[indrora]

The author isn't talking about you.

The author is talking about the people who will inevitably email with explanations about how she's doing something wrong or things are not as bad as they seem or any number of other options.

I have asthma in a particular form, and when people hear that I get triggered by extensive exercise and hill climbs and that I have to take things slow (it's gotten progressively worse in the last two years after COVID) I will inevitably be told "well you need to exercise more."

Exercise can't fix scar tissue, bob.

Because that's what I'm fighting. I don't have a full pair of adult lungs. I have two lungs that got the shit beaten out of them when I was 3. Could I use some more exercise? Certainly. Will it magically fix my asthma? no.

[YeGoblynQueenne]

Many people ignore that there is a good chance they will end their life infirm or disabled and are therefore happy to shit on people with chronic (or even acute!) diseases and disabilities like that's a group of aliens that they will never belong to.

No worries though. As we say in Greek, "όλα εδώ πληρώνονται". Loosely translated, what goes around, comes around.

[bdcravens]

I have Cystic Fibrosis, with a lot of the same issues as COVID infections (scarred lungs and lost capacity), as well as additional fun things like a scarred pancreas (so I have both diabetes as well as difficulty digesting food without supplements). I could write a book with all of the unsolicited "advice" I've gotten over the years.

[1123581321]

Some people are sure they have a magic case of a chronic disease that can’t be helped by anyone’s shared experiences. I used to think that about myself. It’s usually not true.

Anyway, I thought the curse was funny and I’m glad 1-2 of the other replies got that.

[jfengel]

Exercise can't fix scar tissue, bob

Of course not. You need yoga for that.

[TimorousBestie]

Actual laughter was produced, thanks.

[elric]

Sounds familiar. I was often told "just use your inhaler, you'll be fine!". How I wish it were that simple.

[kelnos]

I get that there are lots of people out there who love to play armchair health advisor and have no idea what they're talking about.

But I agree with the GP that this is just strange. I'm not diabetic, so I don't have anything to say about management of the condition itself, but two things were absolutely nuts to me:

1. The author didn't ask for the pump to be shipped to her hotel. She gave an explanation for why she didn't ask for this, but that explanation doesn't make sense. And if she had asked for that, the problem would have been solved by the next day, with minimal fuss or extra stress.

2. The author seems absolutely flabbergasted and in awe at the idea that a mechanical device can break. Yes, I get that she used insulin pumps for 25 years without a failure, but c'mon. Everything and anything can break, even a medical-grade device. Based on her description of how many extra cartridges, syringes, insulin, etc. she brought with her tells us that she does understand the concept that things break and unexpected things happen. Why this huge blind spot around the possibility that the pump (or the CGM) could break too? How could she never ask herself the question, "if my insulin pump breaks when I'm not at home, what will I do for a backup?"

Neither of these points has anything to do with medical knowledge or understanding of how any particular medical condition is managed. They just seem like simple common sense to me, as a fellow adult human who lives on the same planet.

From the author's "here's what I'll do next time" section, it seems she's learned the right lesson and will bring a backup for her entire pump/monitor setup on future trips. Great! I'm glad. But it is absolutely bizarre to me that this isn't just SOP for anyone who relies on any piece of technology for anything, even for things that aren't life-threatening.

[senordevnyc]

Sounds like the author is talking exactly about them, a diabetic who could offer some useful feedback.

And sure, I guess you can wish painful death on anyone who shares your form of asthma and has suggestions, but it definitely says a lot more about you than them.