1. The illness I live with is: Fibromyalgia and Osteogenesis Imperfecta
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: Fibro: 2005 OI: 1997
3. But I had symptoms since: Feels like forever
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Planning ahead and stopping when my body tells me to
5. Most people assume: I live with a "normal" amount of pain and that I should just deal with it
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Everything-- I hate mornings, my body is ridiculously stiff
7. My favorite medical TV show is: House!!
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My cell...I don't really use gadgets to help my Fibro
9. The hardest part about nights are: Getting to sleep, sometimes the pain is too bad to let me sleep
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) 8
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: am open to them and welcome any suggestions
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Is neither an option? lol I suppose invisible, that way I can appear to be just like everyone else
13. Regarding working and career: I'm scared of what limitations my illness is going to create for me and that I'm afraid that people will not respect me as much as my peers
14. People would be surprised to know: That I really struggle with the emotional and mental aspects of being in pain all the time
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: That I can't do everything I've want or have wanted to.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: ?
17. The commercials about my illness: provide a totally unrealistic picture of what Fibro is like
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Being relatively carefree
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Doing all sorts of fun activities with my friends
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Blogging
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Play sports and run and laugh and have great sex lol
22. My illness has taught me: To be patient
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: everything (regarding my illnesses)...stop giving me advice if you have no idea what I'm going through
24. But I love it when people: Understand me and offer to help me with something, or completely understand that my pain limits the things I can do
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: way too many to list
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: it's time to get organized and don't settle for something--fight for what you believe is right
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How much wiser and well-versed I am because of the situations I've been through
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: simply hold me and tell me that they understand and that they will help me get better
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: We need to become visible!
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Honored
Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com
