Anyone here (relatively) young and chronically ill?
I'm 26 and have 3 different types of rheumatism.
I've been to rheumatism forums, but most people there are close to dying of old age.
So I was just wondering if there were some younger people here who are sick.
How does it effect your life, have you had to stop doing things you love?
Do your friends and family understand, do you work?
You know, stuff like that.
I'll share if you'll share.

My daughter is 16 and has had Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus since she was 10. She's in remission symptomatically right now, but it took chemo and Enbrel injections to get her there. She's pretty happy these days. Chronic illness causes major depression and it's nice to see that fog has lifted for her. Her body looks great now because her and her friends walk everywhere each day, and that exercise and just being happy has been great for her. We were both in therapy for a few years to deal with all of the bullshit that goes along with chronic illness.

I'm not really young, but I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I too am in remission at the moment, so I work out like a maniac because I can! I know how hard life is when you feel like you have the flu every day. It has ruined my career, I ended up relapsing into major drug addiction, and my persona to everyone was "the sick girl". I understand how difficult it is to be chronically ill myself, and to deal with a loved one who's sick. I'm glad that my daughter is doing well because to tell you the truth, I'm sort of exhausted from taking care of her. We are both getting an incredible break from it right now.

Actually, I haven't even talked about this shit for a few years. I was sick of being sick!

Wow, yeah, I have Cronic Fatigue Syndrome too, also a spastic colon, and chronic muscle spasm headaches.
I've been so focussed on my ankylosing spondylitis (AS) that I didn't focus much on anything else.
If one pain outweighs something else, you tend to focus on the biggest problem.
I'm glad your daughter is doing better, I started injecting Enbrel in January, but I'm gonna have stop with it.
It's not working, and since it's a major drug which kills your immune system, my doctor wants me off it.
He already told me to stop, but I wanted to give it the full 3 months it takes to work.
So I've got an appointment for next Monday, and than he'll tell me officially to stop.
I'm glad you're both doing well, I hope it stays that way!

i'm 21 and have m.e/chronic fatigue. It's pretty much limited my life to being pretty house bound these past few years with a few on going heart problems that are trying to get sorted out. Kinda glad you made this thread actually, as i was curious to know myself. x

Chronic Fatigue is really frustrating to deal with because many people and doctors haven't taken it serious, yet it is totally debilitating. Actually, CFS and my daughter's illnesses are the reason I ended up hanging out here so much in the first place. I'm always amazed to hear how many others have Chronic Fatigue too.

I really hope that the bad symptoms are a thing of the past. I can't even imagine going back to being that sick again!