Invisible Illness Week starts today and runs through the 15th. I have participated for the past three years. I love all the inspiring and encouraging talks that they have had over the years. I’m sure this year will be no different. They have talks on subjects like “hHow illness Affects Our Relationships” and “Identity, Work, and Purpose” If you or someone you love has a chronic illness I highly recommend checking it out.
30 Things About My Illness You May Not Know:
1. The illness I live with is: fibromyalgia and lingering chronic fatigue syndrome.
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1992
3. But I had symptoms since: 1990
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Not being able to plan ahead.
5. Most people assume: I’m just lazy or unsociable
6. The hardest part about mornings are: getting out of bed.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don’t have one
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My kindle fire. It’s portable and I can be connected to the outside world from bed.
9. The hardest part about nights are: Having to go to bed so early or not being able to get a good night’s sleep.
10. Each day I take 6 pills & vitamins.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I get massages, visit a chiropractor and do acupressure.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: invisible That way I can choose whether I want to share my illness with others or not.
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13. Regarding working and career: I graduated with an elementary education degree. I have not been able to work full time, so I haven’t been able to use my degree fully. It’s hard for me to work because I get tired so easily and then have to come home and take care of two children. I have been able to work part time on and off though.
14. People would be surprised to know: I got sick when my first daughter got sick. She was a lot worse and passed away at the age of 21/2 years old.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Not being able to do all the things I want to do career wise and with my family.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: start a blog and become a preschool teacher.
17. The commercials about my illness: Make me frustrated. They make it sound like all you have to do is pop a pill and you’ll be back to normal. Plus all the side effects.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: being spontaneous.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: being a full time teacher
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20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: blogging
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Go on a long hike or clean my house from top to bottom.
22. My illness has taught me: to rely on God more, and to remember what’s really important.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: Oh, I get tired too.
24. But I love it when people: show compassion.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I Corinthians 12:9-11.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You are not alone.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How my faith has gotten stronger.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Gave me a care package with a new nightgown, a book and some snacks when I was in the hospital.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want to let others know there are others who care and understand.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: a little vulnerable but maybe it may of encouraged someone going through similar circumstances.
[…] diagnosed with fibromyalgia and CFS shortly after I was married. You can learn more on my illness here. You can also learn more about me on my about page. It has been a difficult road, but I have grown […]