Do you consider yourself "sick"?

[kittysmith]

Interesting quesiton

I am in a unique situation. I work at a very large hospital. I am not clinical, but have worked the same job for 13 years with a group of nurses (Clinical by default, lol). They were the ones, in 2008, to tell me I needed to go get my blurry eye checked out. I was at work when a resident called from the eye clinic to tell me my MRI came back looking like MS, which we never discussed. Once I got over the shock and bewilderment, I just accepted it and created a "new normal". I was blessed to not have to hide it because my coworkers understand my limitations. I was blessed to work at a hospital that had all types of specialists, so, I was able to see a neuro opthomologist right away. I call it my disease when I do have to explain it to others. I've never hidden it.

[MarkLavelle]

I tend to reserve "sick" and "disease" for temporary things like colds & the flu, even if the dictionary doesn't make that distinction.

I think of my chronic conditions as "a messed up nervous system and lungs" (MS, severe COPD & lung cancer), and that's how I talk about them.

[Mamabug]

I tend to reserve "sick" and "disease" for temporary things like colds & the flu, even if the dictionary doesn't make that distinction.

I think of my chronic conditions as "a messed up nervous system and lungs" (MS, severe COPD & lung cancer), and that's how I talk about them.

My perspective is similar. I consider MS to be a "chronic illness" and that's how I refer to it. I find that I seem to have a lot in common with people who have other chronic illnesses that are different than MS (Type I diabetes, Parkinson's, etc). Even though most of our symptoms are different, there are experiences, responses, and yes -- sometimes symptoms -- that overlap.

"Sick" sounds to me more like an "acute illness" -- it comes on suddenly and, after a certain length of time or treatment, the symptoms go away and health returns to normal.

I don't think that I have ever referred to my MS as being sick. I guess the word "condition" works too. But, I use "chronic illness".

[Jules A]

I am in a unique situation. I work at a very large hospital. I am not clinical, but have worked the same job for 13 years with a group of nurses (Clinical by default, lol). They were the ones, in 2008, to tell me I needed to go get my blurry eye checked out. I was at work when a resident called from the eye clinic to tell me my MRI came back looking like MS, which we never discussed. Once I got over the shock and bewilderment, I just accepted it and created a "new normal". I was blessed to not have to hide it because my coworkers understand my limitations. I was blessed to work at a hospital that had all types of specialists, so, I was able to see a neuro opthomologist right away. I call it my disease when I do have to explain it to others. I've never hidden it.

This sounds like a nice work place. You are fortunate. And I love the nurses fussing at you to get it checked out.

[oceanpride]

I considere myself sick with MS , a chronic disease which creates a condition that lead to a disorder. And then I got the flu on top of it all that turned into pneumonia because of my immune suppression drug But I would never tell any one that out side of here only you guys. Far as any one else goes it’s just a bad leg and my back went out and I’ve got a bit of a sniffle.

[trevvian]

For some reason the term disease is more depressing to me. Condition seems like something more constant than MS, at least RRMS. Sick is when I have something mild and acute. Illness makes me think of Victorian fainting couches. And disorder seems like it could someday be re-ordered.

But most of the time, I think of it as a chronic illness. For which, yes, I'd like a comfy fainting couch.

[Jules A]

But most of the time, I think of it as a chronic illness. For which, yes, I'd like a comfy fainting couch.

I like it and I'll take one also preferably with a buff youngish lad fanning and feeding me grapes.

[KoKo]

I like it and I'll take one also preferably with a buff youngish lad fanning and feeding me grapes.

I thought bon bons were couch treats?

[Jules A]

I thought bon bons were couch treats?

Lol, yes even better!

[Tawanda]

Affliction.

Affliction! I love it!!

[Tawanda]

Trevvian, Jules and Koko

You guys are hysterical! Right now I am laughing myself "sick"!

[trevvian]

You guys are hysterical! Right now I am laughing myself "sick"!

Actually, I often crack jokes about it...it's easier than being serious.

The bad news is I have a disease. The good news, is it's all in my head.

My MS symptoms are like early aging...on steroids.

I have holes in my brain. Too bad it doesn't have the same calming result as a lobotomy.


I have a friend who comes up with some real zingers... that I can never remember.

[Seasha]

Actually, I often crack jokes about it...it's easier than being serious.

The bad news is I have a disease. The good news, is it's all in my head.

My MS symptoms are like early aging...on steroids.

I have holes in my brain. Too bad it doesn't have the same calming result as a lobotomy.


I have a friend who comes up with some real zingers... that I can never remember.

lol - these are "sick" jokes! Please call your friend and have him tell you again. Always good to laugh

[Mamabug]

I needed a Like button for lots of these! :-)

[Daisycat]

Was going to stay off this... but since my thread is closed I am not going to anymore.


I consider myself diseased and "defective". I am angry that the universe even let someone like me be born.