One of the most aggravating part of living with a chronic illness is navigating other people’s expectations and opinions. It’s incredibly draining and can actually make chronic illness worse. I came out with a blog post called shit I don’t have time for a few years ago, but I felt like it was time for an update.
- People offering magical cures that cost $99 a month for 300 months
It’s a lovely feeling when people come out of the woodwork to prey on your illness by trying to sell you stuff. I love hearing things like, “but if it can cure cancer it will cure you” or “don’t you want to feel better”? No no I don’t. I like being in pain all the time and having my supposed friends try to sell me crap. It’s a real treat.
2. Doctors who won’t take chronic illness seriously
Thanks for charging me $300 and telling me that I’m faking my illness before you even examine me. I can tell the most important thing you learned in medical school was how to be an ass.
3. Pharmacists on a power trip who refuse to fill medication
Pharmacists think they’re doctors now, and I don’t have time for it. I’m just going to put this crazy thought out there: my doctor has known me for years and has had many talks with me about my health, the pharmacist has never even met me but thinks they know more than my doctor. But since pharmacists have the power to deny prescriptions on a whim now, why do we even have doctors?
4. Other people’s opinions on chronic illness
Thank you so much for telling me that I’m not trying hard enough, I feel better already. I love hearing about your imaginary medical expertise. Not only does it make me want to be bestest friends with you, it also makes me motivated to cure myself (because before you took me on as a project, I was happy being in pain all the time). I truly owe you everything.
5. Being told we don’t look sick
Thank you. I’m glad my faking being well worked well enough to convince you. I live to serve.
6. People who think God would cure us if we had enough faith
If God worked like that no religious person would ever experience suffering or death. I’m pretty confident that even the most faithful die, unless there’s a bunch of immortal beings living among us? If so, please tell me more. Do they look like the rest of us? Or are they just some sort of zombie that hides in the dark? Inquiring minds want to know.
7. Able bodied privilege
I just love all the memes that are shared that say “healthy is just an attitude” or “your body is a reflection of you lifestyle” or “the only things that stands between what you want in life is the will.“ Thanks for blaming my health on my apparently bad behavior. I hope karma doesn’t come bite you in the butt. If you do get sick, remember that it’s because you wanted it to happen.
9. Snide comments about employment
I regularly get snide comments about how someday I’ll have to get a real job. As if it’s never occurred to me to want one. Sure, I love having to lay down for half the day because I’m in excruciating pain as much as the next person, but I suppose I could give that up in the name of “real employment” (blogging isn’t considered real). I suppose it all comes down to the fact that I’m lazy and I like to live the chronic illness lifestyle. Good times.
Excersise and eating healthy is not an answer to everything. If I could excersise without paying for two days later I would.
All this is soo true. This is my first time reading your blog. I loved it, especially your candid way of explaining. I’m a mom from Kentucky who has had enough I can scream. I’m almost at the point to see a pain specialist or a herbalist instead of my rheumatologist for my osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.