Helen Dyna had a web site with articles about just this subject, "You don't look sick". It was a very good article. I lost my hard drive so I can't give it to you. Maybe she will remember and find it for you.
Tina
At 12:20 PM 12/3/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Yesterday someone made the comment to me that because I don't look sick,
>I will have a hard time convincing a doctor that I'm truly in pain and
>need to have my adhesions dealt with. I do take the time some days to
>put on make-up because it makes me feel better. I also dress relatively
>well. I work in a conservative law firm so I can't wear jeans to work.
>I've been overweight for years so I'm not exactly skin & bones.
>
>The person that said this to me said that she can't even tell when I'm
>in pain. I work very hard to make myself look presentable and I have
>the "stiff upper lip" mentality so I'm not one to allow casual/business
>acquaintances to know I'm feeling. Am I to be penalized by the doctors
>just because I don't look like I'm at death's door and because my manner
>is almost always sunny? I was raised to never allow my personal feelings
>to show to anyone other than immediate family.
>
>Ordinarily someone else's opinion wouldn't concern me but this person is
>usually right on the money when it comes to things of this nature. It
>really bothers me that I'm being judged on this basis.
>