When the chronically ill wish they had cancer

Yes, That Heading Really is a Thing

I often hear people with chronic illness comment on how they almost wish they had cancer, so they could receive some real medical care and at least a doctor would take them seriously. It's usually more so the chronic illnesses that there is no actual, specific testing for (like fibro, ME, and so on) and so sufferers are made feel like they are making it up or that no one cares. They don't mean this statement in badness, and maybe I just understand it better from both sides as I, well, have lived it from both sides. Sure there are tests and assessments for dysautonomia/ POTS, joint hyper-mobility/ EDS and hip dysplasia, and the related issues that I have, but it is a fact that society as a whole cares far more about cancers than any other diseases. I'm not taking away from that, that's not a bad thing. Cancer can be deadly, after all. Some forms are even preventable, everyone knows someone who has had cancer or passed from cancer, it has so many forms and truly is an epidemic of great proportions. So naturally enough it is high profiled -and so it should be.

But to those who suffer from chronic illness and other diseases:
I get the frustration of being told -
"There is nothing I can do",
"I'm not qualified for your case",
"I'm sorry, I can't help you",
"Have you tried paracetamol?",
"You're wonky, you should be in pain"...

I get it, more than most people.

And so when I was diagnosed with cancer, sent to specialists who were able to help me, had a team of people looking after my care and side effects, I was honestly elated beyond belief. I remember during chemotherapy getting a really bad rash on my hands, very raw and dry. Pretty normal with chemotherapy. When the nurse saw it during one of my sessions she said "why didn't you tell me??" and gave me some cream to soothe it. I was stunned. Why hadn't I told her? I realised I wasn't used to being unwell and someone being able to help me... That just hadn't happened before. Over the years I had stopped telling doctors things, partly from the trauma of my youth. Being told, "crying won't make you in any less pain", and so on. It made me stop talking about it, especially to doctors. I was so happy by this minor gesture, that I wanted to cry and felt overcome. It was a simple thing but a huge realistion. My whole treatment was like this. I received the best of care and help with all side effects and issues.

I breezed through chemotherapy and radiotherapy with a happy attitude (my chances of survival were high, so that helped). It was often even a joke with my radiologist -she laughed at me in appointments saying I was her easiest patient to date. Never complained, never had issues I couldn't handle. The chemotherapy nurses thought I was great too, and I used to laugh with my hematologist who also seemed a bit stunned by my upbeat attitude and eagerness for any treatment they suggested. Do chemotherapy and radiotherapy have side effects? Yep. But only the healthy are so privileged to be stupid about treatment that is life saving. I was simply elated to receive medical care for something -the fact that it was cancer should have brought me down, but I was honestly really happy.

That's not right. Someones general medical care shouldn't be so bad that having cancer was almost a relief. In hindsight I realise how horrible that sounds, but I just truly appreciated having regular doctors and ones that could help me.

So to everyone out there who has posted a meme in many of the chronic illness groups that I'm in, about how you almost wish you had cancer instead of the illness you do have -I get it. You are, obviously, in TOTALLY bad taste, lol, and you should reeeeeally know this. But I get it. I also get bad taste though, in fairness.

Oh boo-fucking-hoo.

The longest hour

Recently I have been researching ways to go about getting the much needed hip surgery that I require. I will inevitably need a complete replacement, there is no way around that, although there are also surgeries I can have which could save the hip for a little bit longer. If I lived in the UK, or anywhere but Ireland, I would have began this treatment as a child. I wouldn't be on an ortho waiting list for years, given bad physio which made my condition worse, and basically told that I need to shut up and put up, I am "meant to be in pain", and good luck trying to get those surgeries in Ireland... a little more on that ---> here, as not to repeat myself.

Me and Bicky had recently decided enough was enough. we would somehow save and go to the UK and just get the new hip that my body needs. I'm nearly 31 and