30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is: Migraine Disease
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2004
3. But I had symptoms since: 2002
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Not being able to do what I want when I want.
5. Most people assume: That I'm making excuses to get out of things that I don't want to do.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Getting out of bed.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Mystery Diagnosis
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: iphone
9. The hardest part about nights are: Knowing that I have to wake up the next morning in pain.
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. 6
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Have tried just about everything with some success but insurance won't cover it so I can't afford to continue it.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Visible so that people could see that I was truly suffering and was not making excuses or looking for sympathy.
13. Regarding working and career: My career has suffered greatly. Luckily my clients are understanding, but when you have to cancel the same client 3 times in a row they tend to look for a new stylist.
14. People would be surprised to know: That I haven't had a pain free day in over 3 years.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: That it may never end. I may be in this type of pain for the rest of my life.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Become so involved in finding answers.
17. The commercials about my illness: Make me sick to my stomach. They are misleading and really don't explain that migraine is a disease.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Drinking a few bottles of red wine at a smoky bar and feeling just fine the next morning:)
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Red wine
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Roller Derby
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Do anything in the world, really, anything.
22. My illness has taught me: Never take your health for granted. You can have the world, but without your health, you have nothing.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: I have a bad headache too. When you say that it makes me want to punch your face in. Or, better yet, want a Advil? Really, Advil? Cause you think that's gonna work? Fucking idiot!
24. But I love it when people: Tell me they can't imagine how I must feel and say if I need anything please let them know. Or when they say, here's a Frova:)
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: I really don't have one.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: No one will ever understand what you are going through except people who suffer as well. Find a good support group online or in your city because if not you will go insane. I'm just now realizing this.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: The support that complete strangers have offered.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Let me cry to them without saying a word. Complete silence is the best support for me.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want to make more people aware that just because we look fine on the outside doesn't mean we aren't suffering on the inside. Please be supportive of your family and friends and research their illnesses.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like you truly care what is going on in my life and you really want to see me get better. Thanks for believing me and not being yet another person saying that I'm just trying to "get out of doing something".

Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com