Some of these pictures are really old.
I want to share all of them in one place, because I want to show everyone what a disease like lupus is doing "behind the scenes". No one really can appreciate what an invisible illness does, because...well...its invisible. I do not often have visible signs of disease, and when I do they are often things that are easily hidden, and honestly I prefer them that way. Yes, it's nice sometimes to have an outward sign I'm sick so people take my disease seriously, but I also don't want to look the way I feel most days. So lets begin. Also keep in mind most of these flares and pictures happened when I was medicated, and right now I'm not. Let that sink in as to how crappy I feel right now.
Here is what the world sees:
I want to share all of them in one place, because I want to show everyone what a disease like lupus is doing "behind the scenes". No one really can appreciate what an invisible illness does, because...well...its invisible. I do not often have visible signs of disease, and when I do they are often things that are easily hidden, and honestly I prefer them that way. Yes, it's nice sometimes to have an outward sign I'm sick so people take my disease seriously, but I also don't want to look the way I feel most days. So lets begin. Also keep in mind most of these flares and pictures happened when I was medicated, and right now I'm not. Let that sink in as to how crappy I feel right now.
Here is what the world sees:
I normally look pretty ok, happy, not sick.
Here is a picture of my face during a lupus flare:
What girl doesn't love looking like a rashy tomato?
Here is me during a vasculitis flare:
Very unattractive, very painful, very itching.
Here is a picture of my Raynauds flaring up:
Who doesn't like turning into a smurf, right?
Here is a picture or some lovely mouth issues I have been having:
These are most likely from Sjogrens, but honestly who knows.
Here's a picture of me sporting a heart monitor:
Chords all over your boobs is sexy right?
Here's a picture of my dysfunctioning lungs:
Who doesn't love having scar tissue, even minimally, in your lungs?
I may look just fine sometimes, but I have a lot of bad stuff going on in my body. It wears me down, makes me confused, and makes me very sick. Just because it's not always visible on my face, doesn't mean it's not there. Pain and fatigue are some of my biggest problems, and you'll never see them.