Sept is Pain Awareness Month

With our focus and planning for Invisible Illness Week we sometimes forget to mention that September is also Pain Awareness Month.

You will wnat to take a few minutes to go by the web site of American Pain Foundation and see all the exciting things they are offering such as a the launch of the Conquering Pain Together project and a a five-episode, Web-based series called the Let’s Talk Pain Show

Pain Community News is APF’s quarterly newsletter and is always full of information you should know about. Now, Pain Community News is available as an e-publication, so readers can just virtually flip through its pages.

Their web site states:

The fall issue of the newsletter is chock full of inspiring stories and helpful information including the creative and tireless efforts of advocates honoring Pain Awareness Month, 10 things you can still do to help make a difference in September, pains not to ignore, easing immunization pain, fast facts on acute back pain and much more! To receive print copies of Pain Community News in the future, please be sure we have your mailing address by registering as an APF member. Remember to encourage friends, family, colleagues and neighbors to join too – there is power in numbers, let’s work together to improve pain care in America.

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Poem “Too Young”

By: Carolynn Cheatham

“You’re too young to have this.”

“OK, then fix it, please.”

“We don’t know how.”

The common and frequent questions:
How did you develop a nerve problem?
Were you in an accident?

The answers, always the same:
I don’t know.
The doctors can’t figure it out.
No accident, I just woke up with it.
There’s nothing they can do.

The usual response:
Oh honey, I am so sorry.
Bless your heart.
You’re too young for this.

Sympathy, not empathy.
Few can see the good that has come out of it.
That I have matured and am stronger.

Maybe I am too young for this
But I am not too young to die serving my country,
Or have a child, in or out of wedlock;
To get drunk and make the choice to drive a car and kill someone
in the accident I cause.
I can incur thousands of dollars in debt, buying worthless things I don’t need,
Or get caught up in the fashion trends of the more-skin-revealed-the-better or
the-skinnier-the-better.
I could die trying to make myself look like the “standard” –
I am not too young to have an eating disorder.
I am not too young to have lots of boyfriends and risk STDs.

Why then am I too young for health problems?
My body isn’t old enough?
Disease and distress are reserved for the aged?
What a great future I am looking at 30 years from now when the “typical” health issues kick in. I can’t wait!
They say growing old is not for the faint hearted – what about growing up?
Maybe that’s it. Maybe I’m not mature enough to handle all this. Maybe they don’t want me to experience what they do or what they fear.

But if they experience what I do – what’s the big deal?
My heart is whole and my soul rejoices.
I am stronger, healthier than I’ve ever been.
I know who I am – the disease does not define me
Neither do the clothes, or the car, or the job;
It’s my heart.
I gave it to God 13 years ago and I’m not about to ask for it back.
Yes, these momentary troubles are tough.
I shed tears – some of frustration. Some of anger, and some of desperation.
But I know who walks beside me, holds my hand, and offers comfort and peace
in abundance.
I hate this pain sometimes, but I don’t hate Him.
Carolynn Cheatham is 21 years “young” and has dealt with various forms of chronic pain for the past 4 years. Despite the daunting future, she relies on her Savior who holds her in His hands and helps her to focus on the important aspects of life and give everything to Him. She lives in metro-Atlanta, Georgia with her supportive and loving family and friends.

She shares, “I have heard the words, ”You’re too young to have chronic pain,” spoken with pity by friends and family, and in frustration by doctors. This poem was written just after such an encounter, only this time I was the one speaking out of frustration. Apparently, I am not too young to face chronic pain because “Here I Am!” I hope this puts my life and experiences into prospective and speaks to fellow ‘young” patients.’” She can be reached by email.

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Connect with Other II Week Participants

Do you wish to connect with other participants of Invisible Illness Week? If so, we invite you to join the Invisible Illness Week GROUP in the Sunroom social network of Rest Ministries.

During the week while 4 seminars are happening each day, this is where we will also send you if you want to ask more questions of listeners on a particular seminar topic, if you have questions for the speakers that were not answered during the seminar, etc.

We are asking our speakers to sign in and check to see if anyone needs any additional information. If our speakers have handouts, this is where they will post a link to them.

The Rest Ministries social network, The Sunroom, has over 1300 participants and is a Christian environment for those with chronic illness. We understand that during Invisible Illness Week some of those involved may have different faiths or not have a religious preference. We ask that everyone be respectful of one another. If you do not wish to participate after Invisible Illness Week you can delete your membership.

Another option is to leave comments at the Blog Talk Radio web site where other listeners or the speakers can connect with you.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Get Ready By Testing Your Computer Speakers

Invisible Illness Week starts 9/14 at 9AM Pacific time in the USA. You will log onto the web site here at Blog Talk Radio.

…and if a program is currently LIVE it will start playing through your speakers.

You can also to listen to the workshops any time at www.blogtalkradio.com/invisibleillnessconf or you can download them from itunes onto your ipod. Just search “invisible illness podcast.”

Now is a great time to make sure your speakers are working!

The only thing that you will need are a pair of speakers connected to your computer! We recommend going to our programs last year that are archived at Blog Talk Radio and clicking on a few programs to see if your speakers are working.

I have logged on to Blog Talk Radio but I am not hearing anything. I can’t get it to work. What do I do?

First, don’t panic. All programs are recorded so it will be there later. Secondly, here is the help section from BlogTalkRadio.com . Make sure your speakers are also plugged in and the volume on your computer is turned up (Start>Control panel> -then look for something that is Audio/Volume, etc)

We have found the support/help at Blog Talk Radio to be very good in helping you find what may be wrong in case you cannot hear the program.

Their blog says

Visit the BlogTalkRadio Help Center – There are two great places to learn more about BlogTalkRadio and how to make it work to your advantage. The first is the BlogTalkRadio Learning Center located on the main BTR site. Included are tutorials, FAQs, screencasts and more, to help make your experience with us as simple as possible. The BlogTalkRadio Help Center, located on the BlogTalkRadio Blog, is a work in progress listing blog posts offering tips and ideas for a positive experience.

Worth noting: Lastly, we have room for 4 callers to call in to the show. You can actually listen to the show this way, but we also want to keep the lines open for callers after the workshop. So you can call to listen, but you may get bumped.

ALSO SEE: FAQ About the Conference | Overview of Conference

Popularity: 5% [?]

6 Reasons I Support Invisible Illness Week

Feel free to copy and paste this and edit it to use as your own! It’s great for blogs, Facebook, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 Reasons I Support Invisible Illness Week

1. Surprisingly, nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA have a chronic condition and most of them are invisible.
2. There are too many people suffering silently, believing no one cares. I want them to know I do care.
3. I will likely accidentally say the wrong thing at some point, but I still want to learn how to say what encourages someone with illness best.
4. 70% of suicides are the results of “controllable physical pain.” We never know that we may be the last person someone looks toward for hope and a reason to live.
5. Illness is one of the most lonely experiences a person can have. It doesn’t have to be that way.
6. People with illness are often bombarded with advice. I want to be a safe haven for those with illness who just need someone to listen.

Add your own and tell someone!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Email Your Pastor or Clergy

Take just a minute to copy and paste this email and send it to your pastor. Be sure to add your 2-cents about why this is important to you and maybe a bit about what your illness is (keep it brief).   Sign off with something personal to make this letter your own.

To copy and paste quickly, highlight the area below, choose “edit” “copy” and then paste it into an email program.

Dear Pastor,

I know you are very busy, but I realize you must see many people
in the congregation who struggle with how chronic illness impacts
their lives and relationships. I wanted to bring to your attention
that National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is September
14-20, 2009 [ http://www.invisibleillness.com ]. This week is
an annual outreach of Rest Ministries [ http://www.restministries.org
] a national ministry that resides in San Diego and an affiliate
of Joni Eareckson Tada’s ministry for the disabled.

You may be surprised to know that nearly 1 in 2 people live with chronic
illness. Here are a few other staggering statistics:

* 96% of illness is invisible and sixty percent of the people are between
the ages of 18 and 64

* 90% of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77% have
two or more chronic diseases

* The divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75 percent

* Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically ill than for
the average person;

* 70% of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a factor

* 66% of people with illness say if their church started a Bible
study for those with chronic illness they would definitely attend.

The sources for these statistics and even more information is listed here:

http://www.mychronicillness.com/invisibleillness/factsheet.htm

I’m wondering if our church may make just a small effort to acknowledge those
whom live with illness and suffer silently.

Some easy ways to do this could be:

+ Have a bulletin insert about invisible illness.

+ Have a special moment of prayer for the families impacted by illness (nearly everyone!)

+ Set up a table of resources our church provides for those who are hurting.

+ Have someone give their testimony about how God has worked through his or her illness.

+ Consider asking is there is an interest in starting a Bible study like HopeKeepers

+ Run an article in our church newsletter about illness. Rest Ministries can provide this or someone in our church could write one.)

+ Offer a resource for the chronically ill, like a frangrance-free seating area, or online webcasts or podcasts.

+ Start a library of resources for the chronically ill (I’d be willing to help gather some materials to present to you.)

I’m involved in this because _________________________________.

Rest Ministries provides a wealth of support to over 75,000 people each month via their web site and they have a couple hundred HopeKeepers support groups in the U.S. and beyond. The web site has daily email devotionals, online chats, online Bible studies, and many other services, including HopeKeepers Magazine, and a social network.  There is a video on their web site that shares about how it was began 10 years ago by Lisa Copen at http://www.restministries.org
.

It is wonderful for the homebound who have little or no contact with the world outside their homes, as well as those who simply want to connect
with others who are living with a chronic illness and need spiritual support.

The ministry is completely ran by volunteers based on the scripture, “Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed,
it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it  is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3-8)

Please let me know if I can be of any further help. I’d love for our church
to be able to reach out to all of those who are living with  chronic illness–and since it’s invisible– they feel like no  one understands.

Blessings,

_______YOUR NAME_______
______YOUR PHONE_______

• 6 Ways to Let Those with Chronic Illness in Your Church Know You Care
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• Minister to the Chronically Ill: 20 Ways in 20 Minutes
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Popularity: 8% [?]

Making Your Pain Doctor A Partner

I saw my Pain Management Doctor last week for my chronic illness. It is time for a medication change due to my ever-increasing pain. I don’t take medication changes lightly; the process can be particularly non-pleasant at times, depending on what you are doing with the change. This decision has been awhile coming, right alongside the pain that just keeps coming. My choices are few. I need a partner to help me with this.

Enter the kindest, most professional, (without being like a robot), empathetic, with an ‘I want so much to know what you feel when you tell me of your pain’ look in the eyes; Pain Management Doctor. It was time to get down to business as we began. We consistently have a nice time together; we talk well. You know ‘those’ kinds of doctors?? I was married to one, {gasp} and feel that he is such a kind, caring, thorough and empathetic doctor, whose patients just adore him.

We’d get the most wonderful gifts at Christmastime; mmmm fresh Persimmon cookies from one lovely patient–every year like clockwork, I was faced with a huge tin of the best cookies I have ever tasted, and what is a girl supposed to do?? Admire them? Ahhh NO, I made great use of them!!

Point is that doctors whom patients can talk to, and feel deeply heard by, is the key to the successful partnership of the doctor-patient relationship.

My doctor and I worked together to come up with what to do as far as what medication to change, and when we figured out which one, it was up to me in the end as what to do. This is the #1 most important attribute that we, as pain patients, simply must have with our doctors. The ability to work together on any part of our pain management care.

When you visit your pain management doctor, the feeling in the room is ultimately that of teamwork. Talk together. Figure out what you are trying to accomplish first and foremost during that visit. Remember, come prepared!! Help your doctor out a bit too.

I brought my daily medication log, jotted down the monthly ‘total’ of how my pain had done over the time since I last saw my doctor, and that helped so much in my visit.

I spoke with my doctor about feeling that deep pain the most when I stand up, and that I felt as if I would benefit from 2 rods in my back, long enough to cover 12 levels, (all the Thoracic vertebrae), and he said, “You feel unstable in your spine?” Yes!! That was perfect! The word described exactly how I feel in my spine. And it’s a great medical term to put down in my chart.

It is through our talking, getting to pinpoint exactly what we are there to do: Accomplish solving a problem. And for that, we all need ourselves and another person who will talk openly, honestly, seriously, and with an attitude of doing it together.

I could never do this myself. I know what to use, how to take it and how to titrate up or down. Nursing and years of pain have taught me this. Options for complete medication change are not many in the pain arena. Then there is the how to change it when things need to be altered. I knew the options available to me, and therefore, had been considering them days before the doctor visit. This made the decision simpler, faster, and more of a feeling of unity when my doctor totally agreed at what I chose to do.

My spine feels unstable. Great word doc! Today is one of those days when the pain is constant, unrelenting, deep, with neuropathy (**nerve pain), and severe muscle spasms. My back has gone through a real workout, and the paraspinal muscles, (**the muscles that run along your spine in the vertical position) are now extremely tight.

When I stand up, my back says, “I don’t want to be in this position.” I am compacting my spine, yet laying down is not an option. I must SIT, and always against heat. Yes, yes, I’ve tried heat for 20 minutes and cold for 20. That was more effective when I was recovering from a surgery. But now I speak of what works for pain that lasts all day sometimes, with no relief, such as today has been.

The cold and hot are long gone as I have found that heat is the only relief, modality-wise. (Modality–**A method of application or the employment of any therapeutic agent.)

In an office visit, we are all aware that time is, and always will be an issue. In any medical exchange. Yet there are time issues with those on the phone, your appointment to have taxes done, your haircut; oh it would be nice to have the person you are working with spend as much time with you as you’d choose; but we all know it just doesn’t work that way!

Ergo, (wow I really like that word, it is a good one!), why I make the most out of the time with my Pain Doc, by bringing daily notes and things that jog my memory. The relationship with your doctor needs to be one of openness, almost like one you’d have with a psychologist.

The doctor needs to know everything you feel, every medication you are taking, if anything as in a fall or accident has happened, and just to cover everything that could have precluded the increasing pain. This needs to be talked about with precision and knowledge, as serious decisions are involved.

This is your partnership. This is your LIFE! YOUR Chronic Illness, your Invisible Illness! Work on having a close, open, honest, respectful relationship with your Pain Management Doctor. Above all, work on your own side of this partnership, by keeping a pain journal, pain log, whatever works for you. Be kind to yourself, respect your doctor just as she/he respects you as a person, and I wish you the best of care for your pain.

It takes two!

NICIAW is one of the most fantastic web-based weeks for those with, and without Invisible Illnesses as it helps those who do not know much about this issue, to become aware that we can LOOK GOOD, but what is on our insides? This week of recognition is sorely needed for educating the public!

Shauna Harrelson, a Chronic Pain sufferer, who writes, “Shauna’s Life In Pain And Other Fun Things”, has suferred from pain ever since a hazing went terribly wrong in 1976. Shauna and another cheerleader to be; for senior year; tumbled in the back of a van, blindfolded; like shoes in a dryer. In those days of X-rays only, Shauna was unable to be told anything but no fractures and to go home with valium and a neck brace. After weeks in bed due to pain in her back, Shauna had radical knee surgery in her Senior Year of HIgh School, missing out on her Senior Songleading year, after football season, when she cheered in pain.

Since then, Shauna has developed many diagnoses in her spine, Spinal Stenosis, bones growing from vertebrae into her spinal cord, 2 big back surgeries, and a Spinal Cord Stimulator trial that failed. Shauna has so many bad spinal issues and such an unstable spine that standing now is hard for her, and she had to stop her beloved Nursing career due to her Chronic Pain.

Shauna is a very proud mother of a wonderful son, and her last beloved Jack Russell Terrier, age 13.

She now is under the care for Pain Management with one of THE most caring and empathetic doctors she has ever met.

See Shauna’s Blog

Popularity: unranked [?]

How Illness Was Both My Loss & My Salvation

When the illness hit, it was sudden and hard with no warning. First thinking it was the flu, later finding out it was fibromyalgia with all of its symptoms and pain. A few months later along came the arthritis with the stiff and sometimes swollen painful joints.

I had three wonderful sons, a loving husband, a job and a nice home. Life seemed great until my loss came about. As a healthy, active woman of 41 this was hard to swallow. Chronic illness was something I had heard of but never imagined it would happen to me.

I guess you could say I went through the seven stages of grief.

First, shock and denial, those results have to be wrong! Not me, I take care of myself and my family. God would not do this to me.

Pain and guilt came next. Not only did it hurt physically from the illness, my heart ached that this was really happening. Guilt flooded in that I should have done things differently before this happened like going on more outings with my children. Taking more time away from work, housework and trivial things and spent more one on one time with everyone.

Anger, asking why is God doing this? I have a family to care for along with this lovely special needs child He has blessed me with.

Depression, and lonliness came together. Having an invisible illness made it hard for others to understand and believe what I was going through. Friends were lost. I was so sad that this happened. I hurt and could not go out and do the physical things I loved to do like playing basketball with the children or riding bikes. Gardening was also too hard. I felt so lonely. Like nobody understood what I was feeling or going through.

Would my husband leave me and would I end up all alone? Would my children go hang out with other friends parents who could do more and keep up? How could I care for my special needs child? Reflection falls into this category also, which I did a lot of. With the tears came the reflecting on my life. What I had done, not done and what I need to do.

The upward turn started from there. I was a christian, yet needed to totally commit myself to God. I could not do anything without Him in my life. I spent a lot of time in prayer and now know God was bringing me closer to Him.

He has things He wants me to do in my lifetime for His cause. Reconstruction and working through these difficult times was hard, but God saw me through. I have learned to pace myself so I can still go hunting with my son that likes the outdoors. Take time to stop what I am doing and go out to eat with my oldest son. God blesses me with the energy and strength to care for and spend time with my special needs child.

My loving husband has not given up on me. He helps when I need it and loves me for who I am. I have slowed down and learned to appreciate life more, and spend time with God each day learning more about Him and doing as He wants me to do.

I have accepted what I have and have complete hope in God that I will live a full life for Him. He provides the energy and strength to endure the pain and do what needs done.

I had felt for quit sometime He wanted me to start writing but did not do it. I have now listened and feel His guidance with my words I use to help others learn from my experiences. I write for His glory. I can do nothing without Him.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”

Philippians 3:8,9 says, “Everything that is gained in life is a loss when compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. He takes our sin and shortcomings and exchanges them for His righteousness.”

Through my illness God has changed my life for the better and I have salvation through Jesus Christ and know what wonderful things lie ahead for me in heaven.

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is worth celebrating and very important to help bring awareness to the public.

Kim is a wife and mother of 3 wonderful sons. She has lived with fibromyalgia and arthritis for 2 years now. Kim writes to share God with others through her experiences at her blog. Kim supports raising awareness for invisible illness as there is a great need for it.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Can Those with an Invisible Illness Park in the Blue Spots Without Others Seeing Red?

“Do you know the fine for using someone else’s handicapped parking permit is $300?”

“That parking spot is saved for the disabled! You should be ashamed of yourself!”

Nearly everyone with an invisible illness has been told, “You don’t look disabled to me!” One of my friends replied, “Well, you don’t look stupid to me.” I just bite my lip to try to prevent the tears from forming, broken-hearted that I appear to be deceptive, when I would do anything to give back this parking perk that I use on a rare occasion.

As I circle the parking lot a fourth time on this day I hope for a spot to open up within two-hundred yards of the store, but there is nothing remotely close at this bustling superstore where I need to buy my prescriptions and milk for my toddler. My rheumatoid arthritis is flaring badly, causing extra fluid in my knees to dislocate pieces of loose bones. Every step is painful and unpredictable.

Finally I sigh in resignation and pull into the farthest “blue parking spot.” I reach for the placard–the one that has a bold white symbol of a wheelchair–and no, I don’t have a wheelchair–yet. So after fifteen years of having this “privilege” at my disposal I still warily scan the area before reluctantly dangling the placard from the rear view mirror. Is there anyone watching, wondering, or waiting, ready to confront me?

I’ve had scathing notes left on my windshield and many people, empowered by television exposés, have approached me with their opinions. Judgmental expressions and whispers sting just as much. My husband and I adopted a baby and when I would get my child of the car I would avoid eye contact with onlookers because I could hear their whispers of, “She’s not disabled! Or–if she is–she has no right to have a child!”

Nearly 1 in 2 Americans (133 million) live with a chronic illness. It could be diabetes, cancer, cystic fibrosis, fibromyalgia or even chronic back pain. Many illnesses make walking long distances impossible because of limited lung capacity, physical pain, or unpredictable numbness in the legs. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, about 96% of these illnesses are invisible. There is no sign of the illness existing, nor the use of an assistive device like a cane or a wheelchair.

I began National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002, which is held annually in September, after witnessing thousands of people who had frustrations, fears, loneliness, and bitterness, about feeling invalidated. One’s illness, age, diagnosis, or level of disease degeneration, doesn’t change the emotional pain.

Strangers and loved ones alike doubt the severity of our illness or even the diagnosis. We’ve heard, “You look so good! You must be feeling better.” But we don’t feel better. We just bought some fake tan in a bottle and pasted on a smile.

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is a time to acknowledge that invisible illness is more prevalent than we’d imagine and everyone–both those who are healthy and ill–can make a difference by encouraging someone with an invisible illness, rather than tearing someone down.

Are those parking spots painted blue because they give so many people the blues? That small area of square footage is a breeding ground for many frustrations as we are forced to defend our illness and character to total strangers. I’d gladly trade in my placard indefinitely for just a week of having my old body back when I could run, sit on the floor, or even hold a fork without tendons popping out of place.

I anticipate the day when a nationally designated system is formed. Texas law states that blue placards are for those who use assistive devices; red permits are for people with a “condition that impairs mobility.” In other states, red symbolizes six months of disability and blue is permanent. It’s confusing! And for one with invisible illness, the wheelchair symbol discredits both our physical pain and–in the eyes of others–our reputation. Until then, we rely on Invisible Illness Week bumper stickers.

The next time you see a healthy looking man loading groceries into his car–parked in the “blue spot”–don’t glare. Stop and offer to help him, or just smile nicely, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Seventy percent of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a factor. Your smile may save his life. At the least, it will astonish him, perhaps providing him with genuine encouragement he hasn’t felt for months.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Today You Walked Past Me…

Today, you walked past me and I smiled. Today, you looked at me in my seemingly normal activities of bread and milk buying. Today, you said “You look great!”

Yet, lurching beneath my truly joy-filled smile toward you, is my bowling ball weighted, skillet-sizzling skull atop a neck made of iron-made legos and dried jello, attached to the remainder of my mosaic spine, which is laced with sledge hammers, nails, and broken glass.

After my seemingly normal activities, I will take this body back home and sandwich it between moist heat and pillows. Prior to that though, I will have to down the meds you don’t even think you’ll encounter at age 90, just to be able to get through the next 24 hours. Albeit still in a great deal of pain, but with the wickedness taken down a notch or two (on really lucky days).

Although I may look great to you, and I thank you for saying so, inside I am silently being tortured by my own body. An invisible intruder has invaded me and robbed me of being a contributing member of society, a full-fledged team member in my marriage, and an able- bodied, playground-taker, school visitor, Mommy to my sweet little girls.

What is a life anyway? A non-social security disability seeker? Didn’t I go to college and become a teacher to get away from the projects and government assistance? Anytime you meet someone at a gathering, what is the first question: What do you do?

f not a teacher, what? Doesn’t your career define you in some way? We spend most of our lives being asked what we want to be when we grow up and when we’re grown up we’re asked what are you? A 24/7 chronic illness,pain-handler just doesn’t sound like me—but it is.

Anonymously yours
Your wedding vows say in sickness and in health, but you think perhaps in your golden years for a bit. I do not want to be a burden for the next 40 some years (nor do I want to live in pain that long).

Perhaps a new, healthy wife and mother is in order. I shall pray for one. I continue to pray for healing and strength too. I have faith. One is bound to be answered.

Today, you walked past me and I smiled; tomorrow, perhaps I shall be floating, painless in the uttermost part of the sea where my invisible illness cannot see me!

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is illuminating for all.

Sarah, 41, lives with fibromyalgia and is a wife, mother, and former teacher.

Popularity: unranked [?]

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