"People with invisible disabilities, such as chronic pain or some sleep disorder, are often accused of faking or imagining their disabilities. These symptoms can occur due to chronic illness, chronic pain, injury, birth disorders, etc., and are not always obvious to the onlooker.
Invisible Disabilities are certain kinds of disabilities that are not immediately apparent to others. It is estimated that 10% of people in the U.S. have a medical condition that could be considered a type of invisible disability.
Nearly one in two people in the U.S. has a chronic medical condition of one kind or another. Still, most people are not considered disabled, as their medical conditions do not impair their normal activities. These people do not use an assistive device, and most look and act perfectly healthy.
Hundreds of conditions, illnesses, and injuries can result in a hidden disability - anemia, brain injuries and strokes, allergies, epilepsy, heart diseases, lung conditions, mental illnesses, and chronic pain are just a few examples. Yet, although we are all aware of these individual conditions, there is much to be learned about the shared needs and experiences of the hidden disability community as the unique group it is."
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Taken from the Invisible Disabilities: List and General Information by Disabled World (DW), 29/01/2026
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Link to Disabled World’s (DW) collection of articles, research papers, and documents focused on various aspects of invisible disabilities
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Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.
I was violently ill this morning with the most excruciating stomach pains and nausea. It was so awful I seriously considered calling an ambulance, I thought I might be dying. Eventually it mostly wore off and I started thinking about what might have caused it. The only thing I had done differently was eat a small amount of melon. Fruit is one of the many food intolerances I’ve developed due to my cancer treatment, and it’s the greatest loss, food-wise. I crave fruit so much and being surrounded by all this lovely summer fruit, I couldn’t resist any more and caved in. This life just sucks! Why did I have to become intolerant to all the most healthy and delicious things? Can no longer eat most veg, eggs, beans, nuts, and can only eat tiny amounts of grains. Saw the NHS dietician about it a few weeks ago and she said nothing can be done about these intolerances. She said she can’t even write me a healthy diet plan as the number of foods i can tolerate is so low. I can’t even tolerate supplements any more, so I’ve just been sent home with no help to slowly die of malnutrition. Vitamin deficiencies are already causing me to lose the feeling and movement in my toes, and have constant pins and needles and tingling and the doctors are just like “Oh well.”
There are literally so many tests they could run to figure out foods you can actually eat and that would help you (it’s a grueling process that’ll take a lot of time and trial and error), they just flat out refuse to try. Can’t eat food normally? That’s a you-problem. I sympathize with that struggle and I’m sorry the melon made you feel so sick :(
Do you know what these tests are? Maybe if I know what they are I could push for them.
Unfortunately, no, I’m sorry. All I know is that these tests vary depending on what type of intolerance is being tested for, so if you can recognize any patterns in what you can’t eat, you might be able to ask a doctor about these patterns. As an example, having issues with dairy products can be an indicator for lactose intolerance, but it can also be an allergy to another part of dairy, like the proteins. It’s not very clear cut, but if there are patterns, those might help you with finding the right tests. You could also look for the symptoms you have when you eat something you have issues with. It boils down to a lot of research on your own, something that a doctor/professional should help you with.
As well as food intolerances I have developed actual allergic reactions lately to many medications, especially all antibiotics and opioids, as well as a prescribed bladder med. After much pleading a few months ago the doctor finally said she would refer me to an allergy specialist but I have heard nothing about that. It’s like my body can tolerate less and less over time, it’s reacting to almost everything. I already can’t use skin products apart from ones prescribed by the doctor like a soap substitute instead of actual soap, and a prescribed cream instead of normal moisturiser, and only hypoallergenic sanitary towels otherwise I break out in rashes, contact dermatitis and eczema. And on top of all this and the food intolerances, almost everything, especially smells, cause migraines, which is the most miserable thing of all, because you just can’t avoid the smells that other people cause, like perfume. I was told to keep diaries of all this which I did but then the doctor barely even looked at it. It’s just hopeless.
I know sweetie. I’m sorry
That sounds like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Most likely caused by the cancer or cancer treatment. If you aren’t dangerously underweight from the cancer and food intolerances, I highly reccomend Mounjaro, which is originally a weight-loss drug, but it has also proven to be a powerful anti-inflammatory at low doses, and is non-immunocomprimising.
I feel bad bringing it up because it seems out of reach unless you have a smart doctor or money to spare. I was able to ration $200 of the stuff over 6 months, but like, that’s not ideal, of course.
Every day it feels like the system itself is actively trying to kill you. It makes me so mad I could spit fire. Stay strong. Much love.
Thanks for the suggestion but doesn’t mountjaro have a ton of side effects? I’m trying to cut down on the number of meds I take as the side effects are just too awful. Anyway I couldn’t pay for it and to try and get it on prescription I’d have to spend years trying to convince GP to refer me to someone then be on the waiting list for a few more years. Hopefully I’ll be dead by then anyway. I’ve only just managed to get a referral to a urologist this Feb after begging the doctor for help with my bladder issues for over a decade.
Thanks for posting here so often btw. It’s very validating seeing someone else deal with the debauchery of European medical institutions.
The side effects are all GI related. Mostly nausea. The dose for rheumatic people and MCAS is really small though, so I doubt you’d have any. The newest version called retatrutide has way less symptoms too.
Honestly don’t bother with coordinating it with doctors. Just get a small amount from a chinese company if you ever have 50 quid left over one day (which is probably too big an ask knowing how abysmal UK welfare is). UK customs are more lenient than EU customs.
Hope the discomfort passes soon
Thank you.