One of the hardest obstacles with (ITP) Immune Thrombocytopenia is receiving recognition for your symptoms. Just because you look well, does not mean you are well and because ITP is an almost invisible illness people will shrug off your symptoms, make you feel small for acknowledging them or worse yet tell you to get on with it. You are basically trying to communicate that you are suffering and the response is, well, they don’t care.
Awareness is all about bringing our collective voice to attention and last week I shared a simple post on my insta @stronger_with_itp stories that encouraged fellow ITP patients to share what they wished people understood about their condition. I was so empowered by the responses that today I am sharing those responses in this blog post.
@_brookee8_ The level on anxiety that brings with it
@danyella3_21 The Fatigue is real
@emercyne just the added pressure of having to worry about it every day. It never leaves and that just because you don’t talk about it doesn’t mean it’s healed or gone or isn’t bad.
@awsome_tee_tee The panic it can cause and the invisible symptoms
@my_itp_journey the fatigue and that you aren’t’ cancelling plans because you want to, but have to
@fre_raphaela about the fatigue that kicks in and your absolutely helpless about that condition
@ginamlewis It isn’t just about bruising. Had a “friend” tell me she had “worse bruises than that”
@connectingworldthrulens Understand us
@emma12323 how serious it can be
@chronically_emily_ that is causes extreme fatigue and I can’t do as much as a healthy person
@bronaghoneill98 Just because I look healthy and normal doesn’t mean I feel healthy and normal and just because I don’t talk about it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect me everyday
@cashgettingfit that I can’t control it. It’s unpredictable. Diet/ exercise isn’t a cure
@painting_with_potions I wish more people would understand that I’m not tired because of lack of sleep.
@mychronicillness_itp Just because I don’t complain everyday doesn’t mean I am not physically exhausted everyday
@becbunyan How tired I get
@aliceprince every day is different
@healing_intuitive the ramifications
@billandsue89 the fatigue
As you will see ITP does effect the patients day to day lives. So although we look fine and in good health just know that inside we are suffering. All we ask is that people acknowledge our situation and be sympathetic to our circumstances. Or as the once wise words said – Don’t judge a book by its cover!