Posted: 27 July 2010 at 9:01pm | IP Logged

Hi All,

Just to let you know that the programme "How to Look Good Naked" is doing a show tomorrow night (Wed 28th July, 8pm, Channel 4) about a woman who had spinal surgery, put on a lot of weight and lost all her confidence.

I know chronic pain has made me lose a lot of my confidence, not just in how I look but also in how I deal with other people so maybe it might be of some help. 

I went up 2 dress sizes after my pain started and now have to wear flat shoes all the time so it's very difficult to feel dressed up and good about yourself (I used to love wearing high heels)

Anyway I don't know how good it will be but I will be giving it a look to see what they have to say and just thought I'd mention it.

Posted: 28 July 2010 at 5:13pm | IP Logged

Programme sounds like it would be verry relevent for our situation. Glad I checked the forum. sometimes its hard to believe that im wearing the same shoes everday ......and in the summer there jsut so heavy....I hope that some day..I will find an alternative. Lately having real problems weith my kidneys...very bloated...slight incontinance...sort of nerve pain....has any one else developed problems since taking medication? Have been on Ixprim for a while..strong...zydol + paracetemol.....want to come off them.

The summer is going so fast....any ideas for meeting up again?

B

Posted: 28 July 2010 at 9:11pm | IP Logged

Just watched the programme and had a few teary moments.  This girl also started to have her problems at age 29, the same age it happened to me and when she said she started to lose her confidence on that day back when she was 29 I started to cry because it was like listening to myself.

Another thing that hit me was they were talking to 4 women who had lumps and bumps like the rest of us but were happy with their bodies.  One of the women said "I'm happy with my body as it is now because it shows the story of my life".  Unfortunately it is that EXACT same reason that makes me hate my body.  The story of her life, she said, was having 3 children etc, however the story of my life is injuring my back and going through years of hell ever since.  Every time I look at my body it is a constant reminder of what happened and I'm reminded enough by the pain every day without that.

Overall it was a good programme although on these sort of programmes I would like to see them dress people in every day clothes.  I can dress myself up in a skirt and heels (albeit low heels) for a wedding, special day etc but I suffer in the heels so all the rest of my life I wear flats and not just any old flats they have to have good support so they always kind of look like a runner-type shoe.  I would like to know how to dress fancy on a day to day basis when I have to wear such casual shoes all the time.

They never mentioned on the show if the woman had chronic pain.  She did walk with a stick but she may have just needed that for support.  It's funny how someone can instantly look like there's something seriously wrong when they have something like a cane whereas people like myself (and a lot of others) don't need a cane but are in unbearable agony every day.  Chronic pain truly is an invisible disease.

If anyone else saw the programme I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.

Posted: 29 July 2010 at 6:02pm | IP Logged

PrettyP

You are not alone...I did find it v emotional and felt like having a good cry...She was great though..i was watching it with such intesity, waiting to find some kind of answer..but we all have such individual stories. I use a cane, i feel so nervous when Im out..afraid I might tumble. I thought what she said about accepting that there are some parts of our bodies that didnt work and others that did....made sense, but not all that easy to actually live with. I wanted to try and be more positive...She didnt mention pain...strange that. I like the idea that they dont try and alter your body...I suppose its about accepting who you are and having confidence. I will continue again with this conversation, Im so tired now, friend due for dinner..have to conserve the energy.

B