The Unsung Heroes of Chronic Illness.

It's my belief that the unsung heroes of chronic illness are not the doctors nor the researchers but the families and friends of those affected.

I had a reality check recently when my boyfriend dislocated his shoulder. After 2 years of being cared for by him, it was time for the role reversal. Needless to say, I was in total shock and had no idea what I was doing. 

I got frustrated when I saw him say no to pain killers which I thought would help him. To see him look so fragile and helpless broke my heart. When his face contorted in pain, I felt the tears sting my eyes. This is something that I had to go through for a couple of days, but is what my family, boyfriend and friends go through on a daily basis.

To see someone you love, suffer daily is a cruel torture.

I'm not totally naive. It's not like I've taken my entire family and friends for granted for the duration of my illness so far. But I never understood just how much they do for me on a daily basis. What a lot of people don't understand is that arthritis is so much more than pain (as are most other chronic illnesses). I often forget to eat, to take tablets and go to appointments.

The help they give is so much more than making food or going to pick up prescriptions. The emotional support they give is beyond anything you can imagine. I never realised how much they held me up. I didn't realise they were the ones who made me strong. 

What I realised when my boyfriend was injured is that it wasn't the physical side of pain that hit me the most, it was the emotional aspect of it. To see the one I love cry through the pure stress and confusion caused by pain, hit me like nothing else. When we got home from the hospital and I had to help him get dressed and make cups of tea and check he was taking his tablets, it struck me - I now have to be strong for him. 

It has now been 10 days since he dislocated his shoulder and I find myself still checking up on him. I'm so exhausted. To care for someone else as well as yourself is so exhausting. To think this is how my family feels on a daily basis hurts me. My chronic illness affects so much more than just me. When I am having a bad pain day, it radiates from me and affects those around me. 

So to my family, my friends and my boyfriend - I love you. You are the reason I am still going strong.