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Like ngdawg, I'm reading between the lines and suspecting that a lot of your list is caused by your Crohn's. Pred did some seriously fucked up things to my body, along with several fellow sufferers that I know.
I suppose at this point it's pretty much obligatory for me to share my list.
Crohn's Disease
Bilateral rheumatoid arthritis in both my hands and knees
Myopia (I normally wouldnt've even included this, but since you did...)
Chronic insomnia
A large duodenal stricture, surgically bypassed
Chronic diarrhea, vomiting
Lactose intolerance
Yeah, I've got stretch marks. Yeah, I'm pretty much always aching in some part of my body. I have some nasty scars, some from surgery. Having Crohn's complicates my life. I'm nearly 24 years old, I've adapted. Such is life.
The message to take away from this thread, Cyborg Ninja, is that you are by no means unique. I've been avoiding posting in this thread and may have continued to do so indefinitely, had onesnowyowl not intervened on your behalf. So here I am and I've got problems too. So do a bunch of people; some are worse than mine, some are worse than yours.
The good news is, nothing your suffering from is likely to kill you. So, basically, you can sit around and have a pity party or you can just deal with it. Pain sucks. You adapt. Myopia - half the fucking adult population is myopic. If you don't like glasses, wear contacts or get laser corrective surgery. Crohn's, Grave's and scoliosis are all treatable and most the rest of your list are probably symptoms of those three. So get the treatment. Take the thyroid pills. If they don't work, get the radioiodine. Talk to your gastroenterologist about treatments for your Crohn's. If your GE won't do what you need him to do, get a better one. Don't tell me you can't, because I've been there and done that. If you've got a stricture, you may need surgery. Is resection an option? Have you looked into any of that?
You're right, you do need more than a good will to survive and a good doctor. You also need the drive and the motivation. This is your body and your life. It's hard and it sucks. Welcome to the world. Making sure that you get the proper treatment is your responsibility.
I can speak to the Crohn's since that's a relevant condition that we share. Why can't you lift weights? Studies, anecdotal evidence and personal experience all indicate that light to moderate strength training can actually help to moderate IBD. If it's due to the scoliosis, fine. What's to stop you from going for a walk after dinner every night? Take a half hour, tour the neighbourhood. You'll feel better about yourself, it'll help your digestion and it will improve your overall physical condition. And what are you doing in terms of diet modification? You can be all self-pitying about this too, or you can just accept it as part of your life. I haven't eaten a steak in over eight years. When people around me talk about how good a nice juicy steak is, it's like they switch to Swedish; it's been so long since I've had one, I don't even know what they're talking about. Red meat is one of my triggers. Carrots are one of my triggers as well and I have to be careful in restaurants. I avoid these foods and I eat small meals more frequently. These are the concessions I've made to my illness in order to live an otherwise normal life. And you know what? Because I don't make a big fuss about being sick, most people who interact with me on a day-to-day basis have no idea that I have Crohn's at all. In fact, someone who saw me at work or with my friends might wonder why I get to be so healthy while they have to deal with x. If you get what I'm saying.
You want people to relate to? Do something about it. Here's a list of folks around your age who suffer from conditions of varying severity, including a few who share illnesses with you. You can also find support groups and get in touch with organizations dedicated to helping people with your conditions. Have you contacted the CCFA at all? The NGDF? Or anyone?
I'm not trying to trivialize your issues. Really, I do empathize, having gone through my own problems (including my own this-sucks-why-me phase). All I'm saying is, you've got these problems and they're not going away on their own. The way I see it, you can either sit around and bitch or you can get up and do everything in your power to make your life the best it can be. There's some things you'll never be able to do and there are some problems you'll never be able to eliminate completely. So do what you can and learn to live with the rest.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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