30 Things About My Invisible Illness
6 Sep
30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
by David (With comments from Ashley in parenthesis.)
1. The illness I live with is: Psoriatic Arthritis
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2008
3. But I had symptoms since: 2002
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Always making decisions based on my health.
5. Most people assume: I’m fine. I’m normal.
6. The hardest part about mornings is: Getting up. It’s hard to get moving because I’m stiff.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don’t really like medical TV shows. They don’t interest me.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My Iphone 4. No matter where I am, it can distract me, even when I’m hurting. And I can look things up without having to get up cause I
always have my phone with me.
9. The hardest part about nights is: Going to sleep. It’s hard to get comfortable so I can fall asleep.
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) 6+
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: love the chiropractor and getting massages.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: invisible.
13. Regarding working and career: I’m glad I just sit at a computer. I wish I could start my own business, but a drawback would be health insurance. (We cannot be without health insurance!)
14. People would be surprised to know: that I’m always hurting.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: having to do less.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: drive from New Jersey to Texas and back.
17. The commercials about my illness: are completely unrealistic. (We have a good time making fun of them in the rheumatologist’s waiting room.)
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: helping people.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: bread.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: none. I just do all the hobbies I did before more. (He means video games and movies.)
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: run around town. Go to Freebirds, shop, wakeboard, play Putt-Putt, volleyball and racquetball.
22. My illness has taught me: I never would have imagined people with these kinds of problems before, and I definitely didn’t understand them.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: you don’t have arthritis. (The New Jersey rheumatologist thought David might have been misdiagnosed. Now that he has David’s files from Texas, we think he’ll agree with the diagnosis.)
24. But I love it when people: send me iTunes gift cards. 
JK. I love it when people want to hang out or do something with me if I’m able to do it.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Try alternatives like chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture in addition to your regular doctor. And you’re going to hear a whole lot of home remedies so prepare for that. (Yeah we do get a lot of advice from people who don’t even have arthritis.)
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: my wife takes great care of me. (That was a surprise?)
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: help me relax and bring me food.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: my wife has helped me in the best and worst of times, and people need to know how to help people with Invisible Illness.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: encouraged.
You can read Ashley’s 30 Things About My Invisible Illness regarding her TMJ Disorder.
An iPad would mean even less getting out of bed!
I just want to sit here and cry. I am so overwhelmed with pride for you both! Sticking together and trusting the Lord above all is any Christian mother’s heart’s desire. Life is very tough; so knowing you’re focusing on God’s promises and your wonderful beautiful wife is a Blessing that comforts and encourages me. David I couldn’t have been blessed with a better son. And Ashley, I couldn’t have been blessed with a better daughter (in-law). Continually I am praying that God would bless you and put David into complete remission! Love mom
P.S. Can’t wait to see you at Christmas!
Thanks for this post! It’s always good to know more about David’s condition. It helps Sam and I be a better friend to you and David!
I’ll remember the iTunes gift card thing! ; )
me too and the iPad
Wow this was really an eye opener. My friend’s son has Chiari Malformation and by looking at him you would think he was fine and most people don’t realize the struggles he really goes through. Thanks for sharing!
Fight on, Brother! I have Fibromyalgia and have dealt with the pain since my early thirties (I,m 59 now).
I feel worse after a doctor visit because I’m asked where it hurts and thinking about all the places it hurts makes me forget to ignore a lot of the pain. Scripture tells us that to whatever extent we share in the sufferings of Christ, we are blessed. As I share this with you, I remind myself.
There are good days and bad days. My husband and I take turns limping so we don’t have to be questioned about our handicap tag. Winter is worse.Those things we don’t die of, we learn to live with. You will make good of it, I know