Everyone- I need your ideas!!

I'm 20 and, as of today, using a cane. As you can imagine, anyone who sees me with it wants to know a full medical history and report of my symptoms and diagnosis because I simply "SHOULDN'T" need a cane! (never mind that it's doctor ordered). I couldn't even get out of the medical supply store without a well-meaning grilling from the clerk.

So, guys, I need all the well-thought out comebacks you can give me for
...."your so young, you don't need a cane!" or
....."why do you have a cane, you don't look like you need it?" and
....."oh you poor thing, so tell me what's wrong, what are the doctor's saying... what's your diagnosis?"

I'm not even officially diagnosed yet, my neuro only suspect MS and is running me through tests, so that's making it even harder to explain. I have horrible balance and am falling each day, so I know that I need a cane, but....

And I really don't want to tell well-meaning friends what's the "going on" because my 9 year old sister doesn't know what is wrong and really couldn't understand if we tried to explain. (I personally don't want to).

I realized today that I'm going to need humor sprinkled with a bit of truth and love to pull me through each time everyone asked, and i thought ya'll would be the ones to go to for help!

I hope you can all pitch in and help me with this one, I need you guys!

~Sunnytoday~

[Fluffysmom]

How about "It's for protection from nosy people!"  OK, too rude.

I'm having balance issues that aren't clear.

I thought I'd try a cool accessory that almost no one my age has!

It's a fashion statement that doubles as a weapon!

Hmm, I'll bet someone else will come up with some better ones.  

Did you pick out a cool one?

Kathy

[Sunnytoday]

You made me laugh! Those are great!

I like my cane as far as color goes- it's a neat metallic silver with splashes of metallic purple, and dots of metallic blue, purple and lime green. I just couldn't bring myself to get a plain black one!

I can't wait for others to pitch it, this could actually be fun now that I think about it...
~Sunnytoday~

[Quixotic1]

I loved Kathy's comments.

I have a hand-carved walking staff, mostly for balance that has an owl on top with crystal eyes.  People love it.  You might look also at craft fairs, though yours sounds cool.

Quix

[gooddays]

When I first started using a cane, I did just like you, I bought a pretty one.  

Every time someone would ask why I needed a cane to walk, I would tell them that I was starting a fashion trend.  After a while, people may stare, but would not say anything else.

One other thing, If you need to use something like a cane, just make it with style.

I am not this vane, but some people are to nosy and I would not give in into details.

We have not met, but your post brought on some memories.  Hopefully you would just need it for a small timeframe.  Good look with your dx.

Gooddays (Zulma)

[yorkieville]

Hi, Sunny.

  Hon, I experience the same questions about my weight....we met in my Neurological Bowel  Thread, I'm the 78#er.

  Sometimes I just smile, other times, if I have the time, I'll explain.

My age is going to show here, but I think, in this day and age, people have forgotten the Rules of Etiquette, and that means no personal questions of strangers and no staring.

  I hope you won't need the cane long....but I like everyone's suggestions.

  Hugs,
Sheila

[Sunnytoday]

Quix, I'd love a carved one- yours sounds cool! I'm going to stick with my hearty metal one 'till i get used to where it is in space in relation to my feet and stop kicking it, and get stronger hands (grip is leaving) and stop dropping it.

Zulma & Shelia, I truly wish it was a short term thing, but my balance has been declining for two years, and only in the past month have I come to understand the fact that falling every day is worse than carrying a cane and when the doc. said "now's the time" I guess I understood why.

Thanks for the support... I really need it! I'm sure I will be doing a lot of smiling and the tips from Kathy will come quite in handy- because most people are unfortunetly not content to stare but like to ask prying questions too!

Ya'll continue to brighten my day... thanks again!
~Sunnytoday~

[LLWB]

Tell them it is a sword cane, you are practicing to be Zorro on Halloween!
It's protection in case of a mugger.
It's to trip the next handsome man you see.
Or: It's none of your dam* business!
Why are you asking?

I hope you can get a diagnosis soon, and start getting treatment.9999hugs & prayers)))))

Maggie