It took five doctors before one listened to me about my gallbladder. Five. The first three did not take me seriously. At least two of them thought I was med seeking. Why? My gender and my skin color. That's what I'm saying. I was in real pain and they had already decided who I was. Then came the fourth doctor. This one noticed something. Every time someone asked where it hurt, I put my hand on the exact spot. Right on the outside of my abdomen, right over where my gallbladder sat on the inside. Doctor four saw that. Doctor four scheduled a regular removal. That meant waiting a month or more. Doctor five saw the same thing. And doctor five actually believed me. Believed the pain was as bad as I said. Because it was. They sent me for an ultrasound and knew right away it was an emergency. My gallbladder was filled end to end by just three gigantic gallstones. One was blocking my bile duct. I had it removed within a week or two. A month or more of waiting, with that blocked duct? Really? I think about that a lot. This isn't the only time. I have a lot of stories like this, from injuries and chronic illnesses, back before they were ever diagnosed. Being treated like I'm exaggerating, a hypochondriac, drug seeking, making things up, lying. It still hits me hard. It still triggers my PTSD. So I get it when you walk out of an appointment feeling small. But please keep going. Describe your pain specifically. Not just "it hurts." Say what it feels like, when it starts, what makes it worse. Point to the exact spot. Don't wave your hand around. Put it right where it hurts. That is what got doctors four and five to look closer. Bring someone with you. A second set of ears and a second voice makes a difference. And keep seeking until someone listens. Doctor five was out there the whole time. I just had to get through the other four. Your pain is real. You are not making it up. Don't let anyone talk you out of what your own body is telling you.

Just move more. Push through the pain. It'll get better. I got that advice. It didn't help. Not even a little. That's not how chronic illness works. So I have one rule as a coach. I never say it to anyone. Ever. Instead, I ask what's going on with you. Then we deal with the actual issue. Leg pain? Elevate your legs if you can. Try heat, try ice, whichever works better, or both. There's other stuff that helps too. I also learned plans fall apart when there's no room for bad days. So every plan gets a good day version and a rough day version. Your body isn't failing the plan. The plan has to bend.