30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
1. The illness I live with is:rheumatoid arthritis
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:2009
3. But I had symptoms since:2008 (at least… and that is what the Rheumy said)
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Being patient with myself
5. Most people assume: that methotrexate will FIX it totally
6. The hardest part about mornings are: getting going while I ache
7. My favorite medical TV show is: House
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My phone
9. The hardest part about nights are: finding a spot where I don’t ache
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) 5 every day… 15 on Friday… 6 on Saturday
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: use Yoga to help keep the synnovial fluid moving
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible… it keeps more people from treating my like I have 7 heads or a snorkle hose growing out of my forehead.
13. Regarding working and career: I ache some days but I deal
14. People would be surprised to know: that I take chemo therapy drugs to allow me to move.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:knowing that I will be on meds to just allow me to function for the rest of my life.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: finish the half marathon
17. The commercials about my illness:irritate me… the treatment sounds worse than the disease
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: running
19. It was really hard to have to give up: being able to not have to remember my meds
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:advocasy
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:run in the morning, crack my knuckles and watch the fireworks
22. My illness has taught me: that I am sometimes right about the fact that I feel crappy for a reason.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: You don’t look sick… or… if you take the pills why aren’t you fine.
24. But I love it when people: remember that sometimes I need help even when I might not need help. It makes me feel like it matters.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you are usually right.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: it isn’t the same diagnosis that your grandparents might have gotten… it isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: I can do more than I dreamed I could.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: gentle hugs.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I’m invisible.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: like maybe I CAN make a difference…
A Figment Of Fitness 