The Parts of My Illness People Don't See Because I'm 'Faking It'

The funny thing about having an invisible illness is how many people think we’re “faking it.” Faking being sick, faking needing rest… even faking needing medications. The truth be told, the majority of the time we really are “faking it”…just not like people think. We are pros at faking being well, or being healthy. These illnesses have affected our daily routines, our quality of life and even our relationships with friends and family. For that reason, we tend to grasp at anything that makes us feel “normal.”

When I’m able (or required) to get out of the house, I don’t go out in sweatpants and a t-shirt (although leggings have become a staple in my wardrobe). I dress up when I can, and if it fits the occasion. Any other time, I’m adamant about looking decent and matching my clothes and shoes. I’ve even been known to match my cell phone case to the clothes I’m wearing that day (OK, so maybe that’s overdoing it some). When time (and energy) permits, I wear makeup. It makes me feel better… more confident… and I want to be (or appear to be) a “normal” person – even if only for a little while. This is what people usually see:

I don’t want people to see the very dark circles under my eyes caused by either pure exhaustion or from overdoing it on a “good” day. The only people who get to see the “real” me, the “sick” me, here lately, are my husband and my (step)kids… although I absolutely hate for the boys to see me that way either. I want to be a fun mom who can cook for them and play with them, but unfortunately I’m not always capable of that. Sometimes, even around the boys, the mask gets put on. I am a pro at wearing that “mask.” The “I’m healthy” mask, the “I’m happy” mask and most importantly, the “I’m fine” mask.

Normally, the “mask” is an easy, quick fix to appearing to be “normal.” I mean, really, who wants to look sick?! These past two months, however, wearing that mask has been close to impossible. My doctor started me on infusions of a biologic medication that, in addition to my weekly injection of low-dose chemo (methotrexate), have succeeded in completely laying me out. Many days have been a struggle just to get up to use the restroom without almost passing out or almost throwing up.

For some strange reason, my sister texted me on one of those days to see how I felt. I had no answer for her other than to take and send the following selfie:

This is me without the “mask.” This is me sick, nauseated, dizzy, in an obscene amount of pain, and completely exhausted although I had only been awake for a little over an hour. This is the part of me I normally hide from the general public. This is exactly what I don’t want people to see… my weaknesses. It makes me feel vulnerable and, to be honest, worthless. I know better than anyone how strong of a person I really am. I shouldn’t feel the need to “prove” it to anyone by hiding my pain and fatigue. I know that. But I do it anyway… many of us do. We don’t want people to think we complain too much or we’re hypochondriacs. So what do we do? We simply fake that smile, put on that mask, and adjust that crown… we manage to make it. Some days, that just has to be good enough.

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