I'm Sick, Even When You Can't See It | Trust Me, I'm Sick Part 1

You often can't always tell from the outside when someone has a chronic illness or disability. In "Trust Me, I'm Sick," we want to uncover the struggles, triumphs, and life changes that people with invisible illness experience. Ezra , Giuliani, Henriette, Matt and Cassandra share intimate stories about how Lupus, HIV and other chronic health conditions have helped shape their relationships, careers and expectations for the future.

#TrustMeImSick #InvisibleIllness

CREDITS
An Arlo Pictures Production
In partnership with Suffering The Silence
Directed by l Sarah Stewart
Created and produced by l Erica Lupinacci & Sarah Stewart
Original music composed by l Starr Parodi

FEATURING
Giuliani Alvarenga
Henriette Ivanans-McIntyre
Kevin McIntyre
Cassandra Rush
Forest Tarro
Matt Tarro
Johnny Valencia
Ezra Wheeler
Kate Wheeler

Director of Photography l Luisa Conlon
Editor l Carla Roda
Additional Editor l Julie Janata
Additional Camera l Kim Boden, Allison Stoney, Ryan Arroyo
Community Advisor l Allie Cashel, Amanda Crommett
Production Assistant l Tera Ragan
Impact Consultant l Sarah Stoker
Music produced by l Starr Parodi & Jeff Eden Fair
Music recorded & mixed by l Jeff Eden Fair

Technicolor
Colorist l Jonah Braun
Associate Colorist l Sushil Gangaraju
Graphic Designer l Levi Ahmu
Sound Mixer l Marcin Chojnowski
Senior Editor l Lehr Beidelschies
Junior Editor l Matthew Lyons
DI Producer l Marissa Krupen
Supervising Producer l Sean Ware

Southwestern Law School Entertainment and The Arts Legal Clinic
Elizabeth Black
Kanani Datan
Tyler Garber
Jay Gendron
Matthew Jacobs
Kathy M. Lombard
Blake Newman
Orly Ravid
Larry Savage
Anita Surendran

Follow us @soulpancake!

[kayserria]

Another autoimmune disease is rhuematoid arthritis. This disease is never focused on but it exist. Glad that this video was made because when people say they're sick, doesn't mean you have to look sick.

[nicoleonfeels]

This was incredibly eye opening. The empath in me is awakened. You never know what someone could be going through.

[GratitudeGriot]

i've been living with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis for 3 decades. Thank you for using your platform to shed light on invisible illnesses! ❤️

[JollyBlackGiant]

Growing up with a mother who suffers with fibromyalgia, I know how people view invisible sicknesses. It takes such a toll on the ill one mentally...

[kiramungbean]

When I heard Ehlers Danlos Syndrome I literally shouted and cried with happiness to be getting representation, and having the ability to show those who don't believe me that this is a real thing and there's people out there besides me who struggle as well

[amyfender]

Thank you for this video. As someone who has chronic illness that isn't necessarily visible, I am grateful to hear these amazing stories. I am actually encouraged by their strength.

[bluegrassredfarmstead]

I have Huntington's Disease and I have felt every feeling and emotion that people described in this video. Guilt, pain, anxiety, too tired to even get out of bed... but also, I'm incredibly THANKFUL for God giving me my amazing husband, who only knew me a year when I finally got a diagnosis after years of knowing deep down something was wrong with me. He's never left my side and I can't scream it loud enough for everyone to hear how much he's done for me the past 4 years. Love you babe!!

[ciaraaaa]

As someone with a chronic, invisible illness THANK YOU!!

[kkmd]

My mom and aunt (twins) both have type 1 diabetes. Everyone assumes they are 100% healthy because they look fit and "normal" but they struggle with blood sugar monitoring daily in addition to other health issues caused by diabetes. We almost lost my mom on Christmas Eve in 2017 from diabetic ketoacidosis. Thank you for making a series on hidden illness!

[courtneyfolloway]

I’ve been sick for almost a year and a lot of people don’t believe it and it genuinely kills me inside to think people don’t believe you after all those hospital trips and always being in pain and tired. Still don’t have a diagnoses but I am hoping so much. Coming across this video gives me more hope. I’m so happy there is a video to normalize and show people that yes we may look fine but we don’t feel fine.

[Jylart]

I have an autoimmune disease. I don't always "look sick". Some people can be very rude! As for a relationship, I haven't had the best of luck. Nobody can deal with all this. I don't blame them. It takes SO much time and energy to get through my illness. It's lonely for sure.

[Rachel-lxgl]

Would love a part two of other invisible illnesses. Been diagnosed with fibromyalgia for almost the past 10 years. Be kind to everyone, you never know what battles they are fighting.

[alleynadougherty]

I’m SHOCKED that lupus was a part of this episode. Well done soul pancake. Well done.

[LifeOfABrokenDoll]

At six months old I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. They started my surgeries when I was two. For most of my 46 years if you saw me sitting down people couldn’t guess there was anything wrong with me. Once I stood up I had to use a walker then crutches. People thought because I have a physical disability I must have a mental disability. I don’t. I finished college with a 4.0. Seven years ago I had a knee replacement surgery that left me unable to walk at all. My fiancée and best friend have taken care of me since then. I’ve also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, fibromyalgia, COPD, and most recently I survived COVID but I’ve been really sick since I tested positive June 13th. On the 17th I almost died. My brain is fried because of the fever of 105.5 and I forget more than I remember. I’m in pain 24/7 and people don’t get it. I’ve been with my fiancée for 11 years. We we’re supposed to get married in a little more than a month but because of COVID we rescheduled for next year. I’ve never dated anyone with a disability and I imagine it’s not easy. My fiancée is the strongest man I know!

[jessicajefferson]

This makes me feel like I’m not alone! I have endometriosis, PCOS and MS at 28 years old and people just think of I lose weight I will be better. My friends question why I’m always sick and I have felt so alone!! My family doesn’t understand.
Thank you for this video!

[AlexisKamille]

really loved the way he described being in a marriage with someone with an illness away from caregiver toward partner. I’ve never heard it described that way.. powerful.

[sufferingthesilence]

Thank you for helping us raise awareness for chronic illness!

[hotmedic]

Thank you for getting the word out. I have antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic lupus, fibromyalgia, hashimodos disease and Sjogren syndrome. I am blessed with a supportive family but the guilt of not being the strong outgoing person I used to be is the worst part of all this.

[marcieragland]

A MUST SEE IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE SICK.. AMAZING STORIES OF SOME PRETTY AWESOME PEOPLE!!

[chriggle]

The overwhelming response I had to this video was that these people are not just their diagnoses. I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and type 2 diabetes. This week I am not doing so great. I am more than just what my doctor says to me though, I have a life that on good days is filled with hope, love and purpose. I am mum to an 18 year old autistic daughter, wife to my husband of 20 years. A woman who enjoys creativity and music.