Bloggers Unite: National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week

Making myself visible

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 17:42:22 -0500

I recently posted my "30 Things" on my blog at http://melissabeth.wordpress.com I have just started blogging again, and hope to keep up with it more often. I want to inspire others to keep on keeping on...

New blog post for the NICIAW

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:08:03 -0500

New blog post for Invisible Illness Awareness Week! Titled: Invisible Illness: Live it in silence? or speak up for awareness? http://thelifeandtimesofagirlwithra.blogspot.com/2010/09/invisible-illness-live-it-in-silence-or.html

30

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:20:42 -0500

here is my blog,thank you for letting me participate http://msfreeradical.blogspot.com/

Awareness is the key

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:17:28 -0500

Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate and educate! http://virtuallyabsorbed.blogspot.com/2010/09/30-things-about-my-invisible-illness.html

30 Things about my illness

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:22:31 -0500

I'm really happy people are spreading more awareness! Check out my blog- http://joyeathome.blogspot.com/

Started Blogging This Week

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:06:56 -0500

Down the Rabbit Hole....and Into Chronic Illness. I had an adverse reaction to the medication Levaquin, which affected my Peripheral Nervous System. I wanted this blog to be both educational about the dangers of Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, and also document what it is like to suddenly be afflicted with a chronic illness.

Invisible Illness Week: Love Simple

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:02:46 -0500

I just posted a new #iiwk10 blog post about Love Simple - please stop by and read at www.corleymay.com/blog. Thank you!

Living with migraine for 40 years

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:51:31 -0500

http://cronereport.com/2010/09/14/invisible-illness-meme/

Wellness with a Side of Life, Please!

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:19:54 -0500

Please follow me on Twitter at @ArthritisAshley and add me on Facebook by searching Arthritis Ashley *and* Rheum to Grow! (both pages offer great resources on living with not only rheumatoid arthritis but other chronic illnesses!) I live with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic daily systemic migraines, refractory celiac disease, general immunodeficiency, anxiety, multiple vitamin deficiencies, food allergies, maculopathy, slight hearing loss, and other chronic illnesses and autoimmune problems. I work with the Mid Atlantic Region of the Arthritis Foundation and write a blog all about staying positive and living a positive healthful lifestyle of wellness! Please read it - Wellness with a Side of Life, Please - http://midatlanticarthritis.wordpress.com! I've had RA since age 10 - I'm now 26 and want to spread awareness that we all don't "look" or "seem" sick but some of us are disabled nonetheless and just trying to live healthy, happy, normal, and productive lives nonetheless! Young people live with chronic illness, too! Please help spread awareness along with me!! :) - Ashley B :)

How I informed 300 people in my church

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:49:34 -0500

Most of you know me. My name is Vicki Glover. What some of you do not know is that I live everyday with 4 invisible illnesses. I suffer with frontal lobe seizures, arthritis in my spine, depression, and a chronic pain disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in both of my arms, . Chronic meaning the pain never goes away and never will. This next week is set aside to raise awareness not only for the diseases I suffer with but all Invisible Illnesses that anyone suffers with. September 13-19th is Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Invisible illnesses are all around us everyday. They are not just the diseases I suffer with, but there are many more. Many suffer with depression, migraines, cancer, hearing loss, blindness, pain, lupus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, spinal problems, crippling arthritis, and the list could go on. They say 1 in every 2 people suffer with some kind of invisible illness. Look around you. Around half of the people here today are suffering with at least one invisible illness. What makes them invisible is that the individual does not use a wheelchair, cane, or any other assistive devices to get by with their daily lives, but they still have a disability that limits their lives and how much they can do. Many depend on the help of others to get through the bad days. I call my bad days flare-up days. Those are the days when I feel like my body is on fire and my pain level is way above a 10 and the pain medicine I take won’t touch the pain. Those are the days when I sleep a lot and depend on my family to help a lot. On my good days I tend to overdue things and I never learn so I end up back in my flare-up days again. Most people with a chronic disease has a tendency to do that. Our biggest challenges are those around us. Most don’t understand what we are going through. So I want to try and help you understand a little from my point that might help you understand everyone that you see who is fighting an illness. ---We smile not because we are feeling better, but because we don’t want to look sad all the time. Don’t think just because we look happy the pain is gone. We are just hiding it well. ---If we park in a handicap parking spot and we don’t look handicap to you, think again. We may just have a disease or handicap you cannot see or we may be in a lot of pain. Offer us help instead of judging us. We would appreciate the help. ---If you come to our homes and it looks like a tornado has hit the place, it hasn’t. We spend the little time we do feel good doing the most important things first, which is usually things with our families. Housework will always be there, our families and children will not. ---Any help offered is greatly appreciated because energy is scarce. ---Don’t ask “how are you doing?” unless you really want to know. ---Don’t give advice on what might fix the illness. If there was a cure we would know by now, and we have tried just about everything that is a possible cure because really we don’t like living in pain. ---Don’t stop living your life just because we have to slow down ourselves. We want you to continue to have fun and enjoy life. We have just as much fun watching you have fun as we did having fun with you when we could. Just remember when we need to stop and rest, just let us without making us feel guilty. ---When we need to stop and take our medicine or stop to rest we need to right then. If we overdo things we don’t just get tired, we pay for it for days. Please understand. ---If we make plans to do something with you and have to change those plans at the last minute, we are sorry, but we have to listen to our bodies and stop when it tells us to. But please don’t stop inviting us because we still enjoy being with our friends and enjoying life. ---If you have questions about our illness, don’t be afraid to ask. We don’t mind answering questions so you understand. How will you learn without asking. These are just some points I can make on behalf of myself and others that suffer with invisible illnesses. I know each illness is different and each person is different, so there is so much more to learn from each individual. Reach out to those that are hurting and suffering. Like I said at the beginning I suffer with depression, which was brought on by the illnesses I deal with daily. Pain that never goes away will tire the body out, but it also tires the mind out. Some days you get so tired of fighting the pain that you want to give up. Depression is a big factor that faces almost everyone that has a chronic illness whether invisible or not.*Depression is 15-20% higher for the chronically ill than for the average person Many times with the depression comes thoughts of suicide because the pain gets so severe you just want it to stop. 70% of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a factor If depression does not get the best of you, the illness usually affects your family and your marriage. The divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75 percent. That is a very high percentage. If you don’t end up in divorce, it still affects marriages in many other ways. Your spouse is afraid to touch you in many ways because they are afraid of hurting you. Lack of sleep keeps you both so tired to have much of a relationship. Financially your family starts hurting because of doctor appointment bills, medicine costs, gas for trips to doctors, and medical tests. You start feeling even more depressed because you see your family having to do things that you should be doing but are unable to. It is a vicious cycle that can eventually tear a family apart. Only strong families usually survive when a person is suffering with more than one illness and a lot of stress is put on the family. Our strength has come from God to hold our family together. We have been through all and God is holding our hands and our family tight. I have accepted God has a purpose for my illnesses. I have had some ask me if I believe in healing because I have been sick for over 4 yrs. I believe that God can heal, if He wants to heal. Sometimes we are left in our illnesses to use for His glory and to be healed in heaven, and I believe that is my case here. We are all to take joy in our trials. They make us stronger. Some days I may not feel stronger physically, but God has a plan and I know He is working on me spiritually just as He is with everyone fighting an illness. I just ask that you pray for those you know that are fighting any illness, seen or not, and remember those this week especially fighting the invisible illnesses everywhere.

My first Invisible Illness Blog!

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:35:46 -0500

Hey there! I blogged the 30-question meme on my blog, corley may is working on it. I was recently diagnosed with lupus (I've been symptomatic for years) and offered a "newcomer's" perspective on living with Invisible Illness. I hope you'll stop by and read! http://corleymay.com/blog/?p=256

Finding a Niche

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:37:32 -0500

I'm 22 and have been fighting status migrainous for the past 9+ years. My first blog for this week is about trying to find a purpose on my good days. http://migraineshere.blogspot.com/2010/09/finding-niche.html

Faith & Disability

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:31:03 -0500

I run a Christian organization for parents of kids with special needs. Just posted our Invisible Illness Awareness Week piece, "God of the Unseen". Check it out at http://comfortinthemidstofchaos.blogspot.com/2010/09/god-of-unseen.html

Invisible illness

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:36:12 -0500

Here is my post about my invisible illness.http://painfreejourney.blogspot.com/2010/09/living-with-invisible-illness.html

Healing Begins

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:11:01 -0500

I have begun my Invisible Illness Awareness month of blog entries a day early with a "teaser" about the month/week ahead. I began today by sharing a youtube video of a song to encourage others through Healing. Please see my entry at http://thejourneyleadshome.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/healing-begins/ I am working on a 3 part series on depression. And I have a number of ideas floating through my foggy brain for fibromyalgia as well. In between I will be posting various entries of encouragement with any struggles someone may be dealing with. All entries will link back to the IIA website. Blessings to all, Pam

Oops

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:59:07 -0500

I forgot to attach the link to my newest blog post - http://destinationnormal.blogspot.com/2010/08/borderline-personality-disorder-part_20.html

Third Post on Borderline Personality Disorder

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:13:56 -0500

Just put up the second to last blog post about BPD, this one includes symptoms relating to impaired perception and reasoning. Take a look to see some of the most confusing symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder - Part Two

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:47:43 -0500

The second part of four in my series about Borderline Personality Disorder. Haven't heard of this disorder? Check out some of the most deadly affects of this disease on this new post. http://destinationnormal.blogspot.com/2010/08/borderline-personality-disorder-part_17.html

Bipolar Disorder

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:10:23 -0500

I posted a new blog with 30 things about Bipolar II Disorder at my blog, Destination Normal, you can view the post by going to my site here: http://destinationnormal.blogspot.com/2010/08/30-things-about-my-bipolar.html

Blogging for Invisible Illness - Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome, Lupus

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:14:48 -0500

I am late, I know...my sister is getting married tomorrow, it's been a busy week. Here's my blog post www.peargirly.com/blog/2009/09/19/married-to-an-invisible-illness/ My husband has APS, Lupus, and a mess of other autoimmune diseases. Thanks for the opportunity. I hope it's what you were hoping for.

How Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects me and how I treat it naturally. - on Fibromyalgia Is Not My Life

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:43:14 -0500

Today's blog post for Invisible Illness Week is titled, How Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects me and how I treat it naturally. http://www.fibromyalgiaisnotmylife.com/2009/09/how-irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs.html I have also posted Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the cause. Fibromyalgia Is Not My Life www.FibromyalgiaIsNotMyLife.com

Mental Health and Invisible Illness

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:30:44 -0500

I blog about mental health issues especially as they relate to trauma and the intersection with invisible illness at: http://drkathleenyoung.wordpress.com/

Migraine post

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:56:00 -0500

Hi, there! I posted on Monday, 9-14, in support of IIWeek with the list of 30 Things You May Not Know About My Illness, Migraine. http://www.migrainejourney.com The week for awareness and the virtual conference are wonderful! Thank you. Betsy

Living with an invisible Illness

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:39:19 -0500

Hey everyone, I am posting @ http://livinglifeill.blogspot.com I am very new to the blogging thing, and still trying to figure it out.

Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Writing for Invisible Illness Week

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:28:16 -0500

Today's article is about how Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affect people with fibromyalgia differently than people who do not. You can find it here at: http://www.fibromyalgiaisnotmylife.com/2009/09/fibromyalgia-and-irritable-bowel.html or www.FibromyalgiaIsNotMyLife.com

welcomed comfort

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:13:31 -0500

I am a suffer of chronic pain. I have Interstitial Cystitis, Fibro, Irritable Bowel, TMJ, and suffer from depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. It is thrilling to feel support from the community....my grown children do not understand.I can understand, but, it really hurts when they cut me short when I mention treatments, or cycles of pain. I have had to stop working as a hairstylist 6yrs. ago. I have been in a mental hospital on two different times for bi-polar symptoms that are misunderstood and have a stigma. It is even hard to get my MD. to really get the pain, probably because I am basically optimistic, and no that is not a contradiction of terms. I hope this Blog is of help to some other person that suffers..it just helps to know one other person knows and cares about them.I am a Christian and I have great faith that God loves me and care for me. I hope my faith will encourage you!

fibromyalgia and the recovering addict.

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:33:53 -0500

I have posted about being a recovering addict with fibromyalgia and the difficulties I came across when trying to determine a treatment plan for myself. I am still having a problem with down loading the badge to my blog, so I have been typing the URL into my post. Thank you. Soft Hugs to All. Laurie D.

I forgot to leave my URL

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:55:11 -0500

I am posting for the cause at HTTP://fibromyalgia-morethanapain.blogspot.com My blog is title "Life of a fibro-mite" I am posting to try to raise awareness by telling my day to day story and what I am going through, and I will be posting some of my history as well. I have just started blogging, so please excuse me as I try to add new gadgets and ideas to my blog. Any helpful hints would be appreciated. Thanks Soft Hugs to All Laurie D.

Post for the cause

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:50:02 -0500

So far I have made 1 post for the cause, "Are you blogging for the cause?" I have included a link in the text to this web-site. I have had trouble trying to download the badge to my blog. I will continue to blog this week, and any posts that I blog specifically for the cause, I will comment about here. Soft Hugs to All Laurie D.

I have made 2 posts so far for Invisible Illness Week so far

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:42:11 -0500

Fibromyalgia Is Not My Life I have made 2 posts for Invisible Illness Week: 1. What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? What are the symptoms? What foods may make IBS worse? http://www.fibromyalgiaisnotmylife.com/2009/09/what-is-irritable-bowel-syndrome-what.html 2. 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know http://www.fibromyalgiaisnotmylife.com/2009/09/30-things-about-my-invisible-illness.html Or you can just got to www.FibromyalgiaIsNotMyLife.com I will have a new post Wednesday, Thursday and Friday too.