Cruel things people say...

[Poppet11]

Since I've only recently discovered that the majority of the population believe that b12 deficiency is a blood condition which is sorted the second your b12 levels go into the normal range - and those of us (there are many) who go through life coping with the real injuries, I just thought of all the downright horrible and thoughtless things people have said to me over the past few years. Okay, most are said because people are ignorant of the injuries that can be caused, but I'm going on the principle that ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law! Please feel free to vent a little and add to the mix!

From a solicitor - "Why on earth do you think YOU deserve an MRI?" - please note a specialist in demyelinating illnesses!

"You only had a vitamin deficiency" (from so many people I lost count)

"Yes, well, your b12 levels are normal now!" (The doctors' favourite)

"Don't you think you should just work harder and get over it?" - (said to me who has worked for well over 35 years, usually by other women (TUT!) who haven't seen employment for quite a long time)

"People don't get b12 deficiency these days!" (A doctor - who else!)

"Vitamin b12 deficiency can't cause all these symptoms!" (Doctor - again...)

"Well, you only had a vitamin deficiency and I'VE got chronic fatigue syndrome and YOU don't understand how ill it makes you!" (Pot, kettle, calling, black)

"Yes, well, it's treated now, move on" - (legal clinician)

.... And the most hated, but it's not words. It's that smug little smile that doctors, nurses, family, friends and anybody else has on their face when you try and explain what's happened. That one that comes with the little sideways tilt of the head. That one means they are patronising the hell out of you.

Oh, and before I forget - the main one from nurses that is combined with the smug smile

"Why do so many patients with b12 deficiency keep coming back and asking for more frequent jabs?"

Gosh, it's so hard to keep your mouth shut, isn't it?

[Poppet11]

... and I've thought of a funny to go with it:

I was passing on some information to a 'scientist' who said he'd got an interest in the subject. It was quite clear he wasn't looking at anything I gave him - for example, I gave him the link to the 1920s Murphy and Minot SILENT film. When I asked him what he thought of it, he said, "They had some very interesting things to say." Right....

Later he turned round and said to me, "Do you think it's a conspiracy theory and the Masons are behind it?"

Whatever... and that was as polite as I could make it!

I wanted to say, 'are you completely off your rocker?'

I wish I had ....