I stopped off for a few cocktails at my local saloon this afternoon and struck up a conversation with the gent next to me. Turns out he is a plastic surgeon (as well as a longtime Lions fan … sucker). So it got me to thinking: What one thing about yourself would you change if you could? Personally, I have a slightly crooked jaw. It kind of points to the left like my Dad’s did. Alas, I’m not about to have my jaw wired shut and drink shakes for a month, so I guess I’ll live with it.
I would probably have arranged it so I did not have schizophrenia. (This diagnosis was made by five psychiatrists, as much as 22 years apart.) If I had not suffered from mental illness I would probably have been able to overcome other problems I’ve encountered along the way…)
I’ve got this thing called Essential Tremors, for which there is a treatment that involves implanting a Thalmic Stimulator in the hypothalmus. The people who make it (Medtronic) know their target market - their website’s full of pictures of people holding coffee cups with one hand. But it’s expensive as hell, and the last time I read about it, the procedure had ~3% mortality rate - a little high for the benefit.
I’ll just stick with the present therapy (believe it or not - alcohol suppresses it).
My teeth are too big & my mouth is too small. Shouldn’t it be against the laws of genetics to allow a child to inherit her father’s huge teeth and mother’s teeny mouth?
Beatle: I, too, have Essential Tremor (benign familial tremor) predominantly in my left hand. Yup, alcohol works, but I’ve noticed the tremor worsens once the alcohol wears off. I’m assuming you’ve tried beta-blockers? I was taking one for a short time but the side effects (slugishness, mainly) were not worth it.
Yes, I use propranolol, but on an as needed basis (i.e., have to give a presentation, etc., as opposed to daily); it’s good for 3-4 hours. I’ve got it both hands/arm and occasionally the head.
Booze does suppress it, but, as you say, it’s a little worse the day after (not always, though). It waxes and wanes and I’ve never figured out what controls that.
I dunno if I’d call wanting to escape mental difficulties vain.
Anyway, have you seen the photos of Linda Tripp in the Enquirer? She had plastic surgery on her face done - it says, a nose job and the fat removed. She also got a totally different hairstyle. She is positively unrecognizable, not the dowdy, lurking troll we saw on CNN. Much easier to look at, for what it’s worth. - MC
I could use a smaller nose, a more prominent chin and fuller lips. And most definately a tummy tuck. You can exercise your ass off and diet yourself to near nothing but once you have kids , its so damn hard to lose that little bit of looseness and skin in the stomach area.
so you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts. what’s so amazing about really deep thoughts? Tori Amos
Is there some way to trade-in the whole package? If there isn’t, I would like to start with some hair on my head, but there so many paths to run up on that scene I don’t know where to start.
You guys with the brain stuff isn’t there some government assistance you could get.
I’d like to get my teeth straightened, but I don’t want to resort to braces. While I’m still playing music, I wouldn’t want that to cut into my livelihood.
Beatle, I have Essential Tremor also. Mainly in my right hand. I was diagnosed last year and was given Metoprolol to take. I use it on an as needed basis but I notice that stress makes the tremors more pronounced. Also, when I’m hungry (this one I haven’t figured out). The ladies at work know about my tremors and if they notice my hands shaking they make me go take my medicine.
Mostly, I’m pretty happy with myself. The things I would like to change are mostly medical. I’d get the laser eye surgery thing, too, because my eyes are just hideous. I’d get a spine implant, because I have scoliosis, which doesn’t really impact my daily life very much, but my posture isn’t all that great as a result. (I have C-scoliosis, not S, which means that either I have an extra vertebra or one is deformed; either way, it’s not something that’s going to change.)
I don’t like my nose all that much, but oh well. I will never, ever have any sort of plastic surgery done.
Well, I’d like to lose some of the pounds I put on during my marriage (they just stick like glue after 30, don’t they?)
I was born without a sense of smell (like my dad). I guess that’s what I’d want most - to be able to smell things. My Mother calls me “the arsonist”, because I’m always putting things in the oven, forgetting about them, and not remembering until the house literally fills with smoke so thick that it obsures my vision. When I was a kid, we had a toaster that didn’t pop up, I almost burned the house down a few times. It’s funny now, but I’m sure my Mom didn’t appreciate the house always smelling like a fire sale.
Princess of the Time and Space Continuum since 1969 (upgraded to Goddess 01/07/00)-
OK, we have enough youth. How about a fountain of smart. =^…^=
Like Shadowfox, I’d like to be taller too. I’m only 5’1". Funny thing is, most people don’t realize that I’m that short. I get “you’re only how tall?” all the time. I was mulling out loud about this to a friend of mine once, and he said something very cool–“you have a tall personality.”
