“30 Things About My Invisible Illness ” Meme

I've just found out that today is the last week of Invisible Illness Week, and thought it was a perfect opportunity to show my support for other people who suffer with an invisible illness or two, and to let you know a little more about me.


1. The illness I live with is: Fibromyalgia, Hyper-Thyroidism, Depression, Social Anxiety, Hypermobility and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:  I was first diagnoised with Thyroid problems when i was 18(19 years ago), when it was found I had and over-active Thyroid.  I was on medication for a year or two, which helped settle it down.  But it came back when i was 24.  I then underwent Radio Iodine Treatment, which cured the over-active thyroid, but after a year my thyroid went under-active, and I'm now on thyroid replacement treatment for life.  I was diagnoised with Depression in my mid twentys and after some counselling and medication, I was fine for a couple of years.  I was diagnoised with Fibromyalgia in 2004 which had a dramatic effect on my life, my mother had been living with fibromyalgia for years, so I knew it wasn't going to be an easy illness to deal with.  This lead to a major struggle with depression, anxiety and IBS.  It wasn't until last month that i was diagnoised with Social Anxiety/Phobia.            3. But I had symptoms since: as long as i can remember i've been troubled with Anxiety.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: I lost my job in 2007, as I couldn't keep up a productive work routine.
5. Most people assume: I'm fine, or just lazy!!
6. The hardest part about mornings are: waiting for the fog to clear and my brain to work!!
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Casualty, although i've not watched it for a couple of years.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Internet Access
9. The hardest part about nights are: The Pain, not being able to get comfortable, all the worries running through my head, the loneliness
10. Each day I take 8  pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I am open to try most things, I found aromatheraphy and massage can help.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose a visible one, i'm constantly paranoid that people think I'm just fat and lazy, as I don't look ill.  I may look tired, but not ill!
13. Regarding working and career, I lost my job as an administrative assistant back in 2007, as i couldn't cope with either the mental or physical activity.  I have no career!
14. People would be surprised to know: How lonely I feel!!
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: the fact that nothing ever seems to improve!
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: ???
17. The commercials about my illness: Commercials about Fibromyalgia don't exist!!!
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: feeling normal
19. It was really hard to have to give up: my independance
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: I've always been into Arts and Crafts, but have spent alot of time developing my papercrafting skills.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Spend the day at the Seaside with my husband
22. My illness has taught me:  who i can rely on in my life, and how valuable true friends are.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: maybe if you lost some weight your might feel better!!!!
24. But I love it when people: laugh at my humour and wit
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: My favourite motto is, if we didn't have the bad times, how would we know how good the good times are.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: I'm sorry, wish I had a cure
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how judgemental people can be!
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: my husband is always there to give me a hug and make me a cup of tea, and a cup of tea makes everything better!!
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: people should not have to suffer in silence, and it's important to make people think about what Invisible Illness's are
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Blessed, that you've taken the time to read and hopefully understand.





I know some of my answer are very long winded, but it's how my life is, and I try not to burden people with my problem too often, but if I'm going to share my thougts and feeling, I'm going to do it in detail.


Thank you for taking the time to read this
I hope it helps someone
Hugs
Suzi
xxx



Comments

Taylor said…
Wow - I'm so touched that you both took the time to read my super long post, and then participate, too! {{{HUGS}}} to you - this was a brave thing to do. But if we don't stand up for the people who aren't brave enough, the judgy people will win. And I hate the judgy people!!!
Laura B said…
Thank you for sharing this. Hugs to you!
Juanita said…
Thank you for sharing Suzi. I really appreciate it, I identify with a lot of what you have shared. (HUGS)
Tracy said…
So brave of you to open up like this.
I have a few "hidden illness's" that many don't know about, and I am as open as they come.
I have been dealing with Ulcerative Colitis since I was about 18. I was living on my own, so delt with it on my own (only my boyfriend now hubby knew about it) I didn't tell anyone not even my parents until about 5 yrs later.
I still keep it to myself.
Suzi, I had no idea about your hidden illnesses and I applaud you for being brave enough to post this. It's made you seem like a real person instead of this amazingly talented and prolific and talented and creative and talented (LOL, can you tell I'm jealous? :P) papercrafting Goddess. I hope you find something that makes you smile today, and I send you hugs :)
Anonymous said…
Thank you for sharing (((HUGS)))) I suffer from Interstitial Cystitis and some other health issues as well that no one can see I have but affect me, I'm in pain every day. It's great to come out about stuff like this and let others know they are not a lone.
DK Spins said…
Thank you for sharing all of this Suzi. I know I don't know you, but I know much of what you feel having been dx'd with depression 25 years ago, still struggling with it, fibro 10yrs & ibs & crohn's. It truly sucks and people think you're a junkie if you take something for pain. I don't want to get high, I just want to feel normal, to do what needs to be done. It's my dream to be able to work again, reliably, & have health insurance. Anyway, my heart goes out to you. Blessings to you & yours, and a soft hug. Dianne
Thanh Vo said…
Sharing this with us just shows how strong of a person you really are Suzi! You don't let it take over and you acknowledge what it is. Hugs to you!
Trisha said…
I just got done reading your letter. I have pretty much everything you have except one. I know how you feel when you think someone is judging you. I know people judge me all the time. I don't think that they really believe me because I can't leave in the morning's like I use to. I honestly think my own sister didn't believe me , when I told her I couldn't go early in the morning because of my severe pain. She actually thought that I would lie about something like that? She know I had both shoulders replaced, but she acted like she didn't care. So now we don't speak because of her stupidity. So ya I do know exactly what your going through. We just have to learn how to live with it I guess. Thanks for the letter. Trisha