A Man In A Woman’s World

 

 

 

The following has been rated “S” and contains statements of sarcasm, sexism and stereotypes.

No one under the age of 17 will be permitted to read further unless accompanied by a female gym teacher.

 

 

This whole MS thing strikes me down to the core of my “Y” chromosome.

If multiple sclerosis affects two to three times more females than males, I question, how as a guy, did I get into this mess to begin with!

 

I wonder….Is MS different for the ladies as it is for the gents?

 

We seem to suffer from the same physical challenges…foot drop, loss of mobility, cognitive functions and the list goes on & on.

But does MS cast its spell differently between the sexes in terms of mind games?

Psychologically, is MS different for a man than it is for a woman?

 

Personally, my diagnosis was a blow to the male ego.

I mean look at the name…..MS.

MS.  My wife gets packages addressed to “MS!”  I’m a guy.  What happened to “MR?”

MR for guys, MS for girls.

 

 

I’ve even had people say to me…”I thought MS was strictly a female condition.”

Ah, no genius.  It’s not cramps!

 

But still, why couldn’t I have been given a more “masculine” diagnosis?

I dunno, something like athlete’s foot. 

Or a groin pull.

Now that sounds manly!

 

“Pulled my groin lifting a car off a small child” sounds way cooler than “I have MS and now walk slower than urban renewal.”

 

 

 

Then, there is the whole “Dad” thing.

Because of MS, I couldn’t coach the kid’s ball teams.  Can’t run with them.  Or roughhouse.

Family provider?  Can’t do that either.

Husband?  Pfft, my wife works a full day and then comes home to cut the grass.

 

 

Yep, MS is a real kick in the shorts for guys.

It’s gotta be WAY worse to have MS if you are a g……………………….

 

 

(Pause)

 

 

(Rubbing his ever expanding “five-head.”)

 

 

Come to think of it, I know quite a few ladies out there with MS.

And likewise, many are parents.

Many have spouses.

And many have had to leave the workforce because of their illness.

Suppose they feel any less?

 

 

(Pause)

 

 

(Realization & change of heart like the Grinch.)

 

Maybe, just maybe.  We aren’t so different.

Maybe MS is as much a kick in the shorts for men as it is for women.

 

 

So, a “man in a woman’s world?”

Nah, let me rephrase that.

More like a “man & a woman in an MS world.”

Disclaimer: No groins were pulled in the writing of this post.