I think you need a picture of whats going on

 I think you need a picture of whats going on inside your body in order to be better at self-diagnosing. We develop a language over time and the more accurate the better we can help ourselves and our doctors.

 I say this because when I was a child I was given a distorted picture of my body. I was told I had the intestines of an old man and because of all of the GI series and unnecessary surgeries I thought I was on the verge of death---- all the time.

 I was sure I'd be dead before age 16!! That was because my mother was a hypochondriac and projected it onto me for attention. It's called Munchausen syndrome by proxy or Factictious Disorder. She took me to numerous doctors over EVERYTHING and for surgery every year until age 7. Unnecessary surgery! 

My husband Bill helped me and my mother in law a fabulous nurse helped me understand that I was actually very healthy and I could eventually trust my body. 

Does this sound familiar? I'm not saying your illnesses are made up but that you need an accurate picture of the inside workings of your body. You are healthier than you know. from a letter to a friend.