Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week

Shared by Teri Robert (thank you) – and completed by me:

30 Things About My Invisible Illness, Migraine

Anyone who has Migraine disease or another headache disorder knows what it’s like to live with an invisible illness. People can’t see our illness. There are no outward signs. Invisible illnesses are easy for “healthy” people to ignore. This adds to the burden of disease and makes lives even more difficult.

Each year, National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is observed to educate the public and raise awareness about invisible illnesses. One of the blogging activities this year is a “meme,” 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know. So, here’s my meme…

1. The illness I live with is: Migraine disease
   
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1984
   
3. But I had symptoms since: 1969
   
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: losing precious hours and days of my life to being sick
   
5. Most people assume: that Migraines are “just headaches”
   
6. The hardest part about mornings is: that I wake up slowly and don’t have early energy
   
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I guess I don’t have one
   
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Hmmm… literally?
   
9. The hardest part about nights is: I don’t like to give up the day (especially good ones) and go to bed
   
10. Each day I take: 12 vitamins and supplements, and some days migraine meds
    
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: practice yoga, walk, wish I could afford massage, etc.
    
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: invisible
    
13. Regarding working and career: I’ve spent two years working from home publishing and marketing Migraine Expressions so I’ve had some time to assess and improve my migraine situation; now looking for work
    
14. People would be surprised to know: that I am not always as strong as I appear to be
    
15. The hardest thing to accept about my reality has been: learning to say no when I’m unable to take on additional tasks or responsibilities and how patient I have to be with myself
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I tried to not allow migraine to limit me but I now know there are things I would have done if not for migraine
    
17. The commercials about my illness: almost non-existent; I believe I’ve only seen any for triptans
    
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: mostly I have missed time, physical activities and certain events with family and friends
    
19. It was really hard to have to give up: continuing with college or going to law school
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: my hobbies haven’t changed because of migraine
    
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I don’t know what ‘normal’ is without migraine in my life, but I do have good days
    
22. My illness has taught me: to be humble and at the same time realize my self-worth
    
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: people thinking that migraines are my fault or that I could cure them simply via diet and exercise
    
24. But I love it when people: actually ask questions and want to understand.
    
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: the knowledge that there is always someone with worse circumstances/troubles than me
    
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: “learn all you can about this disease, then take charge of your health and your health care” -TR  Also, be kind to and patient with yourself – it takes time to determine your best management system
    
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how many people don’t understand
    
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: when my husband would completely take over the children and household so I could go to bed with a migraine attack
    
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I am still learning about my illness, still needing support and encouragement, and wishing to share that with others
    
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: worthy of your attention
    

Please participate if you haven’t already by answering these questions on your blog to keep this going. You can 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.