What it means to be chronically ill
I know it's important to blog daily if possible, but sometimes it's not. Some days I am too sick to do anything. Yesterday was a rough day for me and didn't spend much time here.
I mentioned in my introduction that I have 2 autoimmune conditions. My immune system thinks my organs are invaders and attacks them. One condition I have is autoimmune hepatitis. My immune system is attacking my liver cells. In 2007 I had a liver transplant because I had liver failure due to this condition being caught late and out of control.
My other autoimmune condition is rheumatoid arthritis. My immune system is attacking my joints and other organs. In March I had total knee replacement surgery on my right knee. Recovery has been rough. I have to deal with my left knee at some point.
There is no cure for any of this. I am on immunosuppressive therapy and am going to be for life. These drugs make me ill. I am constantly in pain, nauseous and fatigued.
You know how lousy you feel when you have the flu? This is how it is for me 24/7. I am constantly in bed, and going to doctors, specialists, the dentist, and undergoing tests. I am rarely pain free. I'm nauseous and sick often. I'm always fatigued. I'm chronically ill.
A lot of people try to be supportive when they say stuff like "think positive and you are going to be better", or they make comments like "it must be cool to be in bed all day". No that isn't helpful to me in anyway. And it's not cool to be in bed all day. It's depressing and I am down a lot. It takes a lot of of you physically, mentally and emotionally to be chronically ill.
I am very lucky I receive a lot of help at home. I have 2 teens left at home and they help out when they can. I try to count my blessings daily because that is what keeps me hanging on.
Thanks for reading and none of these pictures are mine. I got them from https://pixabay.com
I am sorry to hear about you conditions. I too suffer from an autoimmune diseases (Ulcerative Colitis). It is know as one of the "invisible diseases", so I get a lot of insensitive comments about how I look just fine. Sometimes people are trying to help but why just don't get it (others are just plain being nasty). The best we can to is live the best life we can and not worry about them. BTW have you tried Humira? I was put on that once I started getting secondary symptoms of arthritis and it helped control the joint swelling.
I'm sorry to hear this too. I am quite used to the insensitive comments :( It's amazing how people judge who haven't walked a mile in your shoes. I have tried it and couldn't take it. It's tricky for me too because of my liver.