Misunderstood

I don't know why I feel compelled to write about this today. It could be because I am up for the 3rd or 4th morning this week WAY before dawn. Not because I want to, but because a symptom of my "disorder" has awakened me in a most unpleasant manner. I will spare you the details.

Most of you already know that I have an auto-immune disorder called Sjogren's syndrome. There are many auto-immune disorders Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Scleroderma, etc...to name a few. People with these disorders may look completely normal, but it does not mean that they are not having symptoms.

No, I may not "look sick," but to those that know me and that are around me for more than ten minutes know that something is no longer "right" with Geri. I have trouble finding my words or the right word. I have to write down things I'm supposed to remember, because my short term memory is shot. A walk through the house is an adventure. "Will she make it without falling? Let's make a bet folks!" The worst part is I know that I am not right. It would be different if I was swimming in a sea of blissful ignorance, but I am not. I can tell you it is very frustrating.

My point is not to make you feel sorry for me, because God only knows that is the LAST thing I want. My point is to increase understanding, and just because someone doesn't have something visibly wrong with them doesn't mean that they don't have something that YOU CAN'T SEE!

This is a hard lesson learned by me. Sometimes you do have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Unfortunately, I have been given the shoes to wear on a permanent basis.