30 Things About My Invisible Illnesses You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is: Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Hypermobility, Hypersensitivity
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: Various years, but I've been getting diagnosed since the age of 17.
3. But I had symptoms since: Age 8.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Not working and learning my limits.
5. Most people assume: I'm dying.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Chronic allergies, confusion from the medication I take before bed.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Nurse Jackie
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Does my Desktop computer count as a gadget? Because I've been attached at the hip with it for a long time.
9. The hardest part about nights are: Having to take a nighttime medication to help me get to sleep.
10. Each day I take 8 pills & 5 vitamins.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Can't afford to even think about it.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Visible - they get all the research and funding. People believe them!(!!!!)
13. Regarding working and career: I had a few plans, things I thought about the potential of, and I thought I could still do them and have these illnesses. I would go into remission, go to work, and get severely ill. This happened a few different times, until I just had to give it up.
14. People would be surprised to know: About my childhood.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Chronic money problems, and the frustration that comes with your mental capacity being greater than physical.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Moved into a house.
17. The commercials about my illness: Are funny.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Spending time outdoors, (and indoors, haha.)
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Working.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Container gardening.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Go to the lake.
22. My illness has taught me: Some stuff just isn't worth it.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: When asked about the scars all over my body, and I respond, "Lupus," their response is, "I didn't know Lupus could do that..." My internal response is, "You probably didn't know anything about Lupus in the first place."
24. But I love it when people: Try to be accommodating without being condescending.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: "I know it is rough, but be patient. Do not stress, remain positive. (PS Wear sunscreen indoors and out.)"
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: It never ends.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Brought me something yummy to eat or drink, because I'm too tired to cook for myself. Or cleaned some of my house for me.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want people to know about invisible illnesses. I want them to get the same attention and research and funding that a lot of well known diseases do.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Gratitude.

Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (Not until September!) http://www.invisibleillness.com