Nym said she felt like making a business card to explain PsA, but that she didn't have the energy. So let's put our collective creativity to work here, peeps!
How would you explain your PsA, in simple terms, on a 2x3.5" card? How about 50 or fewer words? (And no fine print allowed, LOL!)
Mine? Oh, it would be something like,
I want you to know that I have PsA: it makes me very sore and tired. In my case, it is eroding the bones in my feet. It hurts a lot to stand or walk.
Mine would probably say something like: I have PsA. It is a disease that causes pain and fatigue. Please don't take it personally if I have to take frequent rests, cancel plans or stay my distance if you have a cough. It is quite painful and may cause me to be depressed. Thank you for taking the time to read this card.
I do not think it is silly, infant I might make some.
They would say:
I have PsA. Some days I need a wheelchair, canes and, splints.
I live in constant pain and fatigue. I do not tell you this for sympathy
but for understanding.
There will be times I simply will not be able to do something’s; due to
pain, fatigue or meds BUT it will never, ever
be because of you. Please take heart and find out all you
can about PsA so you too can spread the word.
The "Type A" person you've always known me to be is now trapped inside a broken body that won't cooperate. (Trust me, my mind still wants to join in, but the pain can be limiting!) Many good people live with chronic pain, we don't want your sympathy, we want you to understand we won't always be able to do what you think we should be doing. Sometimes, the pain and fatigue is so severe, that I may not always smile or be able to participate, but please know it is NOT you. If you ask, "what can I do for you?" PLEASE PRAY FOR A CURE. Thank you.
PsA = Psoriasis: the emotional scaring of this desease
Stiffness and pain are just part of its game
Arthritis deforming to maximise the overall mobility.
People who suffer with everyday pain, psoriasis and more, just want others to underrstand it is not about them, but about our inner struggle to be normal, manage pain and have a nice apperience. Sympathy is like ignorence, we do not need it. Understanding is like medicine to our body, Praying for a CURE is like a heating pad to the soul. So lets work together to help others understand, PsA , Chronic Pain, its real, we know, were reminded everyday!
Thanks, Nym! And thanks, everyone for the great ideas. I am seriously thinking of putting something on my Facebook wall. Need to think about it a bit more.
Need your opinion, if you don't mind. I'm getting ready to post on my facebook wall, but I want to think this through before I do it. How about this --
First, pro golfer Phil Mickelson, and now I'm revealing mine. I have the same kind of inflammatory arthritis as Phil, and it's eroding the joints and bones in the middle of my feet. Walking and standing hurts a lot and I tire really easily. These days, I'm travelling with a wheelchair. That explains why I don't get out so much, in case some of my friends were wondering where I am.
It's funny, Seenie, you would mention this. One of my SIL's has MS. She is still able to walk, but if you watched her, you would notice something is not quite right about her gait. She has a handicapped placard for parking, but often people (complete strangers) give her a hard time about parking in handicapped spots because she "looks okay." GGRRR, could I write that book! Anyway, she had a business card printed that says, "Thank you for thinking so well. I will tell my doctors. It might cheer them up." I've always wanted a few copies of that card. It would save me a world of guilt for what I say in response or remorse over what I don't!!
Psoriatic Arthritis: Not your Grandma's arthritis :) I may look fine, but I have a disease where my body attacks it's joints and ligaments. This causes pain, inflammation, fatigue, and "brain fog". Sometimes I have to just rest. I'm well informed and under the care of specialists, please be respectful.
PsA -Pain sans Answers! (Psoriatic Arthritis- not That sort of arthritis, an autoimmune disease)
A nasty pasty disease that attacks my joints and dissolves my bones. Like fighting off the flu, my immune system works overtime all the time, so expect me to be about as useful as someone with the flu (and with a broken bone or two - whichever joints aren’t working that day).
Some treatments work some of the time, but the doc’s don’t really get it, so there’s no cure yet.
Also; I’m a big believer in double sided business cards, so on the other side, I’d like to say a bit about me and how I own the disease (but not the other way around), but that’s going to take more thinking to come up with something that provokes respect, rather than pity, so i’ll stick with the first side for tonight.
I have psoriatic arthritis, an aggressive autoimmune disease that causes my body to attack my joints causing extreme pain and exhaustion. Please don't judge me until you've walked around the block in my shoes - you wouldn't last a mile.
And taking JenAus's suggestion of a double sided card, I'd have websites listed on the other side, including this one. :)
Okay, I messed up on my post. My SIL with MS actually has this card printed up and carries it with her: "Thank you for thinking I look so well. I'll tell my doctors. It might cheer them up!" Hope it makes more sense this time. I thought it was hilarious!
I am going to have one printed up that simply says,
I have Psoriatic Arthritis... If you really want to understand my condition, use your computer for something other than facebook/Twitter or porn and google it!
Now please excuse me while I continue living my life, of which you have no understanding.
I’m a type A trapped in a PsA body as well. Have you been dealing with this a long time? I’m still working my type A job and I feel it’s all going to crash down on me!!!
Lainee B. said:
The “Type A” person you’ve always known me to be is now trapped inside a broken body that won’t cooperate. (Trust me, my mind still wants to join in, but the pain can be limiting!) Many good people live with chronic pain, we don’t want your sympathy, we want you to understand we won’t always be able to do what you think we should be doing. Sometimes, the pain and fatigue is so severe, that I may not always smile or be able to participate, but please know it is NOT you. If you ask, “what can I do for you?” PLEASE PRAY FOR A CURE. Thank you.