Table 2.
Visible, invisible, and hiding disability.
| Subtheme | Quotes |
| Visible disability | C1: Red raised patches and skin flakes all over my body interferes with my interpersonal relations and social life. [Male; 55-64 years; ABa; psoriasis] |
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C2: Unsightliness of plaques. Annoyance as I have psoriasis. People’s comments and the unpleasant look of it. [Female; 45-54 years; BCb; psoriasis, Sjogren syndrome] |
| Invisible disability | D1: Having an invisible disease comes with a lot of judgmental bigots’ attention. Having accidents because of denied use of washrooms, being overweight because of the side effects of the medications. The pain can be crippling. Imagine not having ANY control over when and where you need to go to the washroom...while your body is in pain. [Female; 25-34 years; BC; Crohn, RAc] |
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D2: [That] some people have a difficult time understanding or even believing I have to contend with illness can be trying. I was so surprised by what happened to me and by my diagnoses that I want to help others understand the complexities of rheumatic diseases. [Female; 55-64 years; QCd; ASe, psoriasis, Crohn, Sjogren syndrome] |
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D3: Chronic pain and unpredictable flare-ups make it hard to manage life on a daily basis. I always have to carry painkillers with me. Often, I have trouble riding a bus or subway because I have limited mobility and joint strength. Navigating in public is hard when others do not seem to understand that someone who looks “normal” has trouble turning a doorknob, or holding a door open. [Male; 55-64 years; BC; RA, psoriatic arthritis] |
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D4: Trying to manage a balance of work and family life while having chronic pain. Stress of not being able to support child if I have to take days off work. Being sick but not looking like a sick person is difficult as people don't understand. [Female; 35-44 years; BC; lupus, Hashimoto disease] |
| Hiding disability | E1: [It is a burden] making people aware of the disease without having a label put on you. Since my disease is not visible it is hard to hide pain. [Female; 65-74 years; BC; AS] |
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E2: Being disciplined all the time. Not being a burden on my significant other and children. Hide the disease as much as possible from my employer. [Male; 55-64 years; QC; AS, psoriasis] |
aAB: Alberta.
bBC: British Columbia.
cRA: rheumatoid arthritis.
dQC: Quebec.
eAS: ankylosing spondylitis.