Everybody poops

[next_to_normal]

Heh, so I was very intrigued to see this article on women's bodily functions linked at ontd_feminism today. It seems ironic to put this discussion under a cut, given that the whole point is "we should be able to talk about this," but I'll spare you.

Confession time: Ever since I was a kid, I've had bathroom stage fright. I am one of those people who CANNOT PEE if there's someone in the stall next to me. And up until recently, I absolutely would not poop in public.

Let me tell you, it is remarkable how much an intestinal condition will snap you right out of that shit (no pun intended). It's amazing the things you can get comfortable with when you don't have a choice. My body will do what it needs to do, and it doesn't care if I'm not at home.

Thanks to the diagnosis process I went through, I have gotten bizarrely comfortable (maybe too much so, lol) with talking about bodily functions. I don't have a choice. I have had to talk about it in excruciating detail with my doctors, my parents, and occasionally my friends (I am telling you, when you vomit on someone in public and they STILL LIKE YOU the next day, this is a true friend).

But it's also still an incredibly awkward thing. Because even telling someone I have Crohn's usually necessitates an explanation of what it is and what it does, which I often end up skirting around by saying, "It causes unpleasant intestinal things," and let them fill in the details in their imagination. How soon in a relationship is it appropriate to spring the "vomiting and diarrhea" discussion on someone, lol? I don't know.

I remember when I was in the first stage of this whole deal (the C. diff infection), reading in a discussion forum about how shameful it is for a lot of people to talk about their condition, because it involves gross bodily functions. And that can be incredibly isolating, because you can't really tell people how you feel. Sometimes, when someone asks how you're doing, you would like to actually tell them, rather than wave it off with, "Eh, kinda crappy," (which is, heh, often more literal than they realize). But it's just too icky for most people, which is why I've found I tend to latch on to people with other intestinal problems and we have this crazy "OMG ME TOO!" conversation, and it's such a relief to finally just be honest, you know?

So... yeah. Moral of the story, don' t be afraid to talk about poop. Everybody does it.

Comments

[silverusagi]

I hate talking about stuff like that, LOL. Not because it's gross, necessarily, just because I feel like it's no one else's business. Like if my stomach is upset, I try to avoid telling my mom because then I'll get the third degree. "You think it's something you ate? Just cramps? Is it that time of month? What sort of pain? Sharp pain? Having diarrhea?" And it's just like "It doesn't matter, I'll be fine tomorrow, leave me alone, it's a little thing, it's none of your business!" But then, this sort of goes for health in general for me. It's not that I'm embarrassed or anything. I just feel like it's not their business. But then, there are lots of things that I feel aren't other people's business. I get annoyed when people ask my weight (and I'm pretty thin). Why do they need to know? When I was a teenager, my grandma asked every now and then if I had started my period yet. Why do you need to know? My parents don't even know I wear glasses to drive. Because then it would turn into a whole thing of "what's your vision?" and "let's see your glasses!" every time I saw a realtive for the next six months. I realize I am slightly Weird. I'm sure this would only intensify if I had a health problem. I'd discuss the nitty gritty details with doctors, but it's just not my relatives' business. Also, I hate being the center of attention in any way, and I hate being the topic of conversation.

[next_to_normal]

Heh. You know, we never did tell my grandmother I was sick for that very reason. My parents were afraid she'd call me every day and worry about things that were none of her business.