Information wanted

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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

> >

> >

>

>

>__________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

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

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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.