It's so complicated living day to day with a disease of any kind. It is even more complicated to try and explain a disease that people can not physically see or understand. People rarely hear the name of alot of diseases and when they do it's because of a celebrity or a TV show. Which is why when people say, "Oh, Cystic Fibrosis? I've never heard of it." Is alot better for someone to say in response to you telling them about your disease than, "Oh, the disease that the girl has on Bate Motel has!" When they are excited, because they think they know something about your disease. When in reality that little girl would have been in the hospital several times throughout the show if it was reality. Seeing her running with a wheeled oxygen cart through the woods is an insult to those of us who do have CF and do need oxygen to live. Not only that, but it is a poor example of CF and gives those who are blind to the disease false ideas of what to expect from Cystic Fibrosis patients.
Which has brought me to the conclusion that as a society all together we should stop questioning those who are sick with these smug and hurtful comments.
💊You must not be taking your meds right if you're still sick.
🙆AGAIN?
🏃All you need is exercise.
😷It's all in your head.
💉You take too much medication.
🚬Go smoke another one!
🎭Just take an antidepressant if your sad.
❓Aren't you feeling better?
🍴Losing weight will help.
💪Tuff it out thats what I do.
💄Put on some make up, do your hair, and change your attitude.
🍸Just have a drink and unwind.
💤You're just lazy.
🌅Get out of your house and shake it off.
🍓Change your diet and you'd never be sick.
♿You have both legs don't take a handicap space, you don't need.
👓But, you don't look sick.
😪 You sleep too much, that's your problem.
🏥You're in the hospital, AGAIN?
💰The doctors are lying to make more money.
🙌You just want attention.
☔It can't be as bad as you act like it is.
💩It could be worse be happy it's not.
🃏Stop playing the sick card, we all know you're sick!
Now, alot of people seem to think that some of these are actually helping or are considered, "uplifting" comments about a person with an invisible disease. However, it is not a compliment when someone says, "You don't look sick." Or "It could be worse." All this communicates to me is that you don't believe I am sick and I am supposed to take comfort in the fact that someone is worse off than I am. Well, news flash knowing someone somewhere is worse doesn't make me less sick. Looking in the mirror and seeing a pretty face doesn't make me any less terminal.
I'm tired of all of these sayings, the stares, the lies, and the hurtful words. Being young and needing a wheelchair and oxygen to get around Wal-Mart turns alot of heads and makes it so hard go about your business as normal. It shouldn't be that way! I know that people will pitty me based on my health and sadly that's always been then case. Yet, keep these things to yourself. Sit and think about what you are going to say before you actually say it!
Think before you speak,
Sandi
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