My 30

1. The illness I live with is: Endometriosis, Interstitial Cystitis, 2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2005 for endo, 2010 for IC 3. But I had symptoms since: 2001 for endo, 2008 for IC 4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Not being able to be "normal". Achievements such as finishing college, having a job, having a social life are things that when others speak of or ask me about leave me fighting to keep it together. 5. Most people assume: No idea. Can't say for most people only one who has spoken their mind and they don't think i can be in that much pain or possibly have constant pain, and lecture about using pain medication yet didn't see a problem with taking theirs with a bottle of wine. 6. The hardest part about mornings are: sitting up to get moving, often i can be awake in bed without any pain when i first wake up since its as though the rest of me isn't fully awake, but once i move the nerves wake up and my reality comes rushing back. 7. My favorite medical TV show is: Grey's Anatomy 8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Toshiba Laptop, TENS unit, PS3 9. The hardest part about nights are: thinking back over the day and thinking i didn't mange to do anything useful or worthwhile. 10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins: currently 1-5daily 11. Regarding alternative treatments I: liked acupuncture and many other things but $$ so right now DIY acupuncture and massage now and then along with herbs as needed. 12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: invisible since that's what i know. 13. Regarding working and career: sole crushing.... no idea, if in years able to work well, and drive perhaps a dula. 14. People would be surprised to know: That the thought of giving up occurs to me now and then, yet i am not depressed 15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: having all my goals postponed 16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: last this long still smiling 17. The commercials about my illness: there are none that i have seen 18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: diagnose date didn't make the change, the day the pain came did. but so many things. 19. It was really hard to have to give up: my education and physical strength. 20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: crafting, sewing/beading/wood carving/card making. 21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: go camping, walk/hike the trails and horse back riding. 22. My illness has taught me: things that i would rather keep to myself. 23. Want to know a secret? I will never get over the heartbreak of having a hysterectomy. 24. But I love it when people: try to work with my reality (Anne and Jackie are great at that) 25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;" 26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: you can ask me anything as there are very often issues and symptoms never mentioned in literature or by doctors (about 5+a year ask about leg pain, or mention it not thinking it is connected to endo.) 27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: its made me more creative. 28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Hold me. 29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: it will only stay invisible if no one tries. 30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: warm