Interstitial Cystitis "invisible illness"

1. The illness I live with is:Interstitial Cystitis

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2004

3. But I had symptoms since: about 6 months prior
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:having to pee all the time

5. Most people assume: I have no idea

6. The hardest part about mornings are: having to pee the second my eyes open

7. My favorite medical TV show is: Grey's Anatomy, Mystery Diagnosis, House....I'm a medical info junky

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My meter. And pump. And iPod- music makes the world a better place

9. The hardest part about nights are: waking up to pee

10. Each day I take 12 pills & 8 vitamins: plus insulin

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: they have worked better that pharmaceuticals

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: neither, but if I had to chose I like that I can open up when I can about invisible illnesses

13. Regarding working and career: It is not entirely due to the IC, but I am disabled

14. People would be surprised to know: My symptoms started with frequent urinary tract infections

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: This is not a new reality, but when it was new the thought of living with this pain forever was imaginable

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: go into remission for 4 years

17. The commercials about my illness: are nonexistent

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: being able to travel with less hassle

19. It was really hard to have to give up:acidic foods

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: this has not influenced new hobbies

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: leave the house without thinking about where the nearest bathroom is

22. My illness has taught me: How to appreciate the truly important things in life and not to be so superficial.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: this is rarely a subject of conversation

24. But I love it when people: treat me like a normal person

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Live for today, pray for tomorrow 

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: It is bearable, and you are not alone

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: that IC even existed

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Just spending time with me even when I am not the life of the party is the greatest gift.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Well, it was back in July.  I just found this on a fellow blogger's sight and thought it was cool.  (see sixuntilme.com)

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Happy that you may have a little more insight, and that you care!