I have had Lyme disease for three years. It has been a long journey, and I’m nowhere near getting better. Sometimes, the hardest part of having Lyme is the misunderstanding of the disease. This can come from anyone, including doctors. Here is a list of things people should know about what it is like to struggle with this chronic illness.

We really hate to cancel plans…

...but sometimes we have to so that we can have a chance of functioning tomorrow. There have been plenty of times when I made plans and had to cancel because I was feeling poorly or I had obligations such as church or class but couldn’t get out of bed. This doesn’t mean that I’m using my illness as an excuse. Instead, I am looking out for my own health, which has to come first sometimes.

When we talk about our illness we’re not bragging

Believe me. There is nothing to brag about with Lyme disease. When I make jokes about the amount of medication I take I’m trying to defuse tension that can arise when people watch me take twelve pills with one sip of water. When I decided to write this article I wanted to share a huge part of my life, not make people feel sorry for me.

Daily tasks are hard for us

My fellow Lyme disease sufferers in college especially know what I mean. School and work are very difficult when your health is unreliable. If you’re in college and you have to walk across campus for your classes it will probably take you longer and you may need to take breaks. Sometimes it’s the littlest things like standing for the Pledge of Allegiance that can be difficult. When you see someone sitting when everyone else is standing don’t immediately call them lazy. They may be struggling inside.

Our weight is affected by Lyme

People with Lyme disease aren’t necessarily a certain weight, but their eating habits do not always affect the way they look. I know some people with Lyme that have trouble losing weight because the disease lowers their metabolism. I have trouble gaining weight because of Lyme. When you see people who seem overweight or underweight don’t judge them by saying they need to go to the gym or eat a hamburger. They may not have any control over their weight because of their health.

Lyme Disease isn't always easy for people to understand. I implore you to learn more about this disease that is becoming an epidemic so that you can better understand the struggles of those around you. Having Lyme disease is hard. It isn’t always because of the symptoms; sometimes the general public’s lack of understanding is harder than dealing with the actual illness.