12 Things Only Chronically Ill People Get

Chronic illnesses and their symptoms may be very different from one another, but if there’s one thing that people who have chronic illness, pain, and/or fatigue can agree on, it’s that being sick all the time can really suck. Here are 12 things that chronically ill people deeply understand–and laugh about, occasionally:

A stranger or acquaintance asks you a very personal question about your illness,

unprompted:

Dealing with weird side effects from your medication(s):

When you try to get more things done than you can physically handle:

Awkwardly waiting at the doctor’s office or pharmacy when you have limited energy

to do so:

Your prescription is not ready for pickup:

Yet another well-meaning family member suggests an unproven “cure” for your

illness (and expects you to respond with gratitude or something):

Getting home after an exhausting day:

Remembering at the last second that you have to take your meds with food:

When the meds kick in:

Getting a good night’s sleep:

Getting a bad night’s sleep:

Meeting other people who have similar chronic health issues: