The Quest

Are you abnormally anxious about your health? Do you suddenly discover a symptom and just know you have a severe and life-threatening disease before you see the doctor? Do you have tests run, and despite all the results coming back as usual, still know something very wrong?

If you answered yes to these questions, you would meet the definition of a hypochondriac. Chances are, your doctor would send you on your way and tell you everything was fine. You might hear words like anxious, or that you Google too much, or perhaps you are attention-seeking.

I wish I could say that these experiences are rare, that it is unlikely you would hear these things. When you suffer from an invisible illness, you have experienced at least one of these comments on your quest to determine a diagnosis for what ails you. You know you aren't attention-seeking; you know something is wrong with you, it's just finding a doctor who believes you.

While on this quest, the temptation to give in may present itself. Don't give i