People living with invisible illness often carry challenges others never see.

In this episode of The Chronic Fighter, I sit down with Signe Libbon, who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at just three years old. For more than two decades, she has navigated chronic pain, surgeries, flare-ups, different medication regimens, and the unpredictability of living with RA.

From a young age, Signe had to think about how her choices would affect her joints long term. That meant missing out on experiences like playing sports and grieving those limitations, while learning how to listen to her body, stay involved, and keep going after her goals. Signe shares personal stories about the day-to-day realities of RA, including how difficult standing can be and the rest and recovery that may follow an event.

We also talk about friendships and relationships with chronic illness. Signe shares how she became more open about her health with friends, how much they showed up for her, and how she and her now-husband, Drew, learned to communicate about her symptoms so he could best support her.

What stands out most in this conversation is the way Signe continues to live with so much joy and gratitude despite everything she has faced. A big part of that perspective comes from the role faith plays in her life.

What You'll Hear in This Episode
0:00 Coming Up
2:10 Meet Signe Libbon
3:06 Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis at Age 3
5:22 Growing Up With RA & Medical Complications
8:05 Managing Flares & Learning Your Limits
11:04 The Reality of Invisible Illness
14:34 Opening Up About Chronic Illness
18:21 The Daily Impact of RA & Medication
21:28 What People Don’t See Behind the Scenes
26:26 Grieving What Illness Limits & Finding Gratitude
37:07 Friendship, Support & Feeling Less Alone
43:52 Dating With Chronic Illness
53:14 PT & Managing RA
58:44 Faith & Hope with Chronic Illness

Biggest Takeaways
✔ Some chronic illnesses are invisible, making them harder for others to understand.Someone can look okay while still dealing with significant pain or symptoms.

✔ Respecting your limitations can help you keep doing the things you love. Accepting your limits doesn’t mean giving up. It means making adjustments so you can still participate in the things that matter to you.

✔ Treatment can change over the years. What helps manage chronic illness at one point may not work forever, and finding the right treatment can involve adjustments along the way.

✔ Opening up can make invisible illness feel less isolating. Letting trusted people know what you’re really experiencing gives them the opportunity to support you better.

✔ Grief and gratitude can exist at the same time. It’s healthy to grieve what chronic illness has changed or taken away while also recognizing and appreciating what you’re still able to do.

✔ Chronic illness doesn’t make you less worthy of love. Your person will love every part of you and see what you’ve been through as a source of strength and resilience, not a reason to walk away.

✔ There is hope in difficult circumstances. Even when chronic illness brings pain and uncertainty, faith can be a steady source of strength.

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If You Enjoyed This Episode
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Chronic illness can feel deeply isolating when so much happens behind the scenes, but opening up and allowing others to support you can make a meaningful difference. As Signe shares, we aren’t meant to do life alone.

Thank you for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.