The unpopular notion of chronic illness

Chronic illness does not fit the popular notion of how illness proceeds:

you get sick, you go to the doctor and get some medicine, and wait to get better. 

Cheri Register - Living with Chronic Illness

To get me started on my few days in hospital this thought might be an appropriate one

Page from Into the Light 

Illnesses 

without a clear 

beginning

    middle    

          end

dragging on for years

without clear diagnosis

or streamlined treatment plan 

challenges the health care system 

and society in general

Symptoms

may be experienced 

as unreal

even by the patients 

themselves 

Further reading, with other hospital-related-thoughts:

• We need to tell Our Story including the encounter with the liasion officer for unexplained neuroligical illnesses...
• M.E. what is that? A question from a  doctor in a teaching hospital
• And the follow up: M.E. to be highlighted at next Medical Doctor Tutorial
• I will try to write very day from hospital if this is remotely possibly...