Comments on: Can Those with an Invisible Illness Park in the Blue Spots without Others http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Jaz http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22741 Jaz Sun, 02 Sep 2007 17:08:54 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22741 Here is the post I put up on this same subject and the linkback to you! Hope it helps. http://shopper.purrfectdomains.com/2007/09/02/shopping-and-handicap-parking/ Here is the post I put up on this same subject and the linkback to you! Hope it helps.

http://shopper.purrfectdomains.com/2007/09/02/shopping-and-handicap-parking/

]]> By: Mike http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22738 Mike Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:29:10 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22738 I am one of those people with an invisable disability. I too, try to park away from a store entrance when I can, to help other disabled people who need it even more than I do. But, there are days when I just cant walk easily. Maybe I can walk ok at first, but after awhile, the pain is so bad, I have to stop, rest and walk again. My wife does most of the driving. I visibly look good to go, but inside, Im in pain all the time.Oh, by the way this all started when I was only 50 years old! So please, dont be so quick to critisize what you cant see. Thank You I am one of those people with an invisable disability. I too, try to park away from a store entrance when I can, to help other disabled people who need it even more than I do. But, there are days when I just cant walk easily. Maybe I can walk ok at first, but after awhile, the pain is so bad, I have to stop, rest and walk again. My wife does most of the driving. I visibly look good to go, but inside, Im in pain all the time.Oh, by the way this all started when I was only 50 years old! So please, dont be so quick to critisize what you cant see. Thank You

]]> By: Jaz http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22737 Jaz Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:53:51 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22737 Thank you!! Apparently, you hit the nail on the head here. I have a blue placard too. In my case, some of what's wrong with me is quite visible. I'm fat. That is not all that's a problem. However, I get the stares as well since it "appears" that is the only problem. I guess I get as many of that type of stare as you might with looking good. I have knee and back problems. It is so difficult to walk from the car to the store. Once in the store, I use the carts to hold me up. I have a cane but it's unhandy when I have a cart. At this point in time, I am still refusing to use the electric carts available. This is an important post and should get wide attention. My suggestion is that the people who read this post also blog about it and link back. I think I will do just that. Again, thanks. Thank you!! Apparently, you hit the nail on the head here. I have a blue placard too. In my case, some of what’s wrong with me is quite visible. I’m fat. That is not all that’s a problem. However, I get the stares as well since it “appears” that is the only problem. I guess I get as many of that type of stare as you might with looking good. I have knee and back problems. It is so difficult to walk from the car to the store. Once in the store, I use the carts to hold me up. I have a cane but it’s unhandy when I have a cart. At this point in time, I am still refusing to use the electric carts available.

This is an important post and should get wide attention. My suggestion is that the people who read this post also blog about it and link back. I think I will do just that. Again, thanks.

]]> By: S.Hunt http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22734 S.Hunt Sun, 02 Sep 2007 03:37:16 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22734 Thank you all for your comments regarding your personal experiences with "invisible illnesses". I am sure Lisa Copen would be touched by all of your responses. Please take time to visit her website at www.invisibleillness.com to find our how you can support her efforts. Lisa is unavailable at the moment due to working on the Invisible Illness Awareness Week coming up soon. On her behalf, Thank You again for your comments and support. S.Hunt, Health Moderator Thank you all for your comments regarding your personal experiences with “invisible illnesses”. I am sure Lisa Copen would be touched by all of your responses. Please take time to visit her website at http://www.invisibleillness.com to find our how you can support her efforts. Lisa is unavailable at the moment due to working on the Invisible Illness Awareness Week coming up soon. On her behalf, Thank You again for your comments and support.

S.Hunt, Health Moderator

]]> By: Alissa http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22731 Alissa Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:09:22 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22731 I have a co-worker with Rheumatoid Arthritis. She's only 24 years old, and has 2 young children. It's obvious to me how much pain she's in on some days, even though on other days she's feeling better. Her husband said to her recently, after she asked him to watch the kids for a few hours because she needed a nap, "Really, don't you think you're taking this thing a bit too far? You don't look sick, you're not swelled up or disfigured, and I just saw you holding the baby. You can't possibly NEED a nap in the middle of the day--you're just using this diagnosis as a crutch". I feel so sorry for her, and for others in a similar position. I would never dare criticize someone for parking in a handicap spot, no matter how not disabled they look. Ever. I have a co-worker with Rheumatoid Arthritis. She’s only 24 years old, and has 2 young children. It’s obvious to me how much pain she’s in on some days, even though on other days she’s feeling better. Her husband said to her recently, after she asked him to watch the kids for a few hours because she needed a nap, “Really, don’t you think you’re taking this thing a bit too far? You don’t look sick, you’re not swelled up or disfigured, and I just saw you holding the baby. You can’t possibly NEED a nap in the middle of the day–you’re just using this diagnosis as a crutch”.

I feel so sorry for her, and for others in a similar position. I would never dare criticize someone for parking in a handicap spot, no matter how not disabled they look. Ever.

]]> By: Kathy Gillen/lessons from the laundry http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22724 Kathy Gillen/lessons from the laundry Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:37:06 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22724 I have a severely disabled daughter and although I don't take her out much, when I do I park in the handicapped spot. I know people have watched me, wondering why I am using the spot, until they see her stroller. Just this week I followed my husband to Starbucks. He ran in for the coffees while I stayed in my car, in the handicapped spot, with my daughter. I hopped out of the car to grab my coffee from him and a man watched me the whole time. I have a pretty good feeling what he was thinking. Even though my daughter's illness isn't completely invisible I can totally understand. Thanks for your committment to this cause. I have a severely disabled daughter and although I don’t take her out much, when I do I park in the handicapped spot. I know people have watched me, wondering why I am using the spot, until they see her stroller. Just this week I followed my husband to Starbucks. He ran in for the coffees while I stayed in my car, in the handicapped spot, with my daughter. I hopped out of the car to grab my coffee from him and a man watched me the whole time. I have a pretty good feeling what he was thinking. Even though my daughter’s illness isn’t completely invisible I can totally understand. Thanks for your committment to this cause.

]]> By: Heather http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22722 Heather Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:21:04 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22722 Thank you so much for creating National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness & I can't wait to participate in the awareness week! I look forward to sharing this information with my Mom whom has fibromyalgia. Suffering from invisible illnesses is very hard, and we thank God daily for the strength He gives to carry on! I'd like to know as well (blondeblogger) --- do you have a button to put up or something to help spread the information? Thank you so much for creating National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness & I can’t wait to participate in the awareness week! I look forward to sharing this information with my Mom whom has fibromyalgia. Suffering from invisible illnesses is very hard, and we thank God daily for the strength He gives to carry on! I’d like to know as well (blondeblogger) — do you have a button to put up or something to help spread the information?

]]> By: blondeblogger http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22721 blondeblogger Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:03:09 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22721 Thank you, thank you, thank you for this!! I cried reading it. My husband and I both (him more so than me) suffer from invisible illnesses. Everything you said was so true. We look fine on the outside and suffer so much on the inside. We don't use the handicap spaces, though there are days I wish I could, and I know my husband does, too. Is there a way to help spread awareness about this? A button I could put up or something? I'll definitely mention it on my blog. Thanks again. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this!! I cried reading it. My husband and I both (him more so than me) suffer from invisible illnesses. Everything you said was so true. We look fine on the outside and suffer so much on the inside. We don’t use the handicap spaces, though there are days I wish I could, and I know my husband does, too.

Is there a way to help spread awareness about this? A button I could put up or something? I’ll definitely mention it on my blog. Thanks again.

]]> By: Sisterlisa http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22719 Sisterlisa Sat, 01 Sep 2007 16:22:53 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22719 Thank you for sharing that. My father in Law has a placard for his health, and he has an 'invisible Illness'. I'm going to FWD this to him. Thank you! ((hugs)) Sisterlisa Thank you for sharing that. My father in Law has a placard for his health, and he has an ‘invisible Illness’. I’m going to FWD this to him. Thank you! ((hugs))
Sisterlisa

]]> By: Heather http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/comment-page-1/#comment-22716 Heather Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:24:04 +0000 http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2007/09/01/can-those-with-an-invisible-illness-park-in-the-blue-spots-without-others/#comment-22716 Glad to know I am not alone. I have juvenile onset rheumatoid arthritis and, though I have managed to keep it under control completely with lifestyle changes and supplements and so do not have a blue sign, I occasionally find myself avoiding explanations, avoiding using crutches when it flares up (because people ASK), and trying to pretend there is nothing wrong. I get sick of explaining why I do this or that or avoid this other thing. I also run into this with my mom who has a liver disease that will eventually require a transplant as well as severe arthritis--she looks fine so people assume she is. ven my dad, her ex-husband, refused to believe it was that bad, even when the doctors explained it to him. Sigh. Glad to know I am not alone. I have juvenile onset rheumatoid arthritis and, though I have managed to keep it under control completely with lifestyle changes and supplements and so do not have a blue sign, I occasionally find myself avoiding explanations, avoiding using crutches when it flares up (because people ASK), and trying to pretend there is nothing wrong. I get sick of explaining why I do this or that or avoid this other thing.

I also run into this with my mom who has a liver disease that will eventually require a transplant as well as severe arthritis–she looks fine so people assume she is. ven my dad, her ex-husband, refused to believe it was that bad, even when the doctors explained it to him. Sigh.

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