RE: My previous post:
So, I have an autoimmune disease that, up until recently, was manageable. I am living with Systemic Lupus, IC and have shown several markers for Celiac’s Disease. I am now about to have my 8th surgery/procedure in the past few months. I don’t talk about being sick.. because when you’re 22, it’s a little difficult to explain to friends and sometimes reactions are weird and support is hard to find. I never talk about it so maybe writing about it now will help me.. or maybe help someone else.
Millions of people are affected by autoimmune and a lot of the time the person can LOOK fine but really be hurting. Lately, it’s been the worst when others say “Well, you don’t LOOK sick”.
So this is kind of my “coming out”..and I would like to say thank you to all of the people that I follow on here that help and support others when they need it. You are angels and you have made me feel good today; inside and out.
“Autoimmunity is a result of a misdirected immune system that causes one’s own immune system to attack the self. Unlike the many forms of cancer which are recognized as being part of the general term “cancer,” autoimmune diseases are recognized singularly rather than in the overall category of autoimmunity. The public in general is unaware of the autoimmune nature of these diseases. When most people hear one of these diseases referred to as an autoimmune disease, they incorrectly confuse the term autoimmune with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); or they think it is a form of cancer. They affect 23.5 million Americans and are a leading cause of death and disability”
