Arthritis Mom

I was thinking the other day about how much rheumatoid arthritis is part of who I am. During and after my diagnosis I worked to accept that I had this and even embrace it.

But it's often a secret part of who I am. I can't go around having everyone feeling sorry for me. I don't want pity. When other parents see me lugging twins around it might look to them like a lot of work but they don't know about the pain that comes with it. When I look tired they don't know about the fatigue that I'd have anyway. Even when I do tell people, I tend to minimize what it means to my daily life.

I can't think of anything else that is such a big part of my life that is mostly hidden from others. I feel like some epiphany should come from this realization and I was going to post about it, if only I could come up with a point to make. Then yesterday I checked my arthritismom email and found out that National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is coming up soon. Oh heck, that's right, I'm not alone!

This year National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness week is September 8-14. They have a website and a blog where you can read more about it. It's not just for the couple million of us with rheumatoid arthritis, but those with depression, diabetes, eating disorders and other chronic illnesses as well. They have some good articles about invisible illnesses and the issues you face when people don't know you are battling something every day of your life.

Mostly I think it's fun to say. National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness week. It's a mouthful, but catchy.

Today it's not so invisible. My right foot is swollen and painful, my 11 year old stepson just informed me I am walking with a limp, just in case I didn't realize. I did realize. Hopefully I can get back to being the invisible arthritismom tomorrow.