope as well as i did with this as anything else!
But it if i had to go with one i would go with Felt hand baby finger amp

[Travelling Blackbird]

I've been asked that question by so many people over the years.

I feel like I've gotten used to being in a wheelchair, and can cope with it. Sure, I get frustrated and upset and need to vent sometimes, and I'd rather not be in it, but I wouldn't want to trade it for another disability that I'd have to learn how to cope with, because I've spent the years learning to cope with this already. So, I wouldn't trade it for being deaf, or blind, or having fibromialgia or anything along those lines because it would change too much of my life.

It gets back to the blind/deaf since birth/early childhood versus becoming blind/deaf later in life. It's the loss of ability to do something else to regain the ability to walk that I couldn't cope with.

Now, a disability like sexsomnia (thank you Nomis for that gem), or Tourette's syndrome, or something like that: that sounds like something I could cope with, because I think it wouldn't hold me back. However, who knows what the reality of having a condition like that would be. The wrong kind of Tourette's would probably put an end to my teaching career and my plans to be an interpreter, for example.

Wheeliebear's perspective was very interesting. Thanks for sharing it.

[Yong]

pikey, on Aug 25 2008, 04:02 PM, said:

I would swap with someone with tirrets, I could swear all day and not have to worry about it.

You seriously think they don't worry about it?

Do you defecate in your chair all day but do not have to worry about it because you're paralyzed?

I knew a guy with Tourette's who was always so embarrassed for himself and for everyone around him every time he had a muscular a vocal tic.