Living in Pain
To those who wake each morning without thinking of their body,
I envy you. I envy the simplicity of movement, the ease of existing without a constant war raging beneath your skin. I remember what that felt like, though the memory grows faint, swallowed by years of pain that no system can seem to acknowledge beyond a prescription, a bill, and a shrug.
Pain is not just a sensation—it is a thief. It steals the small joys first: the ability to stretch without wincing, to hold a coffee cup without trembling, to carry the weight of your own body without feeling like you might collapse. It does not stop there. It takes friendships, ambitions, the trust you once had in your own flesh, and the illusion that help is just an appointment away.
But what happens when the appointment is never soon enough? When the calls go unanswered, the waiting list stretches for months, and by the time you are finally seen, you are not the same person who made the appointment. You are worse. The damage is deeper. The pain has spread like a vine through your nerves, your joints, your very sense of self. You may have lost your job, a relationship, or something else along the way.
Patients are measured in numbers, in lab results, in what the scan does or does not show.
This is what it means to be sick in a system that does not care for the sick. To wait—weeks, months—just to be seen for a few minutes before being rushed out the door. So you keep pushing—through work, through exhaustion, through the quiet devastation of knowing that no one is coming to save you or stop the deformities happening in your joints.
I do not want your pity. Pity is useless. What I want is change. I want a world where no one has to fight this hard just to be heard, where people in pain are not left to suffer. I want a system that does not abandon the very people it was designed to serve.
And if that is too much to ask, then at the very least, I want you to understand. Because pain is not just a personal battle—it is a failing of a world that refuses to see those who suffer in silence.
And we are everywhere.
Sincerely,
Someone Who Knows
The Harsh Reality of For-Profit Healthcare and Long Wait Times Affecting Autoimmune Patients and What to Do About It
For people with autoimmune diseases, getting the right medical care often feels impossible. Long wait times for specialists, insurance denials, and high costs leave many struggling to manage their condition. The for-profit healthcare system prioritizes money over patient care, forcing those with chronic illnesses to wait months for treatment. While medical delays can lead to worsening symptoms and more complications, there are ways to take control of your health. Holistic approaches like an anti-inflammatory diet, stress management, and gentle exercise can help manage symptoms while waiting for care. Connecticut also has resources to assist patients in navigating insurance issues, finding specialists, and getting financial aid for treatment.
