You know you have a chronic illness when:
1. The people at your regular chemist remember your name.
So they should, you visit them frequently.
If, by chance, you have to visit a different chemist to fill a prescription, before they give you your pills, they will be alarmed at the dosage/type of medication you are prescribed. They may ask you if the prescription is correct… some may ask you why you are on such a high dosage or if you are aware of the side effects.
2. You get a multiple access pass to the pathologist, I had no idea that these existed until this year... They are good for three months worth of blood tests!
3. You spend a ridiculous amount of time waiting… for results, for doctors appointments, for medication to be dispensed, for the nurse to take your blood, on the phone booking appointments, for your treatments to take affect…
4. You become an expert planner; you will show up to work after already seeing your doctor, getting blood drawn and picking up your prescriptions from the chemist.
5. You become a VIP your doctors will give you access to early appointments or late appointments that they don’t offer to all patients… it’s a very exclusive list.
6. You are broke, medication is not cheap… no doubt you will also be buying expensive supplements/miracle cure powders just to see if they do work…
7. People assume you are pregnant because you cant really drink anymore, you are constantly exhausted, you feel nauseated and you have put on weight around your face and stomach… all medication related thanks to methotrexate and steroids!
8. You have unexplained bruises all the time, everywhere….
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