30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
1. The illness I live with is: Graves disease and thyroid eye disease (TED).
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2010.
3. But I had symptoms since: 2009.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Not being able to eat whatever I want or go weeks without exercising.
5. Most people assume: That I have big, pretty eyes or that I'm surprised. Or that I eat too much or don't exercise enough.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Waking up in pain.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: It was ER, now it's sadly Grey's.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My iPhone. It helps me track my calories, exercise, and stay connected to the Graves Disease and Thyroid Foundation support forums wherever I am.
9. The hardest part about nights are: Sleeping with the head of my bed elevated with risers and pillows because I tend to slide down my bed during the night.
10. Each day I take 7 pills and vitamins.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Unfortunately know that none exist for Graves disease. People have attempted, failed, and died.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible. I wouldn't change a thing, actually. I prefer to educate people when they pass judgement or say that I look fine.
13. Regarding working and career: I quit the job I was working when diagnosed. I spent six weeks traveling, relaxing, and just generally healing. And then I started a job I loved, and to this day, that remains my favorite job. I only left because I moved 1,500 miles to be closer to family and friends. However, it is so important to find a job where A. you have great insurance and time off benefits and B. have an understanding boss and co-workers.
14. People would be surprised to know: That no one in my family has any known thyroid issues. They almost always run in the family, so I guess I've started the trend for future generations.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: That I had no control over it. I don't like giving up control.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Meet other people who are going through the exact struggles I am.
17. The commercials about my illness: Don't exist.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Again, eating anything I wanted without gaining weight.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Drinking an occasional glass of wine and exercising - I've had to do this several times, for weeks or months at a time, to protect my heart.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Yoga. It was the only exercise I was allowed to do for the first six months and then I fell in love with it.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Just enjoy a day without thinking about my eyes, my thyroid (or lack thereof), or my weight/appearance.
22. My illness has taught me: That you never know what someone is going through behind closed doors or under their healthy-looking exteriors.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "You look different." or "I didn't recognize you." It makes me cry.
24. But I love it when people: Tell me I'm still beautiful, with the extra 30 pounds and bulging eyes. It doesn't happen often, not even from my best friends or family members, but my Mom and good friend Sean tell me all the time - they are my saving grace.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Hebrews 11:1, not because I'm religious but because I believe that what is going to happen, will happen, and I have little control over it, so why not just enjoy the ride and learn from the experience?
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: "This sucks" instead of "You're going to be fine" because yeah, you will be fine but it's going to take a hell of a lot of sacrifices, changes, pills, and medical interventions to get there.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How judgmental people can be without knowing a single thing about you. Even doctors not familiar with thyroid issues have told me to lose weight. I would if I could, a-hole!
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Stop giving advice and just let me be. There are few things more annoying than receiving unsolicited advice, especially for something you cannot control.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: People need to understand that you don't have to look sick to be sick.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like you had some time to kill, or you're a stalker.
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