So whether or not you know it, it's national invisible chronic illness awareness week. This is a week where all of us with invisible illnesses support each other and realize that there is hope for us and there are a lot of us to band together for each other.
One of the things the website suggests is to do the 30 things you may not know about me meme. I know I've already done it on here, but it's been a while, most of my answers have changed and it's awareness week, so I'm doing it again. I will also try to blog every day for the rest of this week. I missed yesterday because I was on a homework mission. Next week...I'm going to try to catch the world back up on Meggers land and get the blog up and running, I have over 1000 hits now...and didn't realize it, so I obviously have readers, I guess I should give you guys something to read :)
Love y'all, here's my list :)
30 things you may not know about my invisible illness(es) are, in honor of invisible illness week:) (sorry it's so long)
1. The illness(es) I live with is (are): Celiac, Ulcerative Colitis, Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis, PCOS, and Dysautonomia (NCS)
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2009, 2009, 2012, 2010, 2011, 2012 respectively
3. But I had symptoms since: I was 14 or 15 years old
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: learning to say no
5. Most people assume: I am not sick because I look healthy and put a happy face on most days and do more than most healthy people would.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: can't move to get out of bed because I'm so stiff from the fibro, but I have to go to the bathroom immediately because of the UC and NCS
7. My favorite medical TV show is: all of them...but probably grey's anatomy for drama's and trauma life in the E.R. for discovery health ones.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my IPAD!!! It keeps me connected to my friends and has all kinds of useful apps for me that make my life easier like having my books and notes in it so i don't have to carry too much and medical apps to keep track of everything
9. The hardest part about nights are: the pain, the getting up to go to the bathroom, and the not sleeping, ever, it feels like at least
10. Each day I take 21-25 (depending on the pain level) pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: love them and try them whenever possible. I would much rather get a chiropractic adjustment than add 10 more pills a day :)
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: invisible, i like that people can't judge me based on what I look like physically, I get to show them who I am before they know I'm sick
13. Regarding working and career: right now I've lost one career to my disabilities and I am currently on full time disability. I am working my butt off in dietetic school to possibly work again one day, but it is doubtful. I at least want to do non-profit work from bed once I graduate, and I will :)
14. People would be surprised to know: I really don't want to be sick...it's not my idea of fun...I don't do this for attention.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: I can't exercise, I have medication induced obesity, I can't do it all, I will never be who I once was again.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: go back to school
17. The commercials about my illness: there are none except lyrica commercials and those make me laugh because I'm on lyrica and even on it there is no way in the world I can do the things those people do in the commercials without immense pain
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: living spontaneously
19. It was really hard to have to give up: exercising! Just being able to stand up without worrying about passing out
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: blogging (though I haven't done it in a super long time), going to a small group which is the best thing in my life right now, love you girls :)
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: do all the things. Run 20 miles, teach my babies again, dance, stand up for longer than 30 minutes, play my instruments again, write with a pen without hurting, do anything without hurting, camp, work at camp, not have to say "maybe, it depends how I feel"
22. My illness has taught me: the things most people think are the end of the world aren't; also, what i have is not the end of the world. everyone is broken. there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you and there is ALWAYS HOPE and God loves you.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: you aren't really sick, you look completely fine. or. i bet if you exercised you would feel better.
24. But I love it when people: ask me specific things that they can do for me. example i'm on my way to the grocery store can i pick something up for you, instead of let me know what to do for you.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born, says the Lord." Isaiah 66:9 "For You created my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother's womb, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14 and so many more...just go to my pinterest boards and look at them, those are my inspiration.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: it will all be ok, breathe, realize you won't be able to do everything you used to, be ok with it, then just be. it will all be ok.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: it gives you an inordinate amount of determination and perseverance, it's almost superhuman.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: allowed me to be in a bad mood (that is like everyone on my friends list); also, one of my college roommates bought me an orange light up frog, because I love frogs and orange, that was before I was diagnosed with any of my illnesses, but I still have it :)
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I am tired of people telling me "But you dont look sick", I truly believe awareness needs to be super huge for all of the invisible illnesses not just the ones I have.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: loved, appreciated, and hopeful that you learned something and can apply it to your life :)