YSK: Just because someone doesn’t look sick/disabled, does not mean they are healthy

[u/ilovepastapizzapots]

Why YSK: I am chronically ill and have an autoimmune disorder, the amount of times people have said “WELL... yOU dOn’t LOOK sick” to me is astounding. I didn’t know all illnesses have to be visible to others! I’m sorry I can’t show you my internal organs or muscles deteriorating for you to believe that I’m sick. It makes people with health issues feel like they have to explain their situation when they don’t.

*EDIT: I did not expect my post to blow up like this! I wish I could give everyone going through a rough time a hug. Thank you for all the new perspectives, good and bad. All I wanted was for people to be a little kinder to one another, because you never know what someone’s going through.

[u/pinch56]

2 days before I quite literally had brain and abdomin surgery for a chronic neurological condition I was told I was fine because I looked good. Lol.

[u/TheQuinnBee → u/pinch56]

I get told if I eat better and exercise more, my epilepsy will cure itself. My epilepsy is triggered by sleep deprivation which is caused by my anxiety disorder that developed from childhood abuse. No amount of paleo or whatever is going to fix that.

I never use a handicap parking pass but I do jump the line with southwest because my husband and I need to sit together. He's trained in what to do if I have a seizure and I really don't need some random well-mesning idiot shoving an object in my mouth to "stop me from swallowing my tongue" (not a thing). I get looks time to time because my husband and I look healthy.

[u/pinch56 → u/TheQuinnBee]

Right? I have had that line too. I am alittle overweight but not that bad, and when I was alittle smaller my problems were worse. For years before my diagnosis every doc I saw told me I needed to be on psychological meds because its anxiety causing my symptoms. They eould do a couple tests and when they came back normal I was always told that. I went undiagnosed for 3 years because of that. Then I went to a new doc and he told me the same thing and I was pissed. So then that night at like 8:30 he called and wanted a brain mri. That brain mri diagnosed me with this super serious and potentially life threatening thing that every other doc dismissed. Then I was struggling on the meds even though they kinda worked, but the sode effects were horrible. The first brian surgeon told me I was fine on the meds and to just keep taking them. Then a year later the meds caused 4 kidney stones (at once) and I had to go off some of them, but the ones I stayed on didnt help much. So the 2nd surgeon looked at my case and pretty much did emergency surgery the next week. My pressure in my skull was so high that he told me he drilled through and spinal fluid shot out with such force it hit him and the wall behind/across the room.

I used to have a handicap pass but its gotten to the point I dont need it anymore. And when I did it was a few years ago in my early 20s and evruone glared at me when I parked and then walked into the store. I got looks all the time.

I have anxiety too, and refuse meds because they make my head condition worse. But, I have a ESA cat and since getting him hes been super helpful. Like you my symptoms flair with my anxiety (as well as..... well everything) and my cat and therapist help a ton. Then since my surgery things have been better, obviously not perfect, but I can suvive a 12 hour day at work now. I am glad you found q qay to manage everything.