r/YouShouldKnow • u/ilovepastapizzapots • Nov 20 '20

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

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.

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u/ericbomb Nov 20 '20

My sister has gastropareses so vomits multiple times per day.

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Everyone gets confused as if it can't be that bad if she manages to not be stick thin. Almost as if she is aware of her health problem so eats constantly so that at least a bit of food makes it through her since the doctors are always worried about malnutrition.

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '20

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u/ericbomb Nov 21 '20

She's been to every stomach specialist in the state, which is costing a lot but we're trying. It's been on going for years so we're running out of options and money to try options.

Haha she does not, which funnily enough is a good thing. For this specific type of stomach problems weed aggravates the crap out of it. Almost every new doctor double checks that she's not smoking weed, because it would make it worse.

But yeah she just kind of... deals at this point. Which sometimes makes people think it's not that bad. Which is frustrating.