We will be heard

Okay, so I've been ill off and on basically since I was about 22 or 23.  I was one of the lucky ones, needing only two years to be diagnosed.  Anyone who does not live with chronic pain can't imagine the joy of  being diganosed after being sick for so long.  So, for those of you who are here to offer support to friends and loved ones, here's how it works.  After being tested for everything in the sun and having all of those tests come back negative and hearing over and over that "it's probably just depression" or "let me refer you to a psychologist"  to the blatant "You are quite simply a hypochondriac.  Nothing is really wrong with you.".  Ouch.  Upon hearing those words, we the sick, actually would love to smack said idiot who is looking at us with that look of disgust and condecension.  That is, of course, if we could stand up.  So, when that wonderous day comes when you are on your 10th or so specialist and this person says to you, "you have Fibromyalgia", the following goes on in your head.  "YES!  It is NOT in my head!!!  YES!!  I have....um....Fiber well, something, whatever!  I have a diagnosis!!!  I TOLD you all I was sick!!".   The excitement of finally being taken seriously is equal to the excitement of being proprosed to.   Having an actual  medical diagnosis for this terrible exhaustion and pain you have been experiencing for so long seems occassion to celebrate.  I kid you not.  As I hobbled out of my medical goddess's office, in my mind I was dancing, clicking my heels up in the air all the while with perma-grin.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, call it pathetic but there is nothing like someone hearing you.  I mean, really hearing you.  Maybe what is really pathetic is that 16 or so years later, people like me are still so ill.  They are still being looked at with that dazed look, given prescription after prescription but still no diagnosis.  Being pushed aside, swept under the perverbial rug.   I have many years experience now.  I still have to advocate for myself.  When I am too sick to do this, I need to appoint someone else to do so for me (my mom, my husband, etc.) because we all deserve to feel better.  We all deserve to be taken seriously.  We all deserve to be heard.   You will be heard here.  I promise you that.