I used to be very fit, slim and super sexy (well, two out of three ) Breaking my back completely wrecked my health and severely limited by mobility causing me to pile on weight which I can't exercise to lose (i can't even swim because i have severe psoriasis and an allergy to chlorine)
It used to get me down, especially during a period when I had to use a wheelchair and wasn't sure I'd ever be able to cope without it. The way people treated me was horrible. I suddenly wasn't a person anymore, i was a problem. I blocked aisles, held people up, needed more space etc etc. The worst thing of all was that my then husband resented the fact he had to push me in the chair and was embarrassed by it
Now, i don't have to use a chair, although I need a stick if i'm walking more than a few feet, but i still get all the shit about moving slowly, especially up stairs. I have arthritis in my joints and especially in cold weather I have difficulties with stiffness and severe pain. I (like to think) I look quite young for my age and I get glares and comments when I sit in disabled seats on buses, because I need the extra legroom, or park in disabled spaces.
Eventually I got to a point where I thought - screw this and screw you. That's when I started dying my hair bright colours and surrendering to the dark side. Generally speaking, no one gives me shit now, at least not to my face