Today was a good day.
Anyone that suffers from a chronic illness knows that sometimes having a good day seems like it will never come. A good day can be something as simple as getting a few loads of laundry done, dishes and a lovely walk with my husband and our dogs.
Chronic illness can make one feel isolated, even with family and friends around. There are so many things that we miss. Family time, going out for any reason life can be difficult when there are things that you want to do and physically can’t.
It can be even more difficult when your chronic illness is one that is invisible. People look at you and see a person that as far as appearances go, you seem like there is nothing wrong with you. Not all forms of illness are visible; they do not manifest in an outward appearance that one can see.
Those of us with one or more of the many invisible illnesses that are out there sometimes wish that they were visible. We get told we are making things up, of faking pain to get attention. We are told to change our diet, exercise more, drink this, try whatever the newest fad is that has everyone talking.
We must try to explain to spouses, children, parents, friends why it is that we can’t do something that we would give anything to be able to do with them. We have to fight with doctors that don’t want to listen because they are the ones that went to school, so they know it all. Even though no two people are alike, and the same illness affects every individual in similar yet different manners.
Some learn to grit their teeth and fight through because life goes on and will not wait despite the agony one is enduring. Others have no choice but to maintain just enough that they are not curling into a ball of tears until the pain has passed. We don’t want this; we don’t want to say no, sorry I can’t do that today. We want good days when we have them; we cherish them.
My chronic illness has been controlling my life more than I would like to admit for the last few years. Controlling it to the point of it affecting my job, my writing, my entire life. Thankfully, over the last couple of months, that seems to be changing.
I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I have an amazing husband who is supportive and does his best to be understanding when I can’t do things. I have amazing friends that also get it, many of them sadly because they suffer from a chronic illness. I have a doctor that listens, who encourages questions and loves having a patient that is proactive in their care.
After a few trial and error issues with medications, my regular doctor and I agreed that we seemed to be onto something that will help me get my life back. A referral to a specialist was even set up and a new plan, expanding upon the one my GP and I started has been instituted.
I am happy to say that so far it seems to be working. I’m not saying it has been all fun and games so far, but at least it seems we are finally heading in the right direction. How do I know? Well for one I am feeling better, for another, I am writing again.
Today was a good day.
Anyone that suffers from a chronic illness knows that sometimes having a good day seems like it will never come. A good day can be something as simple as getting a few loads of laundry done, dishes and a lovely walk with my husband and our dogs.
Chronic illness can make one feel isolated, even with family and friends around. There are so many things that we miss. Family time, going out for any reason life can be difficult when there are things that you want to do and physically can’t.
It can be even more difficult when your chronic illness is one that is invisible. People look at you and see a person that as far as appearances go, you seem like there is nothing wrong with you. Not all forms of illness are visible; they do not manifest in an outward appearance that one can see.
Those of us with one or more of the many invisible illnesses that are out there sometimes wish that they were visible. We get told we are making things up, of faking pain to get attention. We are told to change our diet, exercise more, drink this, try whatever the newest fad is that has everyone talking.
We must try to explain to spouses, children, parents, friends why it is that we can’t do something that we would give anything to be able to do with them. We have to fight with doctors that don’t want to listen because they are the ones that went to school, so they know it all. Even though no two people are alike, and the same illness affects every individual in similar yet different manners.
Some learn to grit their teeth and fight through because life goes on and will not wait despite the agony one is enduring. Others have no choice but to maintain just enough that they are not curling into a ball of tears until the pain has passed. We don’t want this; we don’t want to say no, sorry I can’t do that today. We want good days when we have them; we cherish them.
My chronic illness has been controlling my life more than I would like to admit for the last few years. Controlling it to the point of it affecting my job, my writing, my entire life. Thankfully, over the last couple of months, that seems to be changing.
I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I have an amazing husband who is supportive and does his best to be understanding when I can’t do things. I have amazing friends that also get it, many of them sadly because they suffer from a chronic illness. I have a doctor that listens, who encourages questions and loves having a patient that is proactive in their care.
After a few trial and error issues with medications, my regular doctor and I agreed that we seemed to be onto something that will help me get my life back. A referral to a specialist was even set up and a new plan, expanding upon the one my GP and I started has been instituted.
I am happy to say that so far it seems to be working. I’m not saying it has been all fun and games so far, but at least it seems we are finally heading in the right direction. How do I know? Well for one I am feeling better, for another, I am writing again.
Today was a good day.
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