1. The illness I live with is: kinda hard to say - basically thyroid insufficiency and adrenal insufficiency, possibly caused by a damaged pituitary gland, with accompanying other hormonal deficiencies and imbalances.

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2007

3. But I had symptoms since: 2002

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: I no longer have a very set schedule. I don't know how I'm going to feel on any given day, so it's hard to commit to anything.

5. Most people assume: that I'm fat because I eat too much and exercise too little.

6. The hardest part about mornings are: waking up. I'm usually in such a fog, I almost always consider going back to sleep (and sometimes I do) - even if it's 9 or 10 am. (Although lately I have to say this has been a LOT better.)

7. My favorite medical TV show is: House - I like how he believes that lab tests could be wrong but symptoms never lie.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: iPhone ... though this doesn't really relate to my health, I don't have any health related gadgets. Just a cheap CVS pill cutter...

9. The hardest part about nights is: how many times I wake up and have to get up to use the bathroom.

10. Each day I take: thyroid hormone, hydrocortisone, DHEA, progesterone (for half my cycle), probiotics, HCl with pepsin, cod liver oil, and tryptophan.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: believe some of them have validity and some don't. When it comes to treating hormonal disorders, I believe in bioidentical hormones, which is sort of a mix of conventional and alternative. I don't believe homeopathy or herbs can heal severe hormonal imbalance (though they may be helpful in less severe cases) - ESPECIALLY in cases of autoimmune or pituitary issues.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: visible because people understand visible illnesses. With invisible illnesses it's almost like they don't believe you're really sick.

13. Regarding working and career: I work approximately 15 hours a week. I am blessed to work from home and be in control of my schedule. I only work one morning a week, the other days I wait until late afternoon. I could never handle a 9-5 -- but I think even if I was completely healthy a 9-5 would drive me crazy!

14. People would be surprised to know: how much I struggle with feeling marginalized and insignificant because I'm not "doing" very many interesting things. It's hard to answer the question "What's new" because usually the answer is literally "nothing much."

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: I will never get back the years I've lost to this disease.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I was able to go without sleep for 30 hours while attending a friend's birth. I stayed functional the whole time, and even though I needed to catch up on sleep afterward, it didn't impair my health.

17. The commercials about my illness: what commercials?

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: what HAVEN'T I missed? I miss having the energy to play my violin for several hours a day and perform. For awhile I really missed exercise, but I've finally been able to start doing that again.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: the belief that if I want it hard enough, I can do anything. The truth is, I can't. I'm limited. (Guess what :: so are you.)

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: photography

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I actually am starting to have a lot of days of feeling normal. On those days, I play my violin, I write (either journaling or blogging), I feel awake and like I can engage with the world. I love it.

22. My illness has taught me: it's okay to let things go. Most of those things that "have" to get done "right now" actually don't. I've also learned that my identity doesn't lie in my "doing." I just am, quite apart from achievements or busyness or "doing" of any sort. I am no longer defined by what I do...it's very freeing.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "How are you doing? Are you better yet?" -- it's like they don't understand the nature of CHRONIC illness. Chronic - that means lifelong. I am healing, I am doing tons better, I am finding balance - but I will always have thyroid and adrenal issues. I will always have to live with the limitations these imbalances bring.

24. But I love it when people: take the time to understand what I'm going through.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: start small and seemingly insignificant

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: this isn't the end of the story.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how many other people I know who are sick with many of the same issues! It's like there's a thyroid epidemic.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: came over and cleaned my house (thanks mom!)

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: there are too many people who struggle in secret, not knowing that they are not alone, AND that there is help and treatment available. There are also a lot of people who've grown accustomed to the fatigue, the brain fog, the not sleeping well, the creeping weight gain. PLEASE! If you have any of these symptoms visit Stop the Thyroid Madness.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: that you care enough to try to understand this part of my life.

Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com