Friend of mine sent me this. It made me cry and cry but it really says it, and I think it could be a useful illustration to anyone who has trouble understanding where you're at.

That is very moving. And an insight...thanks Sarah

Yes, definitely

Thanks for reading it I think I shall be passing this one on to a lot of people.

I've just passed it on to a friend of mine (who I told you about in the email). It must be so hard...even with the spoon theory, I can't TRULY imagine what it would be like.

It does give you an insight though, which I think it the important thing. I have found a lot of people (though by no means all) WANT to understand when someone is chronically ill - whether it be lupus or ME or whatever - this gives a bit of a window of insight.

Yes, definitely. It has given me a clearer understanding, which I think everyone should have.

Thanks for sharing this with us Sarah, it's very moving and helps me to imagine/understand what it must be like to be chronically ill.

Yes, it really makes you think, doesn't it?. It makes you appreciate how lucky you are to be one of those people who doesn't have to count spoons, and to have a glimpse of understanding to those who do. I'll be passing it on.

.......and so shall I Sarah - very moving, and it certainly makes you think.

Thank you Sarah, I'll definitely pass it on too.

Thanks for sharing that with us Sarah Its very moving and has helped me understand these things a lot better.

Thanks for that Sarah, a very well thought out story. I shall pass it onto my Mum, my Dad has Alzheimers and I know she has a lot of trouble getting people to understand why she can't go everywhere or do everything because of his condition and the strain of looking after him.

I've also heard a similar analogy used with some of our patients at work - you start each day with a book of 12 stamps. Some days you may start with 12 first class ones, some days only second class ones. On some days you might have a couple of the special sparkly Christmas ones (e.g. if you have tried a new therapy or medication that makes a big difference, or even just because you got a good night's sleep...). So when they say "i'm having a second class stamp day today", the people close to them can understand what they mean, without them having to spell it out in terms of their illness.

Most of my "patients" are actually extremely fit and healthy, although sometimes I want to say to them, it could be much worse, you could be like this ...... or have this.......

Hazel

That's a good analogy too. I hope your mum finds the spoons thing useful/helpful, Hazel.

Thanks folks, for reading: any chronically or "invisibly" ill people you know or you meet will be very glad of the insight you have gained! It's nice to know that people try to understand, even if it's hard to grasp if you have not been ill like that yourself.