"You Don't L👀K SICK"

I went through my early stages of rheumatoid arthritis surrounded by family that did not believe I was in pain. I had difficulty dressing and a (well meaning???) relative, proceeded to shove my ailing left arm into the shirt sleeve. I've learned since that my support needed to come from the 'outer circle' of folks. My rheumatologist, a paternal aunt, new friends who understood. It is amazing that the established, old relationships cannot sympathize nor understand 'the new you.' They see no change in us; therefore there IS no change. Meanwhile, we are boiling over in excruciating pain.
My new world consists of people who actually see me. Cutting off 'blind spot' thinking people has healed me mentally and physically; I no longer have to prove to them I'm in pain and I require special medical care. Oddly enough, I took care of their (family's) needs when they had aches, pains, eye troubles, etc. But when it came to me, the vessel was empty. They had no concern for my ailment.
I'm betting that plenty of people here, on this forum, are the primary caretakers of their tribes. I'm also betting that some of you have become invisible when your condition set in. I did.