You look great! So, does that mean you're better now?

Some thoughts on recovery and invisible illness.

The other night, I went out to meet some friends.

Even though it was exactly three weeks after surgery, I thought it would be good to see friends and leave my apartment. While I’m usually very social, it had felt hard lately. I didn’t have as much energy as I usually did, and found myself napping a lot out of exhaustion. I had throbbing headaches that would start as soon as I woke up, and continue all throughout the day. Plus, my vision in my eye still hadn’t returned to how it was before surgery, and I was stressed that there was so much damage some vision might be lost forever.

But, of course, none of this is apparent when I’m dressed head to toe in a leopard outfit, and there’s loud music blaring around me.

“You look great!” a friend told me. “So, are you all better now?”