30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

Invisible Illness Week is September 14-20. Check out the website at www.invisibleillnessweek.com

1. The illness I live with is: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Asthma, Borderline Personality Disorder
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2008
3. But I had symptoms since: 1981
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Learning to say no and cancel plans
5. Most people assume: I've been healthy my whole life
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Getting my joints moving
7. My favorite medical TV show is: If I had a favorite I guess it would be Scrubs, but I don't really watch any medical TV shows
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my laptop
9. The hardest part about nights are: getting comfortable in bed so I can sleep
10. Each day I take between 12 and 30 pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: love massage and chiropractic
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I feel blessed to be able to live the life I do, and would not wish for anything else.
13. Regarding working and career: I will get there some day, but right now my full time job is being healthy. I imagine I will be self employed or only work part time.
14. People would be surprised to know: I am still very sensitive about being left out.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Not being able to do everything that people ask of me.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Travel to Texas and had a great time.
17. The commercials about my illness: irritate me beyond belief... I am not an old retired woman.. I am 27 years old.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: camping
19. It was really hard to have to give up: my crazy lifestyle
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: crocheting
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: throw a big party
22. My illness has taught me: patience
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: You look great! (because I usually fell horrible)
24. But I love it when people: give me hugs
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Philippians 4:13
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: be kind to yourself
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: that even some of the best health care plans are still lacking
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: There has been SO MANY nice things done for me and Ryan. I think our church families have been the best.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Raising awareness is important.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Loved.