by Lisa (I love loons) C.
Member since:
July 25, 2007

Invisible Illness Week

September 12, 2007 12:19 PM EDT
views: 86 | rating: 9.9/10 (28 votes) | comments: 26

One of every 2 Americans live with an Invisible Illness or Chronic Pain.  September 10-16th is Invisible Illness Week.  There is a website that you can check out this week with a short video about Invisible Illness and also alot of other information as well as chats that are available on several different topics.  Please check out the site at:

www.invisibleillness.com

there is also a very short video about Invisible Illness at: 

 http://illnessministry.ning.com/video/video/show?id=847406%3AVideo%3A5 

 I hope you can find the time to take a look at this page this week.  I suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) which is often seen as an Invisible Illness.  People often look at me and don't realize that there is anything wrong with me (except that I walk with a cane currently- previously a walker).  I have gotten dirty looks from people for parking in handicapped parking spaces - which really burns me!  There are soooo many invisible illnesses out there - lupus, chronic pain, crohn's disease, etc., etc., etc...  There are so many that I just can't even begin to list them.  If you have one, you know who you are.  You also know the discrimination that you have felt from time to time.  

 Please take a moment and look at this site!!  It is very informative and you could all learn a little something about invisible illnesses!

 Thanks for your time!

Lisa 

 

 
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Comments: 26

James B. Sep 12, 2007, 12:24pm EDT
Thanks, although I came by expecting an article on depression.
Denise B. Sep 12, 2007, 12:31pm EDT
thanks for the info.
Vivian P. Sep 12, 2007, 12:32pm EDT
I suffer cronic pain and I know what its like
Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~. Sep 12, 2007, 12:35pm EDT
Thanks for the information~
Pepsie J. Sep 12, 2007, 12:41pm EDT
Nice to know this information.
kevin leonard Sep 12, 2007, 12:44pm EDT
so.......... its true there is something wrong with me :)
Tina Coruth Sep 12, 2007, 12:48pm EDT
Lisa, thank you for this information. So often, people don't realize that there are many illnesses that aren't apparent to the eye.
Teresa A. Sep 12, 2007, 12:59pm EDT
thanks for the link
Marilyn M. Sep 12, 2007, 1:22pm EDT
Thanks. I totally forgot that Invisible Illness Week was coming up again. Time flies. I also send folks to http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com. I love some of the responses they provide to dummies who question someone parking in handicapped parking.

You don't look handicapped.

Response: And you look smart. I guess looks can be deceiving.
Charlene C. Sep 12, 2007, 1:33pm EDT
I have Lupus and am in a lot of pain. I have to get help when I finish showering, my boyfriend has to help me out of the shower and help me to the chair. I am so weak and fatigued afther standing for only 10 minutes that I cannot hardly stand it. I wish my doctor could walk in my shoes just one day, then he would quit fooling around get me some help. I was on Prednisone for about 4 months but it made me swell so badly I could not walk very well. Now that I am off of it, my hips, knees and shoulders are so bad I am in a lot of pain. He is going to give my body time to recover from the Prednisone then redo my blood work. Hopefully I will then be able to see a Rheumatologist. I am so tired of the pain. I try to stay positive, but it is really hard when in excruciating pain. Hugs, Everyone, ....Char
Erin P. Sep 12, 2007, 3:22pm EDT
THANKS!
Brenda (square peg in a round hole) H. Sep 12, 2007, 6:10pm EDT
Thanks for the links Lisa.
julie v. Sep 12, 2007, 6:54pm EDT
One of every two equals 50%., that is such a high percentage. Thanks for bringing it up.
Trish A. Sep 12, 2007, 9:41pm EDT
I was followed in a store by a police officer who asked about me parking in a handicap spot. I took the scarf off of my neck and showed the hole in it for breathing. The officer had the nerve to ask why I needed to park in a handicap spot. I tried to explain through my frustration that it was winter and cold affected me. I don't think the officer believed me but was getting so many dirty looks from other shoppers.

Never assume.
Lauren C. Sep 12, 2007, 9:42pm EDT
Yowza, I had no idea there were so many of us!

Chronic pain is terrible for the body, it's responsible for at least most of my diabetes as well as just being, well, a pain. :) (Inflammation interferes with insulin reception. Serious pain meds help a LOT with that, even if they don't help the pain.)


They say laughter is the best medicine, so here's my shameless plug (with a promise of laughter at the other end of this link!): Safe Sex and Home Repair
Christine L. Sep 12, 2007, 9:45pm EDT
Thanks for the information. My sister is legally handicapped although she doesn't appear to be at first glance. I will check out the website and pass it on to her.

I am finding so much information here at Gather. I initially joined so I could enter the First Chapter's Romance Writing competition. I would love to hear your comments on my manuscript Somewhere Down the Road.

Thanks!
Christine
Larry H. Sep 12, 2007, 10:03pm EDT
I must be one of the lucky ones, I am not in pain. thanks for sharing..
Bonnie S. Sep 13, 2007, 2:50pm EDT
Thank you for the information : )
Corina Carrasco Sep 14, 2007, 5:21am EDT
A topic that needs to be addressed, Lisa. Thank you. Many don't realize when they see me that I live in pain and have great trouble walking more than a couple of blocks, or standing for more than a few minutes. We need to keep an open mind about others and not assume they are 100 per cent healthy and pain free, just because their pain cannot be seen.
Rita R. Sep 15, 2007, 7:53pm EDT
Thanks for the great video and website. Sometimes I forget there are so many others out there dealing with the same things as me. Chronic pain is terrible. It sounds like Corina Carrasco and I are pages in the same book.
Trish A. Sep 17, 2007, 12:11am EDT
Yes, invisible disabilities are a reality for many, many people. Good discussion topic.
Jerri H. Sep 17, 2007, 12:12pm EDT
Thanks Lisa......the average person doesn't have any pity for people with "hidden" illnesses and it is sad
Layla Morgan Wilde Sep 19, 2007, 12:18pm EDT
Good. We need to create more awareness.
penni d. Sep 21, 2007, 10:36am EDT
Very informative,Lisa! AND, you reminded people to NOT judge by how healthy
one looks!!
penni d
Sandra T. Dec 10, 2007, 10:37pm EST
Thank you for this awesome article! Helping as many people as I can right now so sorry for the generic comment, but I did enjoy your piece! Happy Holidays!
Lisa J Mar 7, 2009, 4:56am EST
This came up as "you might also like" after I posted my article. I was just diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, and right now, until we get symptoms managed, am regularly in too much pain to be able to clean my own house... I honestly suffer from the lack of belief (at least for myself - if someone said "I suffer from a chronic pain condition" I would be more than happy to assist them if they need it and treat them kindly) - but with myself, denial is strong - I LOOK NORMAL - it seems completely wrong that something I cannot see can so totally affect every bit of my life.

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