Why (for lack of a better salutation :-)
I'm sure you have seen my posts here and my rants about surgery and secrecy but this post is for you, and transcends all of that, ok?
I'm kind of old now compared to you, but I don't think things have changed that much since I was 15...well, we have computers now, which we didn't have 25 years ago. But I think 15 year olds are pretty much the same; the ones I know are pretty much the same as it was for me a million years ago. Then and now, I've never had a passing resemblence to Brittney Spears---no joke. In junior high and in high school, I was shunned by the popular crowd but still found some friends with others on the fringes. Looking back (and I did a year ago at my 2oth reunion) I realized I didn't appreciate them as much as I should've then. Then, I was still wanting to be part of the "pretty" crowd. Last year, at my reunion, I saw that the pretty crowd didn't really do much over the past 20 years, yet us kids .
In my current passion, I have met so many people with CAH, and one thing is always obvious: we are great over-achievers. We may not always have stunning beauty, but we are really smart (and those with all that beauty that will fade do envy us on that, ya know because our smarts won't fade). We are truly beautiful in our own way.
In the check-ups...you can say no and you should say no. First tell yourself, enough is enough, and then tell the doctors enough is enough. They don't need see any part of you that you don't want them to see. In fact, I stopped them from doing that to me when I was around your age...just told them no! They balked and I got sassy (Oh, I remember this so well ;->) and asked them what part of no did they not understand? It's your body, and now is a good time to learn how to protect it.
Why, if you need to talk, have some questions answered, whatever, you can always email me. I also know some people younger than me that would probably love to exchange emails with you if you want. Either way, know that you are not alone (in fact, there are a lot of us out here) and know that if you need to reach out, you won't be let down.
Betsy
