I was going through my imported posts from my old blog and I came across Invisible Illness Week. I did a search for it to find out it is coming up really soon.
Join me in celebrating Invisible Illness Week September 8-14. 4 more days!
Here are my 30 things:
30 THINGS ABOUT MY INVISIBLE ILLNESS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
1. The illness I live with is: Chronic Back Pain, Hashimoto's Disease, Asthma, Allergies (2004), Migraines, Celiac Disease, Vitiligo
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2007 (Chronic Back Pain), 2006 (Hashimoto's Disease), 2000 (Asthma), 2004, (Allergies), 2009 (Migraines), 2013 (Celiac Disease), 2013 (Vitiligo)
3. But I had symptoms since: 2007 when I got hurt (Back), 2006 (Hashimoto's), 2000 (After I had Ashleigh), 2004 (After I had Noah), 2009 (After I had Ethan), On and off for years (Celiac)
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: I can not do everything I used to do due to my back pain. I have to do things in what I call intervals. (Hashimoto's Disease is under control according to my blood work. Asthma is under control. Migraines is now control and I do not take any medicine for it. With Celiac Disease, I watch what I eat like a hawk and I have to eat Gluten Free. The rest of this is about my Chronic Back Pain)
5. Most people assume: I am healthy and I must be able to do everything.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Moving.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: was ER, now Gray's Anatomy
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is:
Laptop & my ipad since I am always reading on it!
9. The hardest part about nights are:
being able to sleep
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
I have never counted them.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I:
None
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Can I choose None? With Visible, you can see it, but invisible you can not see it. When I park in the handicap parking spots, the elderly gives me dirty looks. Did you know younger people can be disabled, too? It is not just the older people. I am tired of the dirty looks. If I can not walk from the back of the parking lot, do SuperWalmart, & get to my car, then I am using my Handicap Placard. My doctor signed off on it just like the other people who have it. This makes me mad.
13. Regarding working and career: Those who work are so lucky. I miss working. Having that time where I left the house was priceless.
14. People would be surprised to know: I get tired very easily. If I overdo it, my legs could hurt.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Never being able to work. I would love to work. People who complain about working don't realize how lucky they can work.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Do everything I do, but I do it for my family.
17. The commercials about my illness: I don't really see any for Celiac. Back problems yes, asthma, yes, Thyroid diseases yes.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Baking. I used to bake a lot before I was injured. Now I bake only for birthdays & Christmas, but Shawn helps me for Christmas & for both we do it over 3 days. It depends on what the kids want for their birthdays. If it is a cookie cake, then I make the batter one day. Bake it another day. Ice it the third day. It is the same for Christmas cut out cookies, too, but Shawn helps me with the kids making the cut out shapes. Then, I put them into the oven or he does. We have not done this in the new home so I am not sure what we will do. He may do that since it is further now. Then, the kids & I ice them on the third day. Before I could do it all in 1 day. Sad isn't it!
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Working & Baking like I used to. I really hate to hear people complaining about their jobs. They should be grateful they can work in the first place. Others like me are not able to.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: I am painting again. It is not a new hobby, but I have gone back to it.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Play with my kids like I used to. I want a day to play soccer with my kids with no pain.
22. My illness has taught me: I think most importantly is this one: Never ever give up, which is what my daughter taught me. Then I love this saying: "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: Negative people. I think you use up too much energy to be negative & I don't have that kind of energy to use up being in pain. I need it for other things. I have 3 kids & a house to take care of plus a husband. It is too important to me so I choose to be positive!
24. But I love it when people:Think they know what it is like to live in my shoes!
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: You are stronger than you think! You can do this!! Then I love this saying: "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." In a movie "The Princess Diaries" I heard this quote & love it: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."- Eleanor Roosevelt
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You will learn a new way/schedule to do things. Positive thinking is key. Educate yourself. Be your own advocate. If you think something is wrong, you know your body best.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: I have learned to let go of the negativity in my life & enjoy all the positives that I have.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: My husband has done the nicest things for me. He has stayed by my side all these years since I was hurt & had my back surgery. Most nights I am in bed because I can not do anymore, but he is taking care of our 3 kids, doing the dishes, & cleaning up from dinner.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: It is important that people know just because people look healthy they could be sick inside. They need to be respectful to everyone. If you see someone parking in a handicap parking spot, remember they got that just the same way they everyone else did. They may look healthy, but they are not inside. No more dirty looks to them! I know not everyone does this. I am speaking to those who does this. Thanks.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: I think it is for people to know that just because you look healthy does not mean you are healthy. I look healthy, but I live every day in pain.
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