I was trying to describe what it was like to have PCOS cramps and ovarian cysts that ruptured to Nick. I was attempting to think of ways to assimilate the pain to a guy whose never had a period. So I offered “Remember that time you were drunk and fell backwards on a piece of glass and sliced your back, then we poured alcohol on it to clean it? Kinda Like that”
His response? “Ya no, don’t use that petty injury to explain what you go through. That’s bullshit. It’s way worse than what I’ve experienced” “That piece of glass wasn’t shit. nothing like what you’re going through. that was a dumb drunk accident
Ladies I think we have found a winner.
Sometimes I try to explain the pain the way it feels, sharp knives being hammered in which jackhammers, or pins and needles except the needles are on fire, and the pins are on fire, and everything is on fire, the whole enchilada. Maybe I haven’t experienced a knife stabbing me, but I can only assume that’s what it feels like. They ask you those questions on your pain surveys at the doctors office. “Stabbing, Shooting, Burning, Numbness” and so on and so forth. But in reality what do we have to compare this too. the same can be asked for a pain scale. What do we compare it to. Childbirth if you’ve had children? A broken bone if that’s happened? I haven’t had either of those things. Sometimes I think it’s just up to personal tolerance. Some days the pain is less and I can’t tell whether I’ve just adapted to this level of pain or if it’s actually less.
Maybe someone out there can build a better scale, because as of now, the Mcgill Pain Scale is the only one out there to rank things for us…
Life On Fire 