Hi, my name is TrishE10!

TrishE10
TrishE10 Community member Posts: 1 Listener
in Start here and say hello!
I have joined the group because I suffer from Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia. Although I look ok I am often in pain and feel fatigued even after a short period of exercise. I think people often think, even if I explain to them , that I am just exaggerating the problems I face because “I look normal!”. I am sure that there are a lot of others with invisible disabilities  out there that feel the same way as I do. 

Comments

  • leeCal
    leeCal Community member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    Hi @TrishE10 and welcome to the community, best wishes ?
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi and welcome to the community Feel free to join in or ask any questions 

    We have lots of members here with fibro and other hidden disabilities 

    I look forward to seeing you around 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,331 Championing
    Hi @TrishE10 - & welcome to this friendly & supportive community. :)  Many of us have 'invisible disabilities,' & sometimes suffering pain, &/fatigue is part of these.....not much fun. You will therefore find many of our members have a lot of understanding. I have OA, & we have a lot of members with fibromyalgia too.
  • Cher_Alumni
    Cher_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,715 Championing
    Hi @TrishE10 and a warm welcome to our community.  How are you today?

    Absolutely, living with an invisible impairment can be tough on it's own without the added pressures of negative attitudes and a lack of understanding.  As a person who has an unseen chronic illness I can really empathise with what you're saying.  In fact, people are often surprised when I tell them and say 'oh but you look so healthy, I'm shocked!'.  When I come across these reactions it's a good opportunity to explain that disabled people don't fit into one box and we all look different - a bit of blusher can hide a lot!

    Did you see the ITV advert about invisible illnesses made in conjunction with Scope?  if so, what did you think to it?  Here it is incase anyone missed it:
    https://youtu.be/dVitgyLbYyg

    To speak more with our members who have experienced similar, feel free to have a look and post in our Invisible Impairments category.  

    I hope you are having a lovely weekend and hopefully speak again soon.

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