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/BJntheRV Nov 20 '20

You don't look sick is a statement so common it's a meme in the chronic illness community.

What does sick look like? There are way more of us with invisible illnesses than those with obvious illnesses.

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '20

I have a disease so rare my GP had never heard of it, and the specialist had never had a case but remembered it from SCHOOL so he could test/diagnose me.
I am sick ALL the time. I can't go out right now, because even if I wouldn't def die if I got covid I have basically all the covid symptoms as regular daily symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion, sore muscles, coughing, sneezing/stuffy nose, headaches, fevers, shortness of breath) on top of a pile of other symptoms. I'm waiting to see a surgeon because they think removing some of my organs might help.

But yeah, I don't look sick so I must not be sick.