Introducing Hank the Rheumatoid Arthritis Weeble person
I have been noticing stairs. I suppose when you are not walking so well you see things like stairs. I see the stairs as obstacles. I have friends who see them as barriers without resolution. The thing is, once you see them, really see them, you cannot help but notice. They are seemingly everywhere. Yet when you are not looking, they are nowhere.
Trifecta
That is the issue with all chronic disease. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Type 1 Diabetes. These are all autoimmune diseases and they all leave a genetic artifact on our bodies. Diabetes, leaves the least of those marks. I carry a pump and my fingertips look like someone was doing a bad science project on them, but other than that diabetes is generally not physically altering. But none the less these are physical manifestations of an otherwise unseen disease.
Ankylosing Spondylitis leaves the most prevalent physical impact. My back lists forward at about 4% and I have become like an unbalanced Weeble person, almost unable to stand up but not quite falling down. I think my Weeble name would be Hank. Hank the unstraight blue Weeble guy. You have to love Hank but he does not do well on steps these days. He may lean forward, but his steps are slow.
RA is most identified with physical changes. I walk slower (the view from behind) but other than that it is difficult to see how RA is changing my physical appearance. It is true, I have these disfigured fingers, but few people really see them. Since I had early and very aggressive biologic treatment for RA; most of the outward physical symptoms have been kept at bay. That is until Hank the unstable Weeble guy shows up to climb stairs.
Hank the Weeble guy
Leaning forward, Hank puts his head forward and leans into the task at hand. Mounting those stairs is always a give and take situation. I usually step at the risk of giving up balance, and sometimes things work out well. Other times not so well.
It seems Hank the Weeble guy must stop more than he likes as he climbs stairs. I suppose it goes with the normal pattern of living. We do it because what choice do we have? Not much really.
Stairs
Stairs are a big part of life in the US in general and around my house in particular. I realize the ADA gives us certain rights for access to public buildings and most buildings comply or can give an accommodation. That is most not all. For a few, when I go to visit I have a choice. Stay on the street or let my alter ego Hank the Weeble guy take over. When Hank takes over, that is where the fun (for someone) starts. Owing to his heritage, Hank is a pure bred wobbler. I am reminded of a duck trying to climb stairs. And if you can imagine a duck leaning forward hoping gravity takes him up the staircase, you know what I look like climbing stairs. Slow is an understatement. Unsteady goes without saying. Wobble, wobble psst, I define wobble. Shaking my hips I look like a bad Elvis trying to do the jail house rock.
So if you are behind me it is ok to snicker, or go around. I don’t mind. But no I do not want your help. I am having way too much fun climbing the stairs. Wait fun you ask? Well yeah I dig Elvis. Come on who doesn’t love Elvis. Even if I am more like Hank the unstable Weeble person not an Elvis impersonator. At least I am not Mayor Weeble, that guy is seriously unstable.
Yeah I know: Me calling the Weeble Mayor unstable is just not an upright thing to do.
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