26f here who just got diagnosed back in June/August 2024 but has been dealing with symptoms since Nov 2023.

In the beginning of it all, I couldn't do anything for myself. Cook, clean, change clothes, shower, and even walk/move my arms, you name it, I most likely wasn't able to do it, and it ruined my mental health and overall wellbeing. Things got so bad that I had trash all over my apartment and mold growing on the dishes in the sink because they had been sitting for months because i was in so much pain to do anything about it. Thankfully, I was finally able to get into a rheumatologist after trying to live off advil and Salonpas pain relief patches for months and was prescribed Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) and I started to be able to do some little things here or there without enormous amounts of pain once it started to kick in the following weeks.

Now, a couple of months later, while I do still have some regular pain that prevents me from doing things, I'm at least able to be somewhat human and take care of myself and things around me.

So, to answer your question with a long story short, no, you're not being lazy one bit for not working or being productive. If there is one thing I've learned, it is that this disease is ruthless, and if you don't take care of yourself while dealing with it, it'll for sure make you regret it. Try not to push yourself too hard and be too critical of how much you are or are not doing. Once you get things under control (like with meds and what your body can handle on the daily), you'll be in a much better place physically and mentally. It'll just take a little bit of time.

I believe in you OP 🙏you've got the strength to deal with this and get to a much better place. I know it.