30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

The illness I live with is: Rheumatoid Arthritis is ONE of the Autoimmune Diseases I live with. I have several … and counting 🙂

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2014

3. But I had symptoms since: Most of my adult life.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: I lost my career and use a wheelchair to move around.

5. Most people assume: I will just get better one day

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Having to medicate myself just to be able to move and get out of bed. I don’t sleep much at night because of pain and challenges from other Autoimmune diseases so I don’t sleep much and must cope with a lot of pain and other challenges every day.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: Greys Anatomy

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My Wheelchair

9. The hardest part about nights are: Joint pain, spasms, nerve pain, Vision loss, Fevers, Nausea.

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Believe people should follow their heart and try whatever they would like to as long as they tell their health care provider.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I don’t feel either illnesses are better or worse than the other. I would probably wish that I had an illness which was not progressive and curable if I had to choose another illness.

13. Regarding working and career: It was very hard to give up the career that I loved but I work very hard to find things to do that are helpful and supportive of people who are suffering and need help.

14. People would be surprised to know: That every minute of the day is a difficult challenge that takes everything I have to get through it.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Never knowing what will happen and having very little control over my body or physical abilities.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Help educate and connect with many people all over the world.

17. The commercials about my illness: Are non existent. There is no advertising in Australia about Autoimmune Diseases.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Working out at the Gym

19. It was really hard to have to give up: My career and University studies.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Art and blogging (autoimmunitygirl.com)

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Spend it with my husband making sure he knew what his efforts and love meant to me.

22. My illness has taught me: Acceptance, Patience, Forgiveness, Dignity, Empathy, Pain

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: “You could get better if you just wanted it badly enough – You’re just not trying hard enough.”

24. But I love it when people: Help and love each other, without judgment.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Tomorrow is another day.

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Connect with others who understand.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How much I enjoy and value the little things in life.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Told me that they will love me no matter what happens (Husband) and that I am still the wonderful person that he fell in love with no matter what happens to my body.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I am determined to raise awareness and bring people together so that they will never have to feel alone or worthless.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Hopeful.

(Please feel free to use this template and share your own answers with your network and friends to help raise awareness of Invisible Illness Week)

Gentle hugs,

Trish