thisisableism: buzzfeed:By Lara Parker with art by Charlotte Gomez. Image Description: [What it&
thisisableism: buzzfeed: By Lara Parker with art by Charlotte Gomez. Image Description: [What it’s like to get diagnosed with a Chronic Illness By Lara Parker Art By Charlotte Gomez I don’t remember what made me realize that something was wrong. Was it the horrible periods? The lingering pain? Was it the time I passed out while running because my abdomen hurt so bad? I didn’t know. I just knew that somehow, I had arrived at this moment, where eI knew something was wrong. But what? I didn’t know. And so my journey to get a diagnosis began. Patient: “My abdomen hurts at all times, and I have a lot of stomach problems. And my periods are awful.” Doctor: “Take some advil and exercise more.” Three months later, I was back. I had exercised more and changed my diet but still felt awful. So the testing began. Doctor: “All the tests came back negative. I can refer you to a specialist in the city.” So I went to specialist after specialist looking for answer. The first one told me I had liver problems The second one told me I just needed to eat better. But when I tried to think of ways I could improve my already healthy diet, I came up short. They both concluded that it seemed to be stemming from “Stress” and that I might need an antidepressant. Why doesn’t anyone believe me? Am I imagining this? Is something serious wrong with me? Or is this all in my head? But after another excruciating pain day, I knew something was wrong. So I began to look for the answers myself. And then, I found it. When I was finally diagnosed, I felt relived. But then I Was told there was no cure. And in that moment I felt like I was back at square one. Where do I go from here? I felt alone. I felt hopeless. And I felt unlovable. The light had left me. But one day, slowly and surely, I saw a small light again. And the light led me to other people with endometriosis. The internet introduced me to a world of people, all suffering in silence, but coming together to fight the same fight. And so now, no matter how hopeless I may feel, I find comfort in the fact that I am never alone in my fight. And neither are you. Lara Parker And Charlotte Gomez for Buzzfeed.] -- source link