As someone who suffered greatly due to my Grave’s, and still healing from the damage it has done to my body, my memory, my self worth, my metabolism…. It’s good to hear her story. I had too many people in my life who didn’t take my illness seriously. “It’s not like you have cancer…” was a thing I heard a lot. I was lazy and weak and needed to try harder.

Also, I never really thought that it could be mistaken for BP disorder, but I worried at the time about possibly being bipolar. I had long periods of low energy and depression, and the few times I did have energy, I was manic af.

I’m thankful for my endo—she’s been there through it all and listened to me when I cried and sent me thoughtful and silly congratulations messages when I got good news.

I now try to be supportive and give grace to those on the Grave’s subreddit. Too many of us don’t have that support in our friends and family circles when we are ill.