Monday, January 25, 2010

Autoimmune Sisterhood

I have a friend who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis about a year ago, and although I am sorry that she has had to experience the difficulties that accompany this diagnosis, she and I have much in common. Shared experiences forge a unique bond.

We can discuss......stuff. Stuff that's hard for other non-autoimmune people to understand.

A small example: After a difficult week at work, my friend came home exhausted. She said, "I was sitting in a chair when I realized that even sitting up required too much energy. I had to lie down. I would never have imagined that something as easy as sitting up in a chair was too energy-consuming."

Oh, girl. Been there, done that. While others around us sincerely feel sympathetic, and I don't want to minimize how appreciative I am of the love and support of others, it takes another AI person to truly understand.  I call an experience like the one my friend had a crash. She calls it an energy black hole. But no matter what the words we choose to describe it, we know.

She knows.

Image by Mattox


Denise @ Sunflowers, Chocolate and Little Boys said...

Oh I know that feeling. And unless they have an AI illness they will NEVER understand.

Im not feeling well myself. I believe I am catching a cold but my fibro and sjogrens are starting to flare. I just want to curl in a ball and cry.

do you think my family will mind if I do that??

Julia Oleinik said...

Hugs, go right ahead and do whatever you need to do to get you through the day. Feel better soon.