"30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know."

Each year, National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is observed to educate the public and raise awareness about invisible illnesses. One of the blogging activities this year is a "meme," 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know. So, here's my meme...

1. The illness I live with is: Migraine disease (mainly. I have others as well).

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1989.

3. But I had symptoms since: 1969.

4. The biggest adjustment I've had to make is: accepting that I have to pace myself even on "good days."

5. Most people assume: that Migraines are "just headaches."

6. The hardest part about mornings is: If I wake with a Migraine, its a crasher, and the day is gone. If I don't wake with a Migraine, I'm a morning person.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: House.

8. A gadget I couldn't live without is: my computer!

9. The hardest part about nights is: Insomnia cause by pain or medication.

10. Each day I take *_34_* pills & vitamins. (Yuck) can't take triptans,

take a lot of preventatives.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I use meditation, Tens machine, aromatherapy, and more.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: neither

13. Regarding working and career: When I got worse 10 years ago, I was able to work from home, consulting and teaching online, but had to retire 2 years ago, when my migraines became chronic. Since Jan 2009 and now attending MHNI, I am better, but experience some short term memory loss, and still can't work.

14. People would be surprised to know: that I am in some type of pain every day.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: limitations.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: help others better understand/manage their disease. I would like to help educate people about Migraine disease, Fibromyalgia, arthritis & asthma.

17. The commercials about my illness: are few and far between, and obscure.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: travel, sailing, bike riding, almost anything on a schedule.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: being spontaneous, working productively in my field, and have a high level of energy for my family.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is blogging about health related issues.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would probably try to do every project I've wanted to get done only to land in a heap and have to stay in bed the next day.

22. My illness has taught me: empathy, patience and kindness towards others. That I need to treat myself with a dose of the same while I persevere to do the best to gain improvement.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "You just need to better manage your stress."

24. But I love it when people: Ask questions, try to understand, and try to help others understand.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "You must become the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

26. When someone is diagnosed I'd like to tell them: learn all you can about this disease, then take charge of your health and your health care.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how many people come up with "cure" scams to make money from us.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn't feeling well was: When my husband dimmed the lights, turned down the TV, wrapped me in a quilt, brought me a cup of tea and a glass of water, and handed me my medication. Sometimes he sees my symptoms coming on before I do. 

29. I'm involved with Invisible Illness Week because: We've got to make folks aware of the Illnesses they can't See.  Migraine disease is an invisible, yet prevalent and painful disease that is managed better with early treatment. With education, the population will not only better understand those who are diagnosed, but perhaps propel the untreated to seek care.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: that we CAN make a difference!