Guest guest Posted January 13, 2001 Report Share Posted January 13, 2001 Hi, My name's Caroline and I'm 20 and living in the UK. I'm also 4ft2 (and have always been below all my friends) but I've never been diagnosed with anything to suggest dwarfism despite having people prod and poke me when I was about 15 or so since I wasn't developing. I am basically in proportion (apart from a slightly smaller trunk due to scoliosis). Having to cope with being small every day (as well as various other things (scoliosis, asthma (fairly non-existant now but used to affect me lots), cleft palete, the normal orthodontist problems, seeing a nutritionalist since I was apparently underweight)) I started searching for people who knew what it was like. Hmmmm, appologies for that last sentance. Anyway, I came across LPA (as well as here) and wondered if there were people who would help me. I would guess most people do similar to me but wondered if there were any other useful tips people could impart. I have a stool in the kitchen for reaching things though still do the standing on worksurfaces when at home to reach things. I have extra pedals for the car as well as an extra floor and cushion so I'm high enough to see but I hate driving and at the moment I'm away at uni hence not trying. I think my hate of driving also has something to do with fairly severe (treated and non-progressing) scoliosis. I think most of the rest of my life I pretend I'm tall enough to cope with things though there are times I've had enough of having to stretch to reach in a wardrobe or get things off shelves. Usually people are helpful though and I have a good group of friends who will help (or even give me lifts when trying to see things over the top of people). I guess I'm still quite a bit of a kid at heart since I quite like being lifted to others height and being able to see. I'm only 5ish stone (30ish kg) so people don't find it difficult to lift me. 1) Does anyone know of a similar group that exists in the UK? 2) Does anyone know anyone like me (since doctors decided I was unique) so I can find more information about why I'm small and have to cope with everything I do. 3) Do people worry about whether or not they ought to take an adult or child dose of medicine (I would guess this would be more of a problem for proportionally small people (apology for not knowing terms))? 4) Do people who are proportionally small (sorry I don't know terms) worry about getting drunk too quickly? I don't drink and never have but I am curious. Also I will get to a stage where I'll be accused of being drunk anyway. I guess I want to know what to expect if I did try drinking. 5) Are there any proportionally small adult females on this list who feel like emailing me privately about a couple of other questions/fears I have? If so can you please email me back. 6) What sort of help do people expect in their work or college to help with the fact they are too small? I tend to try to do everything as if I was normal sized and stubborn so have never found out about this before. 7) Does anyone have a hint about how to get sheets onto beds that are sat in the corner of a room (and can't be moved out)? I *can* do it with struggle though now I tend to get my boyfriend to help. Appologies for all the questions but I don't know anyone else who is as small as I am and hence knows how to cope with things. The only one I can remember meeting who was smaller than me I met before I was 11 and most of the questions I have now never occurred then. I just got on with my life and accepted it mostly. Thanks for your patience and looking forward to your answers, Love Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2001 Report Share Posted January 15, 2001 Fred- Not starting trouble or criticizing, just going to make a point. I just looked up LPA last year and I am 30 years old. I have functioned quite fine before I found this group and the information contained within it's cyberwalls. I have learned quite a bit from the website and list. I also have been both entertained and frustrated by even this e-list (incessant ranting over the Kingz article). Not everyone is so dependent on a support group that they can't function " normally " . That transcends all sorts of support groups not just this one. I too am not one to wait for someone to solve my problems or offer help. I am a very stubborn independent person who doesn't really see a difference between me and Joe Q. Public. My " shortcomings " are just more obvious than others. I know you were probably only joking with that comment, but with the flat medium of text it can easily be misinterpreted and seemed a bit rude. I'm sure this message will be read as an attack on you personally, which I would like to stress is NOT. All the best --- fred short <Fred.Short@...> wrote: > > How on EARTH have you got this far through life, > without knowing these > things? :-)))))))) > > Best wishes, looking forward to hearing from you > > Fred > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2001 Report Share Posted January 15, 2001 There are times when one looses all faith in human nature, and sadly, this is one of them. From: D <lilmoxy2000@...> > Not starting trouble or criticizing, just going to make a point. Hm, this is a bit like when the boat is sinking and folks start shouting " Don't Panic! Don't Panic! " Cutting out most of your 'critic': > I know you were probably only joking with that > comment, but with the flat medium of text it can > easily be misinterpreted and seemed a bit rude. Excuse me, excuse me. Knock, knock! Anyone in there? Didn't you see all the smiles at the end of the comment: Quote: > > How on EARTH have you got this far through life, > > without knowing these > > things? :-)))))))) > > >I'm > sure this message will be read as an attack on you > personally, which I would like to stress is NOT. No (says he with a sigh), of COURSE I don't see it as an attack. I just wonder sometimes WHAT one has to do, in order for a genuine offer of help and information, to NOT be taken with offence or suspicion that the hand which offers it, is in fact, holding poison. For goodness sake , all I was doing, is what most of the darn good people of this list would also have done, and that was, as a fellow Englishman of Caroline's, I responded to her request for information. Which, incidently, and interestingly, she has not, herself, replied to. One is left, wondering, confused, and pondering the meaning of the universe:-) The Very possible, kindest, most generous of regards to you, :-)))))))) Yes! yes! I am joking, HONESTLY:-))))))) Best wishes Confused of England Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2001 Report Share Posted January 15, 2001 Jen why don't you tell us more about yourself? >From: D <lilmoxy2000@...> >fred short <Fred.Short@...>, Dwarfism <dwarfismegroups>, >caroline.berry@... >Subject: Re: Information wanted >Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 11:01:26 -0800 (PST) > > Fred- > >Not starting trouble or criticizing, just going to >make a point. > >I just looked up LPA last year and I am 30 years old. >I have functioned quite fine before I found this group >and the information contained within it's cyberwalls. >I have learned quite a bit from the website and list. >I also have been both entertained and frustrated by >even this e-list (incessant ranting over the Kingz >article). > >Not everyone is so dependent on a support group that >they can't function " normally " . That transcends all >sorts of support groups not just this one. > >I too am not one to wait for someone to solve my >problems or offer help. I am a very stubborn >independent person who doesn't really see a difference >between me and Joe Q. Public. My " shortcomings " are >just more obvious than others. > >I know you were probably only joking with that >comment, but with the flat medium of text it can >easily be misinterpreted and seemed a bit rude. I'm >sure this message will be read as an attack on you >personally, which I would like to stress is NOT. > >All the best > > > >--- fred short <Fred.Short@...> wrote: > > > > How on EARTH have you got this far through life, > > without knowing these > > things? :-)))))))) > > > > Best wishes, looking forward to hearing from you > > > > Fred > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2001 Report Share Posted January 15, 2001 Fred- This is sort of what I mean about intentions being misinterpreted via text. > >I'm > > sure this message will be read as an attack on you > > personally, which I would like to stress is NOT. > > No (says he with a sigh), of COURSE I don't see it > as an attack. > I didn't figure you would see it as a personal attack, I really meant other people thinking that I attacked you personnally. I meant the message to everyone in general that things can easily be taken out of context without the aid of body language and the candor in which it would be spoken vs. written. The smiley faces at the end . . . one COULD see them as a joke or like when someone says something nasty to your face and smiles why (s)he does it. Just concerned that she may take it wrong being new to the list. That's all plain and simple. I guess I need to adhere to my own concept of K.I.S.S. so any " joe " knows EXACTLY what I mean. I knew you were joking, but newbies may not. Also,I DIDN'T criticize your offer of help and was GLAD to see someone step up to the plate so quickly. Hope I cleared up any confusion anyone may have. --- fred short <Fred.Short@...> wrote: > There are times when one looses all faith in human > nature, and sadly, this > is one of them. > > From: D <lilmoxy2000@...> > > > Not starting trouble or criticizing, just going to > make a point. > > Hm, this is a bit like when the boat is sinking and > folks start shouting > " Don't Panic! Don't Panic! " > > > Cutting out most of your 'critic': > > > I know you were probably only joking with that > > comment, but with the flat medium of text it can > > easily be misinterpreted and seemed a bit rude. > > Excuse me, excuse me. Knock, knock! Anyone in > there? Didn't you see all > the smiles at the end of the comment: > > Quote: > > > > How on EARTH have you got this far through life, > > > without knowing these > > > things? :-)))))))) > > > > > >I'm > > sure this message will be read as an attack on you > > personally, which I would like to stress is NOT. > > No (says he with a sigh), of COURSE I don't see it > as an attack. > > I just wonder sometimes WHAT one has to do, in order > for a genuine offer of > help and information, to NOT be taken with offence > or suspicion that the > hand which offers it, is in fact, holding poison. > > For goodness sake , all I was doing, is what > most of the darn good > people of this list would also have done, and that > was, as a fellow > Englishman of Caroline's, I responded to her request > for information. > Which, incidently, and interestingly, she has not, > herself, replied to. > > One is left, wondering, confused, and pondering the > meaning of the > universe:-) > > The Very possible, kindest, most generous of regards > to you, > :-)))))))) Yes! yes! I am joking, > HONESTLY:-))))))) > > Best wishes > > Confused of England > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2001 Report Share Posted January 15, 2001 On Mon, 15 Jan 2001, D wrote: > Fred- > > This is sort of what I mean about intentions being > misinterpreted via text. So long as everyone realises that it is difficult to get things across in text format it is usually ok though I know sometimes this gets lost. [discussion about body language vs text cut] > The smiley faces at the end . . . one COULD see them > as a joke or like when someone says something nasty to > your face and smiles why (s)he does it. > > Just concerned that she may take it wrong being new to > the list. That's all plain and simple. I guess I > need to adhere to my own concept of K.I.S.S. so any > " joe " knows EXACTLY what I mean. I thank you for your concern but i knew he didn't mean anything by it. I know there are people who are out there and do need (I mean need rather than want) help from others but I also know that everyone's different and a lot of us survive quite well without ever having problems. I found the list mainly because I wanted to see if there were people that I could talk to about things just to see how they coped rather than I was actually having problems doing so myself. > I knew you were joking, but newbies may not. I knew he was joking thanks but I do appologise if what I write makes no sense in other peoples eyes since I don't know the ethics of the list. I'm also not very good at getting my opinions across (either in text or real life) so I'm afraid people will have to cope with that. > Also,I DIDN'T criticize your offer of help and was > GLAD to see someone step up to the plate so quickly. Thanks to this list I have managed to get lots of information from people and have also discovered the UK list which is nice to know about. Thanks to all who helped. > --- fred short <Fred.Short@...> wrote: > > From: D <lilmoxy2000@...> [cut complaints] > > > > How on EARTH have you got this far through life, > > > > without knowing these > > > > things? :-)))))))) > > > > > > > > I just wonder sometimes WHAT one has to do, in order > > for a genuine offer of > > help and information, to NOT be taken with offence > > or suspicion that the > > hand which offers it, is in fact, holding poison. I don't know if this helps either of you but I didn't take it with offence. On the other hand with various other web based things I have learnt to take what people say with a pinch of salt. > > For goodness sake , all I was doing, is what > > most of the darn good > > people of this list would also have done, and that > > was, as a fellow > > Englishman of Caroline's, I responded to her request > > for information. > > Which, incidently, and interestingly, she has not, > > herself, replied to. I appologise for not replying to it sooner but I received so many responses and have been finding a huge number of websites with more information on that I failed to have enough time to reply to everyone. Sorry. I was getting round to it eventually. I was trying to accumulate more information before doing so. Thanks for all the information everyone has posted me though. I feel snowed under with information and people trying to be helpful which is a wonderful feeling but one that will take a while to dig through replying to. As for a response for the comment. I got through life cos I had to. Simple as that. I knew no other way. Most of my childhood I just accepted things as that was the way they were going to be and got on with them. There were always occasions when I wondered how others coped but just tended to do the best I could. If you don't know the information's out there you don't know what you are missing. Also when I was younger I was too busy leading my life to go hunting for it and to be honest was fed up of doctors hence didn't really want to gain any more. Now I've discovered the wealth of information online, and the anonomity (so I don't have to get all embarrassed since I tend to when asking about things in real life more than in text form) as well as the fact it can fit round whatever else you want/have to do, I thought I'd try to find others to find out how they cope. Also I have had people at uni ask me things like why I was small which started me thinking (they were good friends and drunk at the time but I didn't mind them asking. I just wished I knew the answer. Still took be a couple of years to track this down though). Appologies for this being such a long email and probably not making a lot of sense but I thought I ought to reply this evening to stop people wondering if they'd scared me off. I really must sleep now, Thanks again to everyone who've been very helpful Love Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2001 Report Share Posted January 15, 2001 I'm glad you two are working things out...British way, of course...I think...? Karin :-) Shop online without a credit card http://www.rocketcash.com RocketCash, a NetZero subsidiary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2001 Report Share Posted January 17, 2001 On Mon, 15 Jan 2001, heather davis wrote: > Jen > > why don't you tell us more about yourself? If this was to me I don't know what sort of things you want to know about. I'm 20 years old and at the moment living in Keble college, Oxford, UK. I am in my final year of a maths and computing degree and looking forward to being out in the real world and getting a job (when I'm not too busy getting too scared at growing up fast). I have a boyfriend who I spend a lot of time with. He's my age and also doing maths and computing in Keble. He's also average sized (5ft8 I think) but that doesn't tend to make that much difference. Well I wouldn't knwo what it's like otherwise to really compare it. In my spare time I spend a lot of time at the computer as well as going to OUSGG and scottish dancing. OUSGG is the scout and guide group here and we so all sorts of things depending on what people want to organise. ish dancing is also fun with lots of practise for a ceilidh at the end of term. What else do you want to know about? Take care Love Caroline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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