Thanks for this great list. I think I've heard just about every one of those at one time or another, from family, friends, co-workers, bosses and even total strangers.

I especially like the one, "but you don't LOOK sick"! I know they mean well, and are probably trying to cheer me up, but I know I look like crap.

Any time I get a suggestion like that (which is very rare) I give that person the death stare, and it never happens again. But the death stare has to be really menacing...you know...like..."if you make on more stupid suggestion I'm going to rip your eyeballs out of your face". LOL. Works every time.

Lynn, I'm with you, I hate that saying "but you don't look sick". It makes me crazy!!!

The one I do seem to get very, very frequently is " have you tried so and so? I know someone who had migraines, and when they tried (fill in the blank) they never had a headache again"

And it's usually something like magnesium or feverfew, or apple cider vinegar or perrier. I just have to walk away shaking my head.

I can relate, YvetteK. I often get the "I have a second cousin three times removed in Palooka who tried (again, fill in the blank) and they were magically cured overnight!" That's when I wish I had a copy of my three page, single spaced list of all the things I've tried over the years with me. Yeah, been there, tried that.

LMAO Lynn, you are so spot on!

But at least we are laughing!

I love this list and a lot of it applies no matter what condition you're talking about. I had hyperemesis when I was pregnant (severe disabling morning sickness) and the comments I got about it were unbelievable. The worst ones were "but you wanted the baby so you should just be happy" or "you know what really works for that? Eating a cracker before you get out of bed".
My husband has fibromyalgia and he gets annoying comments all the time too. And people trying to sell him products.
But the funniest one I've heard was when my husband (25 years old at the time) was using a wheelchair because of two herniated discs, someone told us "if he eats nothing and drinks only Apple juice for 3 days, it will heal him completely".

If you're like me you've tried everything and have a great deal of patience will well-meaning ignoramuses, Looking at that list and remembering many of the times I've heard those things it's a miracle I've never responded with FU or KMA.

I definitely have to try to keep a sense of humor sometimes. I have a well-meaning acquaintance who gives me all kinds of advice for my migraines, then each time she sees me, asks me if I followed up on any of her suggestions. I get that deer-in-the-headlights look as I wrack my pain addled brain trying to remember, was hers the suggestion to take NyQuil every four hours, or put a baked potato at the foot of my bed at night? Lol!

Omg lynn that's too funny! They really are that crazy somtimes. For me the biggest one that makes me somewhat crazy is my dad. When he has a headache ( maybe three times in the last 10 yrs) he will call me and say how sorry he is that I hurt like this all the time and if mine are worse... yea dad there's no real differenc in a headache and a migraine riiiiight... that he can't imagine how I stand it. The next day when he feels good he's all like hey why don't you come drive me to (whereever).
Love that man but that crap drives me crazy.

Thanks for sharing that. I am thinking of printing that and put it on the refrigerator so my family might see it.