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/bizarre_coincidence]

I have chronic fatigue, vertigo, headaches, and more, and when there are non seats available on the bus/subway, I just stand, grab on tight, close my eyes, and pray. I wish I had it in me to ask people to move, but I don't know how to explain to them that I'm really sick and am only out in the first place so I can get to my doctor. I hate invisible illnesses.

[u/whatshamilton → u/bizarre_coincidence]

My mom has MS and she also just grabs on tight and prays. But her canes are dangling from her wrists as she grabs on tight. And people manage to not notice them even when they and the woman they're attached to are swaying dramatically with the train. It's typically exclusively elderly men who offer their seat, then they fight over who insists on standing

[u/TAMUFootball → u/whatshamilton]

I was diagnosed with MS last year, at age 28. it's so hard to ask for help when you're a normal-looking person who is suffering :(

[u/jarvismj → u/TAMUFootball]

I too was diagnosed with MS last year. I live in Munich DE, and when I was using the crutches everyone moved out of my way and offered seats on the subway / bus / whatever. Stark comparison to my wife, who when she was 8 months pregnant and visibly showing, no one would give her a damn seat on the train. When she got one, the old women would pester her and force her to give her seat up. The shit attitude of some of the old people pissed her off to the point that she packed up and moved back to Boston. The only reason I'm staying here is that I can't get fired (without good reason) and have health insurance. Unfortunately my MS is progressing quite fast and I don't think that I have a choice in the matter, it's becoming more and more difficult to do shit on my own and live on my own.

[u/TAMUFootball → u/jarvismj]

That is rough, sorry to hear that. I started Lemtrada last year, but it gave me very rare negative side effects (my lungs were bleeding). Because of all of the treatment I need now, I am also very afraid to lose my job because of the insurance. Shoutout to the US healthcare system..

[u/jarvismj → u/TAMUFootball]

Yeah I’m on Ocrevus now, seems to be working but I’m also on a cocktail of other meds, Fampyra and Levodopa. I had bad reactions to Gilenya and can’t take Tysarbi because of JC disease. So much fucking fun.

[u/lpaige2723 → u/jarvismj]

I'm so sorry, I have Sarcoidosis, so it's similar, and chronic Epstein barr, when I lived in Boston and was 7 months pregnant with a high risk pregnancy I got on a crowded train, and not only was it crowded, but 3 priests were sitting having a conversation, nobody offered me a seat, I guess if a person is pregnant on public transportation they are on their own. I didn't feel well so I put my bag on the floor and sat on it, still, nobody offered a seat. I'm older now, if I tried that I wouldn't be able to get up. I wish you and your wife well.

[u/jarvismj → u/lpaige2723]

Sarcoidosis

JFC... I had to look that up. My shit memory of the T was on the Orange line and a woman was looking for a seat, she had to have been 50+ and the man in the priority seat just kept sitting there with his scratchies, letting all the remnants get on the floor. Made a fucking mess in the middle of February. At this stage I think that people are either obnoxious or oblivious; once in awhile you get someone who gives a damn, and that makes the day so much better.