I thought of something tonight that I had not previously given much thought to.
I remember the last day that I was pain free. It was Easter Sunday, 2003.
14 years ago is the very last time that I have been without pain. But there is also something else I have not experienced since first becoming ill.
I have not slept entirely through the night since I became sick - at least not naturally. Sure I have been heavily medicated and knocked out, I have had mono several times (since my immune system cannot fight it off completely and have no immunity), and I have experienced other temporary illnesses that have taken my fatigue to an alarming level, but I wake up every night, during the night, to go to the washroom. Some nights I get up more frequently, some nights less... but the truth is that I cannot remember ONE time when I slept an entire night without any extenuating circumstances.
Of course, I still experience restful sleeps now and again, but never without interruption. I am simply so accustomed to it that I have learned to fall asleep rapidly once returning to bed.
So no pain-free days since 2003, and no truly restful, uninterrupted, sleep since late 2000.
No wonder I have dark circles under my eyes all the time!!!