Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
“I Had No Idea Until It Happened To Me”: 70 Medical Issues People Wouldn’t Wish Upon Their Worst Enemy
Interview With Expert
You’re on the metro and notice a young girl sitting in a seat marked for disabled people. She gets up on her stop, walks out without any help, and you might think “Well, she doesn’t look sick.”
But maybe she has a condition that you can’t see such as a migraine, a hormonal disorder, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, or even a mental illness that makes her feel weak.
There are medical issues that quietly affect someone’s daily life and it’s hard to imagine what they go through unless you’re in the same boat.
But perhaps, you can empathize a bit after reading some of these stories that people have shared online — the terrible medical issues they suffer from, and the ones that are often overlooked.
And if you, like so many of them, have similar symptoms, maybe it’ll make you feel a little less alone, and a little more understood.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Depression.
Junebug35:
Mental illness, including depression and bipolar for sure. It really knocks you down for days, weeks, months, or years at a time. "It's all in your head." Uh, no, it's not. You feel it in your body and lifestyle. Exhaustion, suicidal thoughts, loss of enjoyment. If you feel any of these, please seek out professional help. I found an amazing therapist and psychiatrist and they changed my life.
RELATED:
#2
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Its not the same as osteoarthritis, it's an autoimmune disease, people always seem like it's a minor cause I'm 27 and look fine, but I'm not.
Have had so many people say, "wait till your my age then you'll know actual pain."
TroublesomeFox:
Chronic pain has left me with a massive resentment towards older people who do this. Like yeah carol I'm sure your knees do hurt at 93 but my pelvis is fused together by scar tissue and I can assure you that HURTS.
Lyone Fein 4 hours ago
Pain competitions are always stupid and pointless. Just have compassion for each other.
#3
Lower back pain.
People don't realize how it affects every move you make.
Every stand, sit, and lift is diceroll for how much worse it's going to get.
```
Every breath you take and every move you make
Every disc you break, every step you take
I'll be hurting you
Every single day and every way you lay
Every seat you take, every lift you make
I'll be hurting you
Oh, can't you see, between L4 and 3?
How your low back aches with every step you take
Every move you make and every job you take
Every smile you fake, every bend you make
I'll be hurting you
Since I've slipped, you've been hurt without a break
You roll in bed, you can never sleep in peace
You go to sneeze, and you have to grab the sink
You feel so sore, and you long to sit up straight
You keep crying, lumbar support, please!
Mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm
Oh, can't you see, between L4 and 3?
How your low back aches with every step you take
Every move you make and every job you take
Every smile you fake, every bend you make
I'll be hurting you
Every move you make, every step you take
I'll be hurting you
I'll be hurting you
(every breath you take, every move you make)
(Every bend you make, every step you take)
I'll be hurting you
(Every single day, every way you lay)
(Every seat you take, every lift you make)
I'll be hurting you
(Every move you make, every disc you break)
(Every smile you fake, every job you take)
I'll be hurting you
(every single day, every way you lay)
(Every seat you take, every bend you make)
I'll be hurting you
(Every breath you take, every move you make)
(Every disc you break, every step you take)
I'll be hurting you
(every single day, every way you lay)
I'll be hurting you
(Every move you make, every disc you break)
(Every smile you fake, every job you take)
I'll be hurting you
(every single day, every way you lay)
(Every seat you take, every bend you make)
I'll be hurting you.
```
David Paterson 13 hours ago
"Oh, can't you see, between L4 and 3? How your low back aches with every step you take”. Um, yes. Can't walk, can't stand still, can't sit and can't lie down.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
I had to have 2 herniated discs removed that were damaging the sciatic nerve. The surgeon said the nerve was almost severed. That was in the 80s. It still hurts. I've also got a partial scoliosis.
Invisible illnesses affect around 10% of the 61 million Americans who deal with a physical or mental ailment that limits their movements or senses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the US alone, about 1 in 5 adults live with chronic pain, which is actually one of the biggest causes of invisible disability.
Physical issues like endometriosis, autoimmune disorders and long COVID or mental health conditions like anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can all take a toll.
The UK saw a 400% increase in adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis between 2020 and 2023.
Many people with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) also have anxiety, depression, or autism, that can make life unpredictable and exhausting.
Around 10% of women worldwide have endometriosis — a highly painful and invisible condition.
#4
Anything with the word "chronic" attached to it.
#5
Endometriosis/very heavy, frequent cycle. The only thing that helped me was a total hysterectomy.
santc:
Endometriosis for sure. It gets overlooked by everyone bc all people think it is, is women having “bad periods” but it’s very serious. If guys got this autoimmune disease it would get so much more attention.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
Yes! I got lucky in that for some reason, depo provera (progesterone) injection put mine "in remission". I was also lucky in that a male doctor in south africa took me seriously and didn't just scorn my "heavy periods" with constant need to sleep - in fact it was the fatigue in a very healthy young woman that made us look at endometriosis which I had actually never heard of.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
I was so happy to hit menopause! I wanted a hysterectomy, but docs said I was too young.
#6
Chronic fatigue syndrome which no medical professional seems to take seriously.
HoundBerry:
Came here to say this. I wanna slap whoever decided to call it "chronic fatigue syndrome". It makes it sound like it's just being tired all the time, and absolutely nobody takes it seriously as a result.
Nevermind the fact that exertion as minor as sitting upright for 30 minutes or having a short phone call can trigger debilitating neurological and flu-like symptoms including a fever, migraine, vomiting, full body aches and other hellish misery that lasts for days.
Jay Scales 4 hours ago
I've had ME/CFS for over 27 years & have had NO help other than painkillers.
Zero Costa 5 hours ago
I'm extremely lucky that my primary GP is incredible and advocates for me with my CFS/ME diagnosis... except she's retiring soon due to her own illnesses 😭
These kinds of medical issues often lead to job barriers, social isolation, and unmet needs.
A lot of people choose to hide their conditions from employers because it might hurt their career prospects or how colleagues treat them.
Research shows that most people hide them so they don’t come across as a liability or a complainer.
They might end up taking on extra work, pushing through symptoms, and pretending to be healthy.
#7
Anxiety.
_Cosmoss__:
Feeling absolutely terrified for absolutely no reason all day, every day. Not fun.
#8
Acid reflux. I didn’t get help soon enough and it developed into severe GERD.
Neophile_b:
Yep, I absolutely destroyed my esophagus because of GERD caused by a hiatal hernia.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
Is it a heart attack or indigestion? A game I play every so often if I am not taking daily omeprazole. And even then sometimes that's not prophylactic enough. The big boss - a doctor, btw, thought I was upscaling and lying about how severe it was until the day I decided to not take the omeprazole, go into a meeting in his office, cough like a TB victim before throwing up. Now he takes it a bit more serious. I don't just want an extra hour in bed if it strikes first thing - I genuinely need to lie still in a somewhat upright position until the meds kick in. My throat is constantly hoarse too and various foods are definitely off the table. Thankfully this includes the s****y chocolate cake some of them insist on buying for birthdays...
Zero Costa 5 hours ago
I've clawed at my sternum from how bad it was when I forget to take my daily dose... doctors not taking the things they're trained and paid to deal with seriously is heinous behaviour
Load More Replies...
zovjraar me 2 hours ago
i have GERD. i started taking some probiotics (in addition to my daily omezprazole), and it's actually helped. i take Bifidobacterium lactis. just one per day with all my other meds.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 hours ago
I had really bad acid reflux some years ago and let me tell you...on both ends of the digestive tract, it is horrible.
#9
CPTSD.
I've had people tell me to "get over it, life goes on, that happened so long ago".
Unless you have it, you can't begin to grasp it.
Kim Kermes 11 hours ago
We don't compete. Some in my group had specific trauma, others a period of whatever length of mini or micro trauma, a generally hostile environment.
Load More Replies... Lyone Fein 4 hours ago
Many people do not realize that traumatic experiences can permanently alter someone’s body chemistry, hormonal functions, even gene structures. So when this happens there is very little an individual can do on their own to heal. Serious medical and therapeutic intervention is required to guide the body back into a state of recovery.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
I think my PTSD might be CPTSD. It wasn't caused by a single incident, an accumulation of things that hit a tipping point.
As if these medical issues were not brutal enough, people with serious problems are also facing another obstacle — terms like anxiety or OCD are often used casually now.
People say they’re anxious or have OCD when they’re just stressed or particular about cleanliness, which can make it harder for someone who’s actually struggling to be taken seriously.
“The actual meaning of the term gets diluted and gets associated with simpler and more fleeting experiences. It normalizes illness,” says Dr Zsofia Demjen, a linguist who studies the intersections of language, mind and health.
And when people who are actually suffering hear these terms thrown around for everyday feelings, it can make it harder for them to explain the much deeper struggles their condition actually brings.
#10
Anything with your teeth.
Madcap_Manzarek:
Tooth pain is another level of pain, next to any kind of pelvic pain. Two types of pain that you just cannot ignore that will seep into your every move. Absolutely agonizing.
Anonymous:
I had a MRSA infection caused by a c-section. They had to cut open my stitches and pack my wound with gauze. The gauze needed to be replaced/the wound cleaned twice a day. Hospital stay was a month long, and it took me 3.5ish months to fully heal. I was diagnosed with PTSD after.
Tooth pain is worse.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 hours ago
I've had my fair share of tooth related pain in the past and geez, it was always unpleasant. Now I make sure to visit the dentist twice a year. A small price to pay to avoid that pain again. I think since it's connected to nerves in your head...like it just radiates.
#11
ADHD - it gets downplayed way too much. It affects pretty much every aspect of my life in non-trivial ways.
Booker 9 hours ago (edited)
ADHD (inattentive) here. Agree it affects all aspects of life. Also depends on severity. In my case, it's both a gift and a curse. My boss once told me I'm the last person they'd let go. I said they could hire another w/ ADD. He replied they couldn't support him :-)
Laserleader 8 hours ago (edited)
At 40+ I finally decided to get my ADHD diagnosis redone, since it was last done at age14 and I never took medicine. The doctor was going over my scores and asked her assistant "What does it mean when the score is higher than the chart?" I asked jokingly, "So, I guess Im not in the regular range?" She chuckled, "No, no you are not, I will have to go over these more carefully later." She then prescribed a treatment. I get 8 hours of clear thoughts before the normal layers of distracting thoughts and stress return.
#12
Type 1 diabetes. You need to do your pancreas’ job 24/7. That in itself is exhausting. Then you have debilitating lows, irritating highs and long time complications. The new tech helps but only to a point. And the cure is only five years away since at least 1980.
Sometimes, even doctors can dismiss serious conditions when a patient’s symptoms don’t follow a tidy textbook narrative.
“Patients are more likely to hear coded phrases like ‘it’s just anxiety,’ ‘your tests are normal,’ or ‘you’re focusing on it too much.’ Over time, these messages land the same way: you can’t trust your own body,” Sarah Fraser, a general practitioner in Nova Scotia, Canada, tells Bored Panda.
“I see this pattern repeatedly in general practice, particularly among patients with chronic, complex, or invisible conditions. Some that come to mind are fibromyalgia, concussions, long COVID or endometriosis,” she adds.
#13
Nerve pain…sciatica nerve pain is horrible.
Robert T 4 hours ago
I have a partially collapsed vertebra and have suffered nerve pain for over 20 years. When it first happened, the pain was so bad I couldn't walk and the pain just refused to go away. It has gradually settled down, but I still get false pains in my legs and feet. Surgery is an option, but it would be a massive operation and there is no guarantee it would work and I could end up paralysed. So I put up with it.
#14
I hate to complain but rosacea can be so annoying. It can be painful and embarrassing. It’s hard to be outgoing when my face can get red at a moments notice. And then the comments- “why is your face so red?” So it gets redder.
#15
Chronic migraine headaches. No, it isn't "just a headache".
platypus_monster:
People have no idea. Had one few days ago. It affects my right eye. At some point I wanted to take a spoon to take my eye out and stop the pain. I'm so damn lucky that meds help, but takes hours for pain to subside to manageable level and then few days to get back to normal.
Lyone Fein 4 hours ago
Migraine is not a headache. The headache is just one possible symptom of a migraine. A migraine is a swelling of the blood vessels in the brain to the point that the brain tissue is being subjected to dangerous levels of pressure. This pressure has negative effects on numerous organs and systems throughout the body, compromising a person’s vision, hearing, digestion. Full body joint pain and swelling, and overall exhaustion are also frequently reported effects. In addition, it is estimated that 25-40% of strokes begin as migraines.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
I get mine in the left eye. It feels like a knife going through your eye to your brain, you get facial neuralgia, your eye goes cloudy and won't stop watering. I get clusters so I can go ages without any, or I can go a week with a daily chronic headache bordering on migraine.
galbarlo 5 hours ago
this is so true as someone with chronic migraines. I always have a headache, and if I see flashing lights or a bright light of any kind, I'll be hit with awful migraines that sometimes will hurt more than when I broke a bone. I've almost accidentally OD'd on pain meds several times because of how bad it can get 😾😾
zovjraar me 2 hours ago
my migraines have progressed from so painful that i want to drink myself to passing out, to (now), not painful at all but now my eyes don't work, my brain doesn't work, and i can't control my body temperature. i'm honestly not sure which one is worse.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
I am so grateful I only get migraines once in a while. It always starts with an arrow of pain piercing my left temple.
Not speaking up or feeling dismissed can delay treatment and make your health worse.
“Dismissal doesn’t just delay diagnosis — it reshapes how patients see themselves. Many begin to second-guess their pain, apologise for taking up space, or stop seeking care altogether,” says Dr Fraser.
“I’ve had patients tell me the most damaging part wasn’t the illness itself, but being made to feel dramatic, difficult, or delusional for asking for help. It also makes patients not want to even access the healthcare system anymore due to repeated trauma from medical gaslighting.”
#16
Sleep apnea.
No, it’s not just something that makes you snore.
Your airway collapses and you *stop breathing* repeatedly throughout the night. Your body gets less oxygen and you get little to no REM sleep every night.
This has a snow ball effect on all aspects of your health and everyday life; far more than the most obvious symptom of a total and debilitating lack of energy (because you don’t get any REM sleep).
Sleep is SO important. If you think you may have sleep apnea, talk with your doctor. Sleep tests are very easy: they’re done at your own home and just involve a finger tip sensor.
Zero Costa 5 hours ago
you're literally micro dosing being awake thruout the night and it f***s with your brain severely
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
I found out I have this in boarding school in 1987 when I would stop breathing during the afternoon nap and freaked TF out of my roommate.
Kim Kermes 11 hours ago
I slept like a rock but never felt rested, just wanted to go back to bed. 40 episodes per hour will do that.
David Paterson 13 hours ago
I shared a tent for three weeks with a chap with sleep apnea. He let loose a little scream every minute all night every night. He was fine. I was a nervous wreck.
#17
OCD is joked about a lot but it’s absolutely debilitating if you actually have it.
alittlepixie:
OCD. My OCD is debilitating and takes over every avenue of my life. People think of it as perfectionism/tidiness while I'm fighting with myself to not get out of the shower to make sure my door is locked for the third time.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
It bothers mean when "neat freaks" describe themselves as having OCD. I don't, but some of the symptoms of autism (which I do have) overlap some of the symptoms of OCD.
#18
Hypothyroidism. Very common, causes tiredness and weight gain. In general, everyone thinks you are lazy but it is your thyroid that cannot cope. Unfortunately, many people are misdiagnosed (eg. depression) or are diagnosed very late.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
Easy enough to test for, meds keep my levels normal. Always ask for a thyroid test.
It’s hard to empathize when you can’t see someone’s pain or anxiety.
One of the best ways to help someone with a medical condition is simply to listen and offer support without being judgmental.
For patients who feel that their symptoms are dismissed by doctors, being prepared before your appointment can help.
Dr Fraser says: “Writing symptoms down, explaining how they affect daily life, and asking clear, direct questions can shift the dynamic. If something doesn’t sit right, trust that instinct. Good medicine is collaborative, and seeking a second opinion isn’t a failure — it’s an act of self-respect.”
#19
IBS.
Standard_Summer_180:
Exactly this. People think you get gassy and have a bit of tummy upset. They dont realise people can confuse a burst appendix with IBS cramps, that the pain can be excruciating enough that childbirth can be tolerated weirdly well... the physical damage that comes from "toileting" issues requiring surgery. The bloat isnt just oh dear, I've eaten too much - it is literally your intestines swelling as a systemic reaction to the food. It's debilitating.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
This - and while you can minimise your known triggers, something that is usually "safe" can suddenly go "oh hai" - like banana bread yesterday, like W*F stomach? We've only been eating that for 40+ years? Still, was nice to be offered a seat on the Tube again as I looked pregnant... 😆🙄
#20
**Anything that messes with sleep** _mild sleep apnea, chronic pain, allergies, reflux.
On paper it sounds “manageable.” In real life it slowly wrecks your energy, memory, patience, productivity, and mental health. You don’t notice it all at once… until you’re burned out and don’t know why.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
Sleep maintenance disorder. Yes, I have tried anything you think I should. If it worked, I would sleep for more than 2 - 3 hours at a time on normal days. It's why I now sleep as much as I can on weekends once the chores are out of the way.
Dealing with an invisible illness can make you feel exhausted and isolated, but talking to others who are going through the same thing can make things a bit easier.
That’s where online forums and in-person communities can help in a major way.
#22
PCOS. It’s not just hormonal; it impacts the endocrine system as well and so much more.
Laserleader 8 hours ago
Extra hair, long heavy periods shifiting to small non-stop period, hot flashes, weight gain, expediates type 2 diabeties, inflammation, migraines, anemia, pain sensitivity, early onset arthritis, just to name a few more.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
Feeling like two goblins are playing tug of war with your ovaries...
Load More Replies... #23
Epilepsy. Even if seizures are controlled by medication, most of those medications have heavy side effects.
#24
Perimenopause. So many symptoms all compounded at once and set to last for years. There’s days I’m bed ridden from joint pain. Exhaustion leaves you only barely mentally functioning. And I’m only 39 and have 3 young kids, 2 are disabled, and I somehow have to survive through this while helping them thrive.
#25
Narcolepsy. "Well maybe if you got a good night's sleep you wouldn't fall asleep all the time" or "is that like where you'll fall asleep in your soup?" Or my personal favorite, "why do you go sleep in your car at lunch?" "Because if I don't choose when I sleep, my body will and it often picks a REALLY bad time to do so...".
Laserleader 8 hours ago
I didn't know you could have a driving license with narcolepsy... I know you cant have one with any cronic seizure diagnosis.
#26
Keratoconus.
It’s the thinning of the cornea which causes the eye to become slightly pointed, sounds very minor.
Vision slowly degrades over time and nothing can fix it. it’s basically astigmatism on steroids. It’s soo bad that reading a computer screen becomes hard as letters can overlap. And glasses can’t help it.
I had an operation done called Corneal Cross linking. And as my university had never heard of it and as I didn’t have to stay in hospital overnight. They just assumed it was minor. I was in intense pain and couldn’t look at my computer yet still had to make a presentation.
It’s got to the point now that if I want to see anything outside with no pain. I have to use eye drops (dry eyes are a side effect of the condition) and sunglasses so the light of the sun doesn’t make my vision blurry white.
#27
Not as bad as many here but Psoriasis. I only have flare ups rarely when really sick. But boy do they tend to cover my entire body, I feel tired, and I get all anxious about if I’m getting it under control and just looking like a leper in front of people. It’s an anxious/paranoid couple months of recovery when out in public that eats away at my patience and self image.
Ironically it has helped me identify the really kind folks in my life that will check in and make sure I’m okay.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 hours ago
I have to say I'm very lucky that my psoriasis was only on small parts of my body when it does flare up but geez, it's the worse to know it's visible and even worse when it dries and the skin cracks, painful and looks as described.
#28
Tinnitus. Tinnitus. Tinnitus.
If you have to ask why, you’re probably one of the blessed ones.
whoathere67:
Tinnitus is brutal. That constant ringing makes you want to go insane and nobody takes it seriously.
Initial-Bedroom-350:
It's been probably 4 or 5 years since I really started noticing mine. I can't be in silent rooms anymore and I have to sleep with a noise machine. It's horrible. I wish I could go back in time and undo the damage.
Laserleader 8 hours ago
What if you have tinnitus, but you never had hearing damage you know of because you've always been super sensitive to sounds and vibrations?
Kim Kermes 11 hours ago
I have to have music or TV on during waking hours. Others at all times.
#29
Autoimmune diseases. Chrons and Ulcerative Colitis. It’s not just what the ads mention. Theres so much more it affects, like your joints, the extreme fatigue, the vitamin deficiencies…it goes on and on. The constant scopes and biopsies and medications and side effects, ER visits and hospitalizations. Your entire body is affected, and you can’t eat normally. Even thinking about eating at a restaurant is a massive accomplishment at this point.
#30
Anemia and iron deficiency. Freezing cold, exhausted, fainting, light-headed, depersonalization, cold-sweats, etc.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
I've had iron-deficiency anemia a number of times in my life. Now I get checked regularly and take meds if needed.
#31
Fibromyalgia. Many practitioners have told me it's a "trash can diagnosis" for when nobody knows exactly what's wrong. And I agree. But whatever is going on, it is devastating as far as day-to-day functionality.
Geanois:
This isn‘t „just pain“. It‘s your body going completely haywire, usually coming with lots of comorbidities and flare ups which come and go as they please. You never know how long the flare will last. My current one started after a severe erisypelas in July 2025 and is still going on, hitting the pain scale at 8 to 10+.
Lyone Fein 4 hours ago
Fibromyalgia often is diagnosed along with Chronic Fatigue, as in my case. And I also have ongoing chronic migraines. All of these are invisible disabilities that have no cures. But require a complex juggling system of management and response to changes in the weather, in the air itself, my age, ingredients in my groceries and clothes, cosmetics used by people around me, etc. I have been dealing with these issues for 30 years now and it’s still the case that I get sidelined unexpectedly by new triggers. The worst thing was that I had to quit my teaching career about 12 years ago because of the pain and exhaustion.
Laserleader 8 hours ago (edited)
It's not a garbage diagnosis just a meaningless one. It's a symptom of some other disease or condition, or a side effect of illness. Often people stop at the pain diagnosis and never diagnose or treat the cause.
#32
I’ve mentioned it before but Trigeminal Neuralgia. It’s brutal and not as understood as it should be.
UKDeek 4 hours ago
Trigeminal neuralgia used to be referred to as "sui.cide pain" because of the effect it has on the sufferer, and needs to be higher up this list. I have something similar, which is post-herpetic neuralgia in my trigeminal ganglion, which is exactly the same symptoms as TN but with a different cause.
#33
OMG! This one is finally for me.
Being urinary incontinent and having to wear diapers 24/7 as an adult. Over the years, Ive gotten used to it. But still impacts my daily life.
#34
Vertigo. I fell down two flights of stairs, and as a person who did public speaking for a living, had more than one instance of gripping a podium for dear life and hoping no one noticed that to me, it felt like the room was spinning while the floor was buckling.
#35
Food allergy.
ChironXII:
Gluten...
Double edged, because while the trend a while back increased options significantly, it also made people not take it seriously as an actual allergy that will destroy your life if you aren't careful.
disdainfulboomer:
Literally had a friend who had to drive herself to the hospital in full anaphylactic shock because a local "safe" restaurant changed to peanut oil without stating so.
Setsuna17:
It's scary to travel, and eat anything not labeled or at other people's houses. People treat you like an inconvenience though it's literally not a choice, or take your allergy very unseriously. Sometimes people will even "test" you. I have a peanut allergy and so many foods ate off limits to me now. And it's even harder when it's adult onset so you are missing food you ate before.
And an epipen does not always stop anaphylaxis. It feels like playing roulette.
Laserleader 8 hours ago (edited)
Found out I was allergic to goat milk at a fancy university dinner party, when my throat closed from a roasted veggie sandwich that had goat cream cheese. Mild anaphalaxis is quite uncomfortable when you first experience it and have no idea why your throat is swelling.
#37
I have long covid. I dont think people understand or take this seriously. It is far worse than my covid was and has altered my life and future in very negative ways. I don't tell people though because they dismiss it.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
A friend has this. She was previously very fit and healthy. She is a shell of her former self.
#38
Hypermobility. I'm so TIRED.
SenseiKrystal:
Omg, same. People think being double-jointed is a fun party trick, but like... everything hurts. And there's so many other things that go along with being hypermobile.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
Hypermobility is a fun trick when you are a kid. As a middle aged woman, I am no longer allowed to do any of the lazy exercises I loved - skipping, jumping jacks, etc. My ankle is shot and my thumb is veering into the rheumatoid area. But did amuse someone on Tuesday night with my elbow trick. (I can twist my forearm without moving my upper arm)
#39
Plantar fasciitis. Makes you walk like you're in your 80s. I want one of those walker things from a nursing home when mine flares up, sometimes I get it on both sides. I can hit the gym, run on a treadmill, lift weights, and am generally strong, but plantar fasciitis just turns me into an 85-year-old hobbling around when it flares up, and it's been flaring on me a few months now...
#40
High-functioning, high masking autism; what used to be called Asperger’s. Behind the masking and the functioning, a lot of very difficult stuff is happening behind the scenes and in private.
Lady Eowyn 58 minutes ago
I was diagnosed with autism at age 69. It explained a lot about my life. I wish more had been known back then, I went thru a lot of hell I didn't need to.
#42
Menopause/having any low estrogen symptoms. Absolute hell, and not just because of the hot flashes.
#43
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Everyone thinks it's just having this feeling to move your legs. But mine PAINFUL. I'm talking feels like my leg muscles are on fire or being stabbed unless they're moving. Oh, and the name is misleading because you can get RLS in your arms and back as well.
RLS can hinder sleep as well. I've had chronic insomnia since I was a toddler. Took my sleep specialist about 30 seconds to notice I was constantly moving in his office so he started asking me questions in severity. After a few minutes if questions he asked if I'd ever been tested for ADHD. I said yes, he said that made sense. He thinks I've had RLS most of my life but my ADHD symptoms are really just exhaustion and adrenaline.
The main test is for ferretin which is an extension of iron tests. The problem with RLS is you can have technically good ferretin levels but it's far too low and exacerbating your symptoms.
I also have Upper Airway Restrictive Syndrome (UARS) which basically means my narrow airway narrows more when I'm sleeping so my brain thinks I'm [passing away] so it wakes me up. I also never feel as though my lungs are filled sufficiently. No meds to fix that, just an incredibly invasive, painful surgery most insurance polices exclude because it involves a maxillofacial surgeon manually moving your lower jaw forward to widen your airway. A lot if policies exclude jaw procedures which is stupid. I was given a CPap instead because insurance is willing to pay for me to have this machine shoot air up my nose in perpetuity until I die then to pay for a surgery which will fix the issue.
zovjraar me 2 hours ago
i made fun of RLS years and years ago when i saw a commercial for it. then i got it. i deserve all the misery it brings, behaving like i did when i was younger. my legs will just spasm out of nowhere, usually my right leg. it used to wake me up- i'd have my leg just sticking straight up while lying in bed. edibles are the only thing i've found that help, but unfortunately, i can't take them at work, so sometimes i kick my desk unintentionally. it's very embarrassing and i'm sure it annoys the heck out of my coworkers. standing up helps, but as soon as i sit down, it's right back. it's not something you can "exhaust" out of your leg. it's a neurological thing, and your brain never shuts down.
#44
Hyperhidrosis; imagine if sweating consumed 99% of your time and thoughts….
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
Botox is actually really good for this. In fact botox is really good for a few medical conditions - this, migraines, club foot.
#45
I never really truly understood how bad true panic attacks were until I had one for the first time. I’ve always had general anxiety which has been manageable into my 30s. I thought I understood the depths of it. But I had a medical issue and the meds and the medical situation caused severe anxiety and panic attacks.
You might as well be bleeding out, having a heart attack, a stroke, a brain bleed and going blind all at the same time because that’s what your brain is telling you is happening. Not like “this might be happening” more like “this is HAPPENING”.
Because of my experience I was having almost daily panic attacks for months, and it completely fried my nervous system and took me 2 years to feel 60% back to normal. It’s been 6 years and I’m still not back to normal and I don’t think I ever will be. I am fundamentally changed because of the experience.
KatSaidThat 5 hours ago
I had my first and thankfully only panic attack last year. Thanks to friends, I recognised what was happening to me quite soon but if you don't recognise it, it gets worse because you think you are having a heart attack/stroke.
Lady Eowyn 1 hour ago
I have panic attacks associated with an anxiety disorder and PTSD. I haven't had a bad attack in a while. Knowing that my service dog is here to protect me really helps.
#46
Also pregnancy and childbirth. Sure, billions of women have done it, but that still doesn't mean it isn't life-threatening and often absolute misery.
#47
Frozen shoulder.
timewilltell2347:
Yes another lovely gift of menopause that no one talks about
Kim Kermes 11 hours ago
And we don't get a t shirt. Muscle relaxers and topical anti inflammatory gel helps me
#48
Celiac disease "just don't eat gluten".
Cierra Edens 9 hours ago
It’s so much more than that! It’s an autoimmune disease with up to possibly 300+ symptoms which makes it so hard to diagnose because of it imitating so many things. I personally experience chronic inflammation, nausea, throwing up, headaches, rashes, fatigue, constipation (imagine not going for two weeks), if I do eat gluten it’s the worse stomach bug you could imagine. Found out I had it after being hospitalized with the worse pain of my life, and I’ve had 4 kids one all natural one being 9.5 lbs. Nothing touched that pain I was in think throwing a butcher knife in a fire, stabbing yourself in the stomach and twisting it all at the same time. Oh and add on the fact originally doctors thought I was lying about the pain and that it was a “woman issue” which led to a missed diagnosis for a long time.
#50
Dry eye :( Having your eyes be burning or watering or too dry or with stabbing pains every day is actually so awful.
#52
Irritable bowel syndrome. It’s the worst and there’s no fix.
KatSaidThat 4 hours ago
Just a combination of medications to alleviate symptoms for a while... Fun.
#53
Was just recently diagnosed with cervical spondylosis (Arthritis in my neck). People think I slept wrong and have a crick in my neck. It's debilitating and has significantly impacted my life more than anything I've dealt with before because I'm ALWAYS in pain.
#54
Essential Tremors. Not life threatening but they can really damage your quality of life.
Kim Kermes 11 hours ago
The VA gave me a CALA device which counteracts the nerve signals. I can write!
#55
Eczema.
A lot of people actually develop it eczema some point in their lives, but it’s usually very minor and will go away in time.
I’ve grown up with eczema and still struggle with it today. Some periods of my life were great when I can manage my eczema. But sometimes, something will randomly trigger your eczema and it will flare up really badly.
Since eczema can affect your physical appearance, it can also affects your mental health as well.
#56
Metatarsalgia.
Doctor tells my that's what's causing my foot pain. Good to know - how do we fix it?
"You don't. Welcome to foot pain being your new normal. I recommend against activies that load the forefoot. Things like standing, and walking.".
Kim Kermes 11 hours ago
Haflinger clogs may help, and shoes with rigid soles. I miss soft, flexible booties.
#57
WMD. Wet Macular Degeneration.
No cure, you will go blind, but very painful injections into your eyeballs can delay it a bit. Hereditary.
#58
Gastroparesis.
eat-the-cookiez:
And when it’s coupled with slow colonic motility as well.
Cries in liquid diet. People heating up food at work is so painful. Declining any meet ups that involve food.
#59
Hidradenitis suppurativa. Oh it's just a skin condition! No. It causes massive interconnected wounds that form and tunnel UNDER the skin. A spot will form and it will get bigger and fuller and more painful every day for days and weeks until the wound tunnel finally opens to the surface of the skin, and erupts pus and fluid out everywhere. It usually forms in the armpits, under the breasts, and in the groin. It causes severe and extensive scarring and also obviously creates a huge risk for infections. Its excruciating, embarrassing, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it except get really good at wound care. People also like to blame someone for having it thinking it's a hygiene issue, they think showering more or using [things] like witch hazel will help. Nothing helps. There is no cure. There is no known cause. It can be mild and behave for a while and then flare up horribly for no known or observable reason.
#60
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
#61
Vestibular disorders, constantly being dizzy, constantly nauseous, walking is a battle, reading or watching tv is very tiring and some days it’s impossible, and there’s no cure just exercises and strategies for learning to live with it.
#62
“Bad knees.” I’m in my late 30s with osteoarthritis. I had two knee replacements in three months last year. Before my first knee replacement, I had to rely on my husband’s help just to step down from curbs. I look fine but have had to give up so many things, much much sooner than I ever thought. Eventually I’ll be able to walk, swim, and bike without much pain, but right now physical therapy is hard and I feel like I’m 85 years old every time I get out of bed or need help standing up from a chair. I don’t have it that bad and I am extremely fortunate to have a great surgeon and a wonderful physical therapist, but it just weighs on me a lot.
#63
Bell's palsy( paralysis of one side of the face)
It's mostly a temporary thing and a lot of people get it. I've had a couple of people around me get diagnosed with it and it was very tough for them until it resolved.
The little things like being able to keep and swallow your saliva, being able to munch onto food on that side, being able to simply close your eyes when you sleep, being able to talk well and to smile. It's all hard. It turns out to be a funny condition and a lot of people make jokes about it but it truly is just annoying and very disabling for the moment that it is there.
#67
Broken finger bone through the joint. Sounds like the tiniest possible injury. But the truth is you feel it every time you use your hands (which is always) every day for the rest of your life.
#70
ARFID. We’re not “just picky eaters”. It’s a full eating disorder that happens to not be body-image based. There’s a lot of subtypes. Mine is sensory. I ate broccoli tonight and it was a huge win for me, as I really don’t eat most vegetables.
My brain usually goes in overdrive, convinced that the food I’m averse to is somehow going to hurt me. It sucked growing up like this.
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
KatSaidThat 4 hours ago
Can I introduce you to cyclical vomiting disease? Mine is stress, usually PTSD - but I now understand why in former years if I was in a situation where I was really uncomfortable, I would be upchucking. I actually dumped a really nice guy because my body was reacting and I think my subconscious was trying to tell me something. Once I worked it backwards with a psych a few years ago, I realised it manifested when we were spending time in my mother's house. That was eye opening. Sorry for the inadvertent trauma dump. She's dead, I'm good. 😉
KatSaidThat 4 hours ago
Can I introduce you to cyclical vomiting disease? Mine is stress, usually PTSD - but I now understand why in former years if I was in a situation where I was really uncomfortable, I would be upchucking. I actually dumped a really nice guy because my body was reacting and I think my subconscious was trying to tell me something. Once I worked it backwards with a psych a few years ago, I realised it manifested when we were spending time in my mother's house. That was eye opening. Sorry for the inadvertent trauma dump. She's dead, I'm good. 😉
You May Like "Convinced She Was Pregnant": 49 Times Doctors Had To Correct Patients Who Tried To Self-Diagnose Woman Keeps Commenting On Coworkers Body, Can’t Handle When She Claps Back “Never Normal”: 43 Medical Professionals Share Which Health Warning Signs Should Trouble You
Dominyka Proškėnaitė
Ieva Pečiulytė
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Related on Bored Panda
