I’m A Young Adult With Autoimmune Disease. Here’s What Folks Don’t Get About Chronic Pain

Abrial Pang, 31, looks fit and healthy and isn’t someone that you’d picture as sick. At 25, he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation in the joints and ligaments in his spine and sacroiliac joints.

About once a month, he experiences flares in his joints. The illness is chronic, incurable and degenerative and can only be managed with anti-inflammatory painkillers, stretches and exercise.

According to research, there are about 80 to 100 known autoimmune diseases. They include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Type 1 diabetes, Graves’ disease and many more.

Young adults living with a chronic disease face daily challenges with public transport, work and being misunderstood by people.

00:00 Misconceptions about ‘invisible’ chronic disease
01:06 What having ankylosing spondylitis is like
04:05 Challenges at work
06:41 Why he refuses the priority seat on the MRT
09:40 National Arthritis Foundation support group
11:17 Symptoms, reality of chronic pain
13:14 Concerns about family, future partner

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[qyiycui]

Hey guys, Abrial here :), firstly, thank you so much for your kind words and support! It means the world to me to know that our story has resonated with so many people suffering silently. Being part of this story was a truly incredible experience, and I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to share my AS journey with others.

It's been heartwarming to see how this story has impacted people in different ways. Some have reached out to share their own experiences, while others have expressed their appreciation for the hope, awareness and resilience that it conveys. I'm truly humbled by the outpouring of positivity and support that I've received. But I think most importantly, it opens up the conversation for people who are struggling to be understood due to the inconspicuous nature of our illnesses - to be heard and seen.

I hope that this documentary has inspired others to never give up the fight with their invisible illnesses and to persevere through even the toughest of challenges. Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to others courageously sharing their stories with their love ones, friends and even strangers to further help others understand their struggles better.

P.S. Special thanks to the Eileen from CNA Insider who made this documentary possible from day 1 and not forgetting the amazing videography work done by Zachary Tang.

[masterweaver]

There is nothing wrong to get a seat or ask for one if you need it.

In the last 6 months, I did encounter an elderly couple who sarcastically say out loud that young people (me) are not giving up their seats. I stay silence for a couple of minutes before I spoke back to them that I have a health condition. I even offer to show them my latest hospital diagnose from Healthhub and even my whatsapp msg to my HR explaining my condition and that I can't walk and had to be in a wheelchair.

Eventually they did apologies and my ending words to them is that I need to take care of myself in order to continue working and support my family and not be an burden to others. For the past 6 months, I did not feel bad or shameful just because I need to grab a seat for myself.

[j_k]

The hardest part is.. you are expected to go through it on a daily basis because we don't "look" sick. No one can understand the amount of pain we go through when the flares come. Thank you for creating this awareness of our silent illnesses🙏

[Bagellatte]

The public needs to have more awareness that sickness and disease does not only affect the elderly but to any ages too. As a nurse, I have seen many patients young/old, that have various diseases so I look at life and people differently now and I understand why people behave in a certain way.. Please do not judge others without knowing what underlying condition they have... be more empathetic... It can happen to me, you or anyone. If you are healthy, do count your blessings because we do not know how these people feel. My late mom was diagnosed with SLE and I know how hard to live with such a disease.

[tessaapostol]

I have fibromyalgia and I use that yellow card. Sometimes I feel embarrassed at asking for the priority seat, but when I don’t, my pain flares up after a while. The worst was when I collapsed after getting out of the train and I just couldn’t walk anymore. Thank you for bringing these invisible autoimmune conditions to light. It’s depressing but like you, I have to fight against it, continue to exercise and stretch, because if I don’t, it’s like I’m giving up on myself.

[Rob-lqny]

Nothing wrong to carry backpack, as long as you able to perform your job well!

[PollyannaShuminLIU]

As a patient with more than 10 years of experience with autoimmune disease and invisible mobility issue, my biggest takeaways are 1) have thick face and don’t care about what strangers think of you, put yourself at highest priority and do what you need, no matter if it’s grabbing a seat or asking for help in lifting stuff or using priority access 2) we are not obliged to explain our condition to everyone, and very often the explanation can only make things worse instead (people who don’t know the condition may think it’s contagious and start avoiding us or assume that we cannot have children, cannot perform reliably etc), on days that my limping gets worse, whenever my colleagues ask me what happens, I usually just say I got some old injuries coming back. It took me a few years to understand that there’s nothing wrong with taking pills everyday. And for conditions that are not curable, it doesn’t mean we can’t have a good life under proper treatment. Hope everyone who is fighting in their life finds peace and love❤

[thecolorblinddesigner]

I just want to say that this video is so relatable…Although I do not have any autoimmune disease but I have been suffering from migraine since 14 years old. The pain when it strikes is so unbearable that I have to be bedridden. Often times, this also means cancelling meetings with friends, missing out at work, or even important family events. I remembered a particular incident that I tried going to work with a small migraine but ended up in such pain that I was seeing stars and everything was dazzling around me. But all those years, a lot of people still thinks that migraine is just a headache that will past if I drink more water or have more sleep. Invisible illness is real and the impact to our life is huge. Thanks for doing up this video CNA and Abrial for sharing.

[emelia]

I'm 17 yo, and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disorder a year and a half ago, it's an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid gland . Watching this video, it felt like a hug honestly, because I totally understand what Abrial is going through . In my case, teachers would give me the "looks" and not believe me when I tell them the reason for my repeated absence is actually illness, and the thing is my flare ups happen so often, and my body keeps going from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism, and during the latter, my body become extremely exhausted, but my skin and hair look very good, so even my close friends when I tell them that my health is at it's worse right now, they doubt me, I was once told by a teacher after I was absent for a month "you look so good, when you didnt come for an entire month I thought you were bedridden or something ", I was actually bedridden ; Thank you so much Abrial for sharing your story and thank you CNA for making the video .

[bondyaliano]

My sister has been diagnosed with autoimmune disease since about 6 years ago. Some days she's super energetic, other days she looks like the living dead. It has always been a challenge for her to explain it to some people, even some who are closest to her, whether extended family, friends or colleagues. Since I live with her and know her daily routine, it infuriates me when some of them think that she's lying or craving for attention because she looks quite healthy on the outside. Or when they say that she's just lazy, it's all in her head, her doctor's overreacting, she needs to be closer to God, etc. 🙄 the ignorance level is so unbelievable.

[poariser]

My mother just passed away from an autoimmune disease (Lupus/SLE), and Abrial really helped explain and give a perspective of she had to go endure. Thank you CNA for producing this video and sharing awareness and understanding about these hidden sufferings

[joni_ng]

Thank you, Abrial, Sherry and CNA for creating awareness for the autoimmune conditions. As an 8-yr patient diagnosed with spondyloarthritis, it is a long way we have come to get people to understand what autoimmune conditions mean, and the understanding we need esp. on public transport. Like Abrial, I chose to take cabs when I have extreme pain, but if the pain goes on for an extended period of time, it becomes highly unaffordable. If we are not exactly in the low income bracket, and not permanently disabled, we have no support for taking cabs

[cmymotion]

He looks fit and that is why people wont realise. It takes a lot of courage to tell anyone about the condition. Most people may not even know such illness and what is a pain of 7, 8, 9 or 10 cos they will never experience even a pain of 3..

[kingsufi]

I like his fighting spirit. Nothing holding him back. He took a step at a time and simply just do it attitude. Even go for gym still. Brave. Workplace can be a toxic arena even in public hope this story reach to many more. Sial ah, all we need is understanding. Bright young man this one. Keep fighting

[celestialstar]

I am born with blood disorder and diagnosed with AS at 16. Legally blind too because my degree is over - 20.00 per eye. Because of our age and appearance, people actually scolded me on mrt when i sit on non reserve seats. They expect me to give my seat to seniors. I will give my seat up when someone asked me no matter how painful i am because i believe they must be really desperate to ask directly.

Now with the yellow "may i have a seat" card, people usually give up their seats for me on mrt.

Really grateful to the person who recommended this idea to the government.

[littleorange]

I was diagnosed with autoimmune disease but no doctors can pinpoint what. I was a healthy, young person until I got so sick one day all of a sudden which put me on medical leave for 3 months. I had to re-learn how to walk, pick things up, drive in proper position etc and I'm recovering ( or at least get better). Thank you for posting his video. It also feels like a hug for me.

[malerratnam]

This is an excellent documentary! I have an auto immune condition too. I can feel the pain that these people have been dealing with. We need more of this sharing

[keithchan]

Man I relate to this so much. Been diagnosed since 18 and it's been tough. Sending prayers and support to everyone affected.

[Mushmush]

Living with Lupus for 11 years, there were times where i can't even pick up a piece of paper. I hope all autoimmune warriors feels better! ❤ shoo shoo all flares!

[shermainewsj]

I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 24. Thank you for shedding light on autoimmune diseases especially with the rise of younger people suffering from it. Although my condition is currently under control, there still is a constant fear of it flaring up again one day. I do wish for more awareness that our pain is not just a sprain..