Having An (Almost) Auto-Immune Disease Just SUCKS Some Days
Yesterday evening and into the night, I sat awake suffering from a horrible episode. Vertigo, nausea, ear pain, head throbbing and finally anxiety. All wrapped up in a nice little package for me.
According to WebMD an auto-immune disease is as follows:
Immune system disorders cause abnormally low activity or over activity of the immune system. In cases of immune system over activity, the body attacks and damages its own tissues (autoimmune diseases-AID). Immune deficiency diseases decrease the body's ability to fight invaders
While the disorder I suffer from has not been completely classified as an auto-immune disease by medical research and professionals, Meniere's Disease DOES leave me incapacitated when a full-fledged episode hits. There are times (luckily this was not one of them) when I will sleep for days and lose one to three days of my life and daily activities.
Most people associate AID with the likes of Multiple Sclerosis, lupus and diabetes; but did you know psoriasis is also an AID? Yeah... simply because the "sickness" or disorder is basically eating away at your body or immune system.
Having this disorder (Meniere's Disease) has created some distancing of family members, non-compassion from the same people and a look of sympathy from others.
I don't necessarily want sympathy or empathy, the reason for this post today is to draw attention to people who do not suffer from an AID or disorder and to try to understand how the inflicted person is suffering or feeling.
Unless you suffer from a disorder that will some days make you lifeless, lethargic and at times, praying to God for relief, please do not tell me how to fix it. Trust me, I have tried everything, so has my doctor and I have been prescribed EVERY pill.
I am in stage two of the disease and am diagnosed with bi-lateral; meaning both ears are affected. Sad, but I am hoping for the final stage when the episodes are less frequent; even it means I will be legally declared deaf. I have no hearing in my right ear at all, and the left is failing more and more. I am prepared for a hearing aid to some degree, but am putting it off for now.
Bottom line, if you know someone suffering from an AID, please understand they are not "faking it" or trying to get out of a family gathering. We want nothing more than to go and be included. We miss interaction. We get depressed about missing out on life. We hate how our bodies are revolting against us. Some days we even pray for relief, no matter the way.
Just because we don't call or text you EVERY day or week, doesn't mean we aren't thinking about you, or a party we missed. It just means we cannot function properly.
Please be considerate to others and let them know you are thinking about them. Even the smallest and shortest "hey, how you doing today" text can bring a smile to someone's face.